Long-range Planning

Ordinance 2026-04 - Power Plants, Battery Energy Storage Systems, etc.

This ordinance(PDF, 713KB) would revise sections of Chapters 2, 21, and 23 of the Weld County Code.  Many of the changes relate to power plants, battery energy storage systems (BESSes), and related issues. The following is a brief summary of this ordinance:

• Clean up confusion caused by having “major facilities of public utilities” covered by both Chapters 21 and 23. This term will be removed from Chapter 23. Uses that currently fall under “major facilities of public utilities” in Chapter 23 will be listed separately in the various districts. Refer to the table in Article III, Chapter 23, on the ordinance linked above.
• Power plants over 50 megawatts (MW) and supplying public utilities will continue to be regulated by Chapter 21, the County’s “1041” process.
• Power generation that is under 50 MW or that doesn’t supply a public utility will be regulated by Chapter 23, Zoning, as “power plants”.
• Rather than listing “wind generators” separately in all the zone districts, they will fall under “power plants”. (Solar facilities will continue to be treated separately.)
• A new section on battery energy storage systems (BESSes) will be added to Chapter 23 with regulations such as setbacks specific to this use.

See the link to the draft ordinance above for more information. The Weld County Planning Commission will consider the ordinance at its hearing on July 7, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.  First reading of the ordinance will be scheduled for July 22, 2026 at the Board of County Commissioners' regular 9:00 a.m. hearing, second reading is planned for the Board's regular August 10th meeting, and final reading would be held on August 24th.  All of these dates are subject to change without notice, as is the draft ordinance. 

If you have any questions about the ordinance, please contact Jim Flesher, Long Range Planner, at jflesher@weld.gov or at (970) 400-3552.

Ordinance 2026-01 - Data Centers

The County adopted an ordinance(PDF, 123KB) to define data centers in Chapter 23, Zoning, of the Weld County Code and specify where they are allowed.  

The ordinance allows data centers in the I-1 (Light Industrial) zone district with approval of a Use by Special Review (USR) following public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of Count Commissioners.  In other Industrial zone districts, approval of an administrative Site Plan Review (SPR) will be required.  Data Centers are not permitted outside the Industrial zones.  County zoning only applies outside of incorporated cities and towns.  

If you have any questions or comments about the ordinance, please contact Jim Flesher, Long Range Planner, at jflesher@weld.gov or at (970) 400-3552.

Upon request the county will make reasonable accommodations for alternative access to the listed documents. Please submit your request via Weld Request for Accommodation Form, email ADA Coordinator@weld.gov, or by calling Human Resources at (970) 400-4234.