County Roundup: October 2025

This monitoring report provides a brief status update on select counties in Maryland and the activities associated with the planning, development and operations of data centers in their jurisdictions. This report rotates its coverage of the counties throughout the year.

This Month's Updates

Frederick County

The Critical Digital Infrastructure Overlay Zone Ordinance (Bill No. 25-09) passes the County Council. It specifies 500-foot setbacks and establishes an Overlay Zone where data center siting will be restricted to Light Industrial and General Industrial zones. The ordinance also eliminated the previous allowance for data centers “by right” in any Light or General Industrial zone. The purpose is to limit data center development to less than 1 percent of the land in Frederick County. Next steps — approval of the Overlay Map, currently under review by State authorities.

Prince George's County

The Qualified Data Center Task Force was formed in May 2025. Its last meeting was on September 10th. It is planning to wrap up in November and offer a report on recommendations for future development pertaining to zoning and construction standards.

Currently a temporary 180-day moratorium on permits and construction approvals has been enacted, effective September 16, 2025.

After increasing concern by the community, the Landover project has been put on a six-month hold for approvals of on-site development. In addition, the County Executive issued an Executive Order pausing data center permitting approvals.

Brightseat Associates LLC, an affiliate of Lerner Enterprises and the Tower Companies, has proposed the Brightseat Tech Park — a $5 billion investment in an 87-acre site on the former Landover Mall.

Besides the Landover project, other data center sites include:

• Digex-Conterra Data Center in Beltsville
• Laurel Konterra section under consideration
• Brandywine, near the power plant, under consideration