Nothing reported in Aberdeen City yet
Who decides here: the City Council of Aberdeen City votes on zoning. The Brown County may review big projects too.
Local votes and rules
📜 Data center rules
The City Council agreed on a schedule to write data center zoning rules before the pause ends. It held listening sessions in August and September. Planned next steps: Planning Commission hearing Oct. 20, council hearing and first vote Oct. 26, second vote Nov. 2. The rules would take effect Nov. 25 unless residents force a public vote. Dates may change.
⏸️ Pause on new data centers
The City Council voted 7-0 for an emergency pause. City staff may not give any permit or license to build or run a data center in Aberdeen. Pending applications are put on hold. The pause ends Nov. 18, 2026, or sooner if new data center zoning rules take effect.
📜 Data center rules · Brown County
The county added data center rules to its zoning code (Ordinance 303, new Chapter 4.38). They took effect Nov. 24, 2025. The October 2025 draft allowed data centers only in heavy industrial and farm-preservation areas, with a permit, one mile from homes, schools, churches and parks.
What you can do
- Get told first.
We'll email you if anything changes in Aberdeen City. - Go to council meetings.
Anyone can speak. Big projects usually need a public hearing. - Ask questions in writing.
Use our checklist.
🔔 Get told first
⚡ Your electric company
Depending on where you live in Aberdeen City: Wapa-- Western Area Power Administration (public) or Northwestern Energy (company) or Northern Electric Co-op, Inc. (co-op (owned by its members)) or Montana-dakota Utilities Co. (company).
Big data centers need a lot of power. Who pays for new power lines depends on state rules. See the rules in South Dakota.