US cities consider extending moratoriums on data center development

Municipalities in the United States are considering extensions to temporary moratoriums on new data center developments to allow for more comprehensive regulatory studies.

In Charlotte, the City Council has scheduled a public hearing for October 12 to discuss extending a current 150-day pause on new data center projects. If approved, the extension would last until October 11, 2027. The moratorium was originally implemented to allow city staff to research the environmental and economic impacts of these facilities and to develop new policies within state law. A 19-person task force has been established to assist in crafting these recommendations.

Similarly, the Palm Springs City Council is reviewing a recommendation to extend its current moratorium for an additional 22 months and 15 days. The city's current municipal and zoning codes lack specific definitions or regulations for data centers. City staff indicated that the extension is necessary to study potential impacts and integrate land-use regulations into an ongoing zoning code update while gathering community input.