May 20, 2026 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
Denver City Council voted Monday to approve a one-year moratorium on new data center developments. The measure temporarily halts the acceptance, processing, and approval of zoning permits, site development plans, and amendment applications related to data centers. However, the moratorium excludes facilities primarily focused on communications or telecommunications, as well as projects that have already received permits. As a result, CoreSite’s DE3 data center, which is currently under construction, will not be affected by the pause.
The moratorium also calls for a comprehensive public engagement process involving local officials and community stakeholders. According to a Denver City Council slide deck shared on May 18, the initiative would bring together council members, utility providers, union representatives, industry officials, advocacy organizations, community members, subject matter experts, and ex officio representatives from Denver city departments. City officials have been discussing the measure since February following growing community concerns over the impact of data centers on local neighborhoods and infrastructure.
