OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Osceola County is making its position clear regarding reports that county commissioners may be considering approval of large-scale artificial intelligence data centers: no applications for such facilities will be considered for review while county leaders await the findings of a state-mandated study.
The County issued a statement explaining that the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners discussed potential siting standards for large-scale data centers during a workshop in June 2026.
According to the County, commissioners unanimously agreed at that workshop to defer action on large-scale data center proposals until a comprehensive report required under Florida’s CS/CS/SB 484 is submitted to state leaders.
The legislation became law in May as Chapter 2026-65 and addresses several issues involving large-scale data centers and other major electricity users. Florida law also maintains local governments’ authority over comprehensive planning and land-development regulations involving large-load customers.
Under the law, the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, or OPPAGA, must contract for an independent, interdisciplinary study examining issues associated with the construction and operation of large-scale data centers.
The study is required to examine potential impacts involving economic development and tax revenues, land and water resources, energy use and related costs and rates, as well as public health and safety. It must also include recommendations concerning where such facilities should be located and potential mitigation measures aimed at reducing negative impacts.
The report is due to the Governor, President of the Florida Senate and Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives by July 1, 2027.
Osceola County indicated commissioners could wait beyond that date before taking action as they evaluate the study’s findings and any resulting changes to state law or local regulations.
“As a result, any applications submitted will not be considered for review, consistent with the Board’s position,” the County said in its statement.
The issue has gained attention as communities across Florida and the nation consider how rapidly expanding data-center development could affect electricity demand, water consumption, land use, infrastructure and surrounding communities.
Florida lawmakers addressed some of those concerns through CS/CS/SB 484. Among other provisions, the law establishes requirements involving electricity service and water-use permitting for large-scale data centers. Under the legislation, a large-scale data center is generally defined as a location with a data center that has an anticipated monthly peak electrical load of at least 50 megawatts.
For Osceola County, however, the immediate message is that commissioners have not moved forward with approving large-scale AI data centers and intend to wait for additional information from the statewide study before considering how such facilities should be addressed locally.
