Published on April 21, 2026
Data Center Memo(PDF, 52KB)
The Oklahoma City Council today unanimously approved a temporary moratorium on new data centers within city limits.
The moratorium halts the acceptance of new applications, the processing of and the issuance of rezoning requests and permits related to the construction or expansion of data centers.
The moratorium takes effect immediately and will remain in place until either December 31, 2026, or earlier if amendments to the City’s Zoning Code regarding data centers are approved by City Council.
“The temporary pause on new data centers will give the City more time to understand how they affect our community's resources such as energy use, water demand and land use,” City Manager Craig Freeman said. “This brief pause ensures we move forward strategically, so future projects align with our community’s needs and support sustainable, long-term growth.”
During the moratorium, the City Council will evaluate the potential impacts of data centers and determine what regulatory framework should guide future development.
The moratorium specifically exempts two pending rezoning cases for data centers.
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