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Cleveland City Council moves to freeze permits for new data centers
Cleveland City Council introduced an emergency ordinance declaring a moratorium on zoning permits, certificates of occupancy, and utility permits for data centers citywide. The measure — filed April 24, 2026 as File 556-2026 — signals mounting concern over the power demands, water use, and neighborhood impact of AI-era computing facilities.
Cleveland City Council is moving to put the brakes on new data center construction in the city.
An emergency ordinance introduced April 24, 2026 (File 556-2026) would declare a moratorium on the review and issuance of zoning permits, certificates of occupancy, and any license or permit application — including those from the Department of Public Utilities — for data centers within Cleveland's city limits.
The ordinance does not spell out a specific duration for the moratorium, which is common for emergency measures that are intended to create breathing room for policy development. Data centers have become a flashpoint in cities across the country as tech giants and AI companies race to build computing infrastructure, often straining local power grids and competing with residential neighborhoods for land and utility capacity.
The measure is currently in Administrative Review. If passed as an emergency ordinance, it would take effect immediately upon the Mayor's signature.
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