The commission directed the county attorney to prepare the ordinance. Commissioner Lamar Fisher, who proposed the pause, said the county should protect residential communities from the potential effects of large facilities, including heavy electricity and water use and possible increases in residents’ power costs.

The proposal would cover only unincorporated Broward County. The county cannot make development decisions for its individual cities. Commissioner Beam Furr said much of the unincorporated area is in the Everglades and described it as particularly vulnerable.

Vice Mayor Robert McKinzie urged commissioners to consider the potential benefits of technology investment alongside the concerns. He said smaller companies and projects could bring opportunities to communities in the Broward Municipal Services District, areas he said often have few development prospects.

During public comment, one speaker called for a permanent restriction rather than a temporary one, arguing residents can use major technology services without a large data center nearby.

Broward is among Florida counties weighing limits on large-scale data center development. Palm Beach County has enacted a one-year ban that runs through September 2027. A Florida law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May preserves local governments’ authority to regulate data center development.

Fisher said he expects the Broward proposal to return for a final vote next month, though consideration could be delayed until December.