A proposed Land Development Code amendment would regulate data centers in Louisville Metro, including server rooms that serve a business on its own site. Their backup generators would have to run on gas, propane, fuel cells or batteries or meet EPA Tier IV, could be tested outdoors only once a week on weekday working hours, and could be used only in an emergency. Standalone data centers would face size limits, quarter-mile separations, noise limits and closed-loop water cooling. Held in the Planning and Zoning Committee on 6 October 2026.
Since 8 June 2026 Charlotte has not accepted, processed or approved applications for new telecommunications and data storage facilities, of any size, in the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. The pause ends no later than 5 November 2026. A public hearing on extending it was scheduled for 12 October 2026, and Council is scheduled to vote on 26 October.
GGovernment source. City of Charlotte, City Council agenda 12 October 2026, item 11 (15-26825)
Two separate city actions. A zoning moratorium in effect since 11 June 2026 stops applications to build or expand data centers over 20 megavolt-amperes (MVA), including those inside larger projects; it is scheduled to run 365 days unless ended sooner or extended. A facility operating when the pause began may apply to add up to 20 MVA. Separately, Seattle City Light requires special contracts, with upfront grid upgrade costs, for qualifying new or expanded data center loads of 10 MVA or more installed after 1 January 2027; whether it covers a company’s own facility needs confirmation with the utility.
GGovernment source. City of Seattle, Ordinance 127447 (CB 121214) and Ordinance 127473 (CB 121231)
A substitute ordinance would prohibit establishing new data centers or enlarging existing ones in Milwaukee for one year, or until the zoning code is amended to regulate them. It excludes a computer server room or a facility serving another principal use on the same premises, and does not apply in planned development districts; it would end early if zoning rules for data centers are adopted. Recommended for passage by the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee on 6 October 2026; the full Common Council has not yet voted.
Ordinance 26-128, signed 16 June 2026, prohibits data centers in all of Baltimore’s zoning districts; it took effect 16 July 2026, 30 days after enactment, with a one-year duration. It defines a data center as a facility, or portion of one, used primarily for the remote storage, processing and distribution of data and capable of using 10 megawatts or more. A pending bill, 26-0217, would lower the threshold to 5 megawatts.
GGovernment source. Baltimore City Ordinance 26-128 (Bill 26-0158); Bill 26-0217
Ordinance 2560-2026, approved 28 September and signed 1 October 2026, directs Columbus Water and Power to propose by 26 October 2026 a new rate structure or class for ‘large load/high-volume peak users’. The definition covers water, sewer and power demand and names data centers and colocation facilities, but the detailed requirements concern water costs. The ordinance sets no rates itself.
On 21 September 2026 the governor directed TCEQ to pause the issuance of all permits related to data center projects until ERCOT completes its review. The directive sets no size threshold and does not define a data center project. TCEQ has not said publicly whether the pause reaches air or water authorizations for infrastructure supporting an existing facility’s expansion of a few megawatts, or whether applications can still be filed and processed.
For data center air permit applications submitted to DEQ on or after 1 July 2026, DEQ cannot issue the permit unless the emission limit established for each gen-set under that permit is equal to or lower than the emissions achieved by a Tier 4-equivalent gen-set. That is a performance standard, not an equipment mandate. The statute does not itself create a permit requirement — it governs permits that are already required.
HB 4168 bars the Arizona Commerce Authority from accepting applications for a new computer data center from 1 July 2026 through 30 June 2029, and provides that no new computer data center can qualify for the tax relief under A.R.S. § 41-1519 during that period. Arizona’s general effective date for 2026 session legislation is 12 September 2026, but the moratorium provision applies retroactively to 1 July 2026. Existing certifications remain in effect absent specified revocation.
EPA has proposed removing the federal minimum public participation requirement for minor New Source Review permitting and leaving those decisions to state and local agencies. The comment period closed 21 August 2026. It has not been finalized. If finalized, the rule removes a federal floor. It does not change any state’s requirements on its own. Nothing has changed for any permit applicant.
Federal. Every document published in the Federal Register is screened each weekday for actions that could affect data center facilities.
State. The statutes, agencies and grid operators behind the state items above are checked for changes each weekday.
Local. The 45 cities and counties below are connected, and each one's identity is confirmed by an official government link. Their published council and planning agendas are screened each weekday, including the text of ordinances on zoning, utilities and moratoria. Collection began 8 October 2026 and is still establishing a reliable track record for each place.
This is not every place in the country. We add cities and counties in batches as we confirm their official agenda systems. A screened agenda item is a lead: we read the original before publishing it here.
AZ
Goodyear · Maricopa · Mesa · Phoenix
CA
Fresno · Oakland · Sacramento · San Jose · Santa Clara