St. Charles, Missouri

St. Charles City Council voted to effectively ban data centers citywide, formally defining the facilities as a distinct land use and excluding them from all permitted zoning categories.

The vote follows months of resident opposition to "Project Cumulus", a data center proposed near the city's well field that was largely kept from public view during planning. Thousands of residents signed a petition opposing the development, and the city enacted what officials described as the nation's first data center moratorium last August. Data centers had previously been classified as warehouses under the city's municipal code.

Any future data center proposal would now require the council to first reclassify the facilities as a permitted or conditional land use, then go through full public review and approval.

Harford County, Maryland

Harford County Council approved amendments making the county executive's data center ban emergency legislation, scrapping a separate moratorium bill in favor of a faster path to a permanent prohibition. The packed hearing in Bel Air drew about 46 speakers.

The owner of Mountain Branch Golf Course, the site councilmembers say developers were looking to build on, spoke publicly for the first time. He asked the council to set strong local standards instead of a ban. The golf course's general manager separately presented a community benefits agreement committing to land preservation, taxpayer protection, and local jobs.

The council moved forward with the emergency approach anyway. A public hearing on the ban is scheduled for June 9, and it could take effect shortly after with the county executive's signature.

Little Rock, Arkansas

Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. presented a proposed regulatory framework for data centers to the city's Board of Directors, organizing facilities into three tiers with zoning, noise, and water restrictions tied to each.

Mayor Scott Proposes Stronger Regulations on Data Centers - City of Little Rock

Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. announced today he will propose an ordinance strengthening Little Rock’s regulations on data centers. Mayor Scott encouraged the City’s Board of Directors to adopt the new standards, citing overwhelming public interest in regulatory guidelines that protect the safety and welfare of Little Rock residents. Mayor Scott’s proposed ordinance […]

City of Little Rockasadler

Under the proposal, data centers would be classified as "accessory," "major," or "hyperscale" based on size and power demands. Hyperscale facilities could only be built in heavy industrial zones and would need 1,000-foot setbacks from nonindustrial properties, with 500 and 100 feet required for major and accessory tiers respectively. All data centers would be barred from using on-site wells as a primary cooling water source. Developers would also have to submit pre- and post-construction acoustical studies. The board is expected to vote June 2.

Sanford, Maine

Sanford City Council approved a three-month emergency moratorium on data centers, temporarily halting a proposal for a 1,000-acre development along the Mousam River.

The 91-day moratorium takes effect immediately and pauses all permit acceptance, approval, and issuance for large-scale data center proposals. The city plans to establish a task force to review concerns and recommend ordinance amendments. City Manager Steven Buck acknowledged the 91-day window likely won't be sufficient and said the council will need to adopt a longer 180-day pause.

Jackson, Mississippi

Jackson City Council tabled a proposed data center moratorium after a debate over whether the measure required formal zoning procedures, including a 15-day advertising period and public hearing.

Council President Brian Grizzell, who drafted the 183-day moratorium, expressed frustration after the vote. The measure would have temporarily banned construction, expansion, permitting, and site plan approval for data centers exceeding five megawatts of electrical load.

Lufkin, Texas

Frustrated residents clashed with Lufkin city leaders over proposed AI data center developments after speakers were repeatedly shut down for raising the issue during a council meeting. Data centers were not on the posted agenda.

Speaker after speaker was cut off by Mayor Mark Hicks, who cited council rules and the Texas Open Meetings Act restricting public comment to agenda items. One resident, a local teacher and realtor, was warned and ultimately removed from the chambers after continuing to speak. Protesters later chanted outside the building.

Residents fear large-scale AI developments at the former Southland Paper Mill site and the long-idled Aspen Power plant could strain water and electricity resources. Mayor Hicks noted the proposed data center sits outside city limits and is not under the city's purview.

Longmont, Colorado

Longmont is considering a ban on hyperscale data centers, facilities that consume 100 megawatts or more at peak capacity. City staff presented a proposed ordinance to council Tuesday night, though a final decision is not expected until June 9 at the earliest.

Council Member Matthew Popkin proposed the ban in April, citing fire risk, drought, and growing water consumption on Colorado's Front Range. The city's Electric Utilities Director put 100 megawatts into context: it represents about half the city's peak load on a hot summer day, or the equivalent of powering 10,000 to 30,000 homes and apartments.

Alachua, Florida

Over a dozen Alachua County residents pressed the city commission to oppose a large-scale AI data center rumored for 104 acres at Phoenix Commercial Park, east of San Felasco Tech City.

The site was listed in February as a "high megawatt data center development site" but has since been relabeled an "industrial redevelopment opportunity". Residents raised concerns about water consumption, with one estimating the 200,000-square-foot facility could use 1 million to 1.5 million gallons per day. The city manager confirmed no formal application has been submitted, and only two of the site's parcels belong to the city, with the rest in unincorporated county land.

Logan County, Illinois

Data Centers: Daily Notes | May 14, 2026

Minneapolis lines up a moratorium vote, Calipatria weighs an unusually long five-year pause, and Urbana moves to undo the zoning that let data centers in.

STRisker - Short-term rental and data center regulationsDane Artisola

Logan County Board approved a 12-month moratorium on large-scale data centers, giving the county time to draft rules and regulations for the facilities. Hut 8, a data center company that had been considering a project in the county, has not confirmed whether the proposal is officially off the table.

May 19 2026 Special Regular Board Meeting Agenda

Dubuque County, Iowa

Dubuque County Zoning Commission began reviewing data center zoning regulations, looking at ordinances from other Iowa counties as a starting point for potential local rules. Planning and Zoning Director Ed Raber said the county has no dedicated data center ordinance in place and no current applications for data centers or crypto mining. The commission plans to hold town hall meetings this summer to gather public input before taking any formal action.

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