Data center restrictions tracker · Illinois

Aurora, Illinois: data center zoning exclusion (2026)

Data snapshot 2026-08-15 · part of Pricing the Fear of Data Centers

Aurora, in Kane County, Illinois, adopted a data-center zoning exclusion on February 19, 2026. Its status in this snapshot is pending.

Aurora, in Kane County, Illinois, adopted a data-center moratorium on September 25, 2025. Its status in this snapshot is replaced.

The records read: "Aurora (IL) is debating what supporters describe as the strictest-in-Illinois data center noise and setback ordinance. The February 19, 2026 Planning & Development Committee meeting did not finalize rules; regulations remain under active… (datacentertracker.org)." "180-day data-center moratorium, adopted 2025-09-25, since replaced by permanent regulations (Moratorium Nation)."

Details

ActionClassStatusDateMW thresholdScopeSource
Zoning exclusionrestrictionpendingFebruary 19, 2026not county-widedatacentertracker.org
MoratoriumrestrictionreplacedSeptember 25, 2025not county-wideMoratorium Nation (ALEA Institute)

Jurisdiction type: municipality. County: Kane County. Dataset: datacentertracker. Snapshot August 15, 2026; documented actions, not a census.

Illinois context

Illinois has 23 documented local actions across 21 jurisdictions in this snapshot. At the state level, the state has an incentive rollback (in force, June 5, 2026).

A town that says no to a data center gives up local tax revenue, not jobs: one large campus pays $2M to $90M a year depending on the tax regime, against roughly 50 permanent jobs. The parent piece prices it and lists the conditions that beat a ban.

Sources

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