Fort Payne AL data center moratorium (6-month, June 2026)
Fort Payne, AL — Six-Month Moratorium on Data Center Development
Fort Payne, AL · Fort Payne, Ala., City Council data center moratorium resolution (adopted June 16, 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Expires
- December 16, 2026
- Applies to
- Data center developers seeking approvals within Fort Payne city limits
- Enforced by
- City of Fort Payne / Planning Commission
The Fort Payne City Council unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on data center development on June 16, 2026, pausing new data center projects while city staff, the Planning Commission, and the city attorney study impacts (infrastructure, environment, traffic, noise, water, community character) and draft zoning rules. The city says the move is proactive — no data center has applied yet. The resolution defines 'data center' broadly (server farms, hyperscale, colocation) but exempts existing permitted facilities, routine maintenance, and small server rooms.
Who is protected: Fort Payne, AL residents and ratepayers
Legal detail
Fort Payne (DeKalb County, AL) City Council adopted a six-month moratorium (June 16, 2026, unanimous) on data center development, suspending approvals while the city drafts zoning regulations governing siting. Broad definition covering server farms, hyperscale, and colocation facilities, with carve-outs for existing permitted facilities, routine maintenance, internal modifications, and small-scale server rooms. The council may extend beyond the initial term or end it early.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Fort Payne, AL |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | June 16, 2026 |
| Citation | Fort Payne, Ala., City Council data center moratorium resolution (adopted June 16, 2026) |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | City council approves six-month moratorium on data centers — The Times-Journal (Fort Payne, AL) |
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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