Denver Data Center Moratorium
Denver, CO — Unanimous 13-0 One-Year Moratorium on New Large Data Centers
Denver, CO · City and County of Denver, data center moratorium ordinance (adopted May 19, 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Expires
- May 19, 2027
- Applies to
- Data center developers seeking new development approvals in Denver
- Enforced by
- City and County of Denver Community Planning and Development
Denver City Council voted 13-0 on May 19, 2026 to impose a one-year moratorium on new large data center development while the city drafts permanent zoning and land-use rules. The freeze covers new facilities above a megawatt threshold while officials study impacts on Denver's electricity grid, water supply, and neighborhood character.
Who is protected: Denver residents and Xcel Energy ratepayers
Legal detail
One-year moratorium on large data center development approvals adopted unanimously 13-0 by Denver City Council on May 19, 2026; gives the city time to write permanent regulations addressing grid capacity, water consumption, and compatibility with existing land uses.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Denver, CO |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | May 19, 2026 |
| Citation | City and County of Denver, data center moratorium ordinance (adopted May 19, 2026) |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Denver City Council approves one-year moratorium on large data centers — Colorado Politics |
More AI rules in Denver, CO
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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