Baltimore, MD — Mayor-Signed One-Year Moratorium on Large Data Centers (10 MW+ Threshold)
Baltimore, MD · City of Baltimore, data center moratorium ordinance (signed May 2026)
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott signed legislation in May 2026 imposing a one-year moratorium on new data centers with 10 megawatts or more of peak electricity demand. The pause gives city officials time to develop land-use and infrastructure standards for large digital infrastructure projects.
Technical detail
One-year moratorium on new data center facilities with ≥10 MW peak electricity demand, signed by Mayor Brandon Scott in May 2026; gives city time to develop permanent land-use regulations.
Who is protected: Baltimore residents and BGE ratepayers
Who must comply: Data center developers seeking approvals for facilities ≥10 MW in Baltimore City
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Baltimore, MD |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Moderate protection |
| Effective date | 2026-05-11 |
| Enacted | 2026-05-11 |
| Citation | City of Baltimore, data center moratorium ordinance (signed May 2026) |
| Enforced by | Baltimore City Department of Planning / Permits, Approvals and Inspections |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| Last verified | 2026-06-22 |
| Official source | Baltimore Mayor Signs Data Center Moratorium — Baltimore Fishbowl ↗ |
More AI rules in Baltimore, MD
- Baltimore FR Ban (Expired) · Expired
- Baltimore City Public Schools · In effect
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- Superior WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Dane County WI Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Manitowoc County WI Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026) · In effect
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