Volusia County Council members on Tuesday approved an ordinance that bans large-scale data centers in unincorporated areas of the county.

The proposal prohibits data centers with an anticipated monthly peak electrical load of at least 50 megawatts. It would not apply within cities, which retain authority over their own land-use and zoning decisions.

Council members voted unanimously to advance the ordinance at its first reading Oct. 6. The county began pursuing the ban in August, citing concerns about data centers’ potential demands on water and electricity, noise and effects on nearby communities. The county has not accepted new applications for large-scale data centers in unincorporated areas since Aug. 17.

Commissioner David Santiago said before the final vote that residents and officials have concerns about water use, electricity use and whether a data center is feasible given the county’s limited amount of available land.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty,” Santiago said. “People concerned with water utilization, electricity utilization.”

Santiago acknowledged that potential tax revenue and economic benefits could be a reason to welcome a data center, but said the county must weigh those benefits against potential effects on residents’ quality of life.

Other council members have raised concerns about the facilities’ impact on the electric grid and aquifer. At the Oct. 6 hearing, some residents also argued the county should regulate smaller facilities, saying the proposed 50-megawatt threshold could leave similar impacts unaddressed.

Councilman Jake Johansson questioned whether a ban is the right approach, arguing the county should regulate impacts and evaluate projects on their merits. He cited potential property-tax revenue and jobs as possible benefits.