US Cities and Counties Impose Data Center Moratoriums

Municipalities across the United States are implementing temporary bans and new zoning regulations to manage the rapid growth of data centers. In Arizona, the Pima County Board of Supervisors narrowly passed a 120-day moratorium on September 23, citing a health department report that suggested these facilities could worsen regional respiratory and cardiovascular vulnerabilities.

Similar actions are occurring in Colorado, where the Commerce City Council approved a six-month pause on September 21. This joins existing restrictions in Denver, Boulder, and Broomfield, as officials evaluate electrical usage and water supply needs. In Pennsylvania, the Government of Reading invoked a curative amendment process to declare current zoning defective regarding artificial intelligence data centers, imposing a 180-day moratorium on applications.

In Defiance, the city council has implemented a six-month moratorium on facilities using over 25 megawatts of power. Local planning commissions in both Defiance and Reading are now drafting specific zoning amendments. Proposed measures include closed water-loop systems, emissions reporting, and setbacks ranging from 500 to 1,000 feet from residential districts and preservation areas. While some officials argue these pauses are necessary to protect public health and infrastructure, industry representatives and some local developers have criticized the proposed regulations as prohibitive.