Chicago 12-month data center moratorium ordinance (proposed 2026)
Chicago, IL — Mayor Johnson and Three Aldermen Introduce a 12-Month Data Center Moratorium Ordinance; Referral Stalled and Sent to Rules Committee (September 2026)
Chicago, IL · City of Chicago, Data Center Moratorium Ordinance (introduced Sept. 23, 2026)
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- Developers of new data centers and material expansions of existing data centers in Chicago (if enacted)
- Enforced by
- City of Chicago
On September 23, 2026, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Aldermen Maria Hadden, Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth and Lamont J. Robinson introduced the Data Center Moratorium Ordinance, which would pause new data centers and material expansions of existing ones for 12 months while the city's Data Centers Task Force (created by the mayor's August 2026 executive order) writes permanent rules on air, water, energy use and residents' health. At the same meeting a procedural move by opposing aldermen sent it to the Rules Committee instead of its intended committee, which the Chicago Tribune said will likely stall it. Ald. Bill Conway introduced a competing ordinance that would treat data centers as planned developments subject to public review; it was also sent to Rules. The moratorium has not been voted on.
Who is protected: Chicago residents
Legal detail
City of Chicago — Data Center Moratorium Ordinance, introduced Wed. Sept. 23, 2026 by Mayor Brandon Johnson with Alds. Maria Hadden (49th), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th) and Lamont J. Robinson (4th) (official City press release of that date). Operative purpose per release: 'temporarily pause the development of new data centers and the material expansion of existing facilities'; proposed 12-month moratorium giving the Data Centers Task Force (August 2026 EO, Chicago data center executive order (2026)) time to build on the Sustainable Data Centers Working Group's July 2026 report. Scope per WTTW: data centers larger than 1,000 sq ft with more than 20% of floor space dedicated to servers. PROCEDURE: Ald. Marty Quinn (13th) used a parliamentary maneuver to delay its advance into its intended committee (Tribune); WTTW: two alderpeople routed it to the Rules committee upon introduction. COMPETING MEASURE: Ald. Bill Conway (34th) ordinance zoning data centers as planned developments (public review before approval); delayed by the same maneuver (Ald. Matt O'Shea, 19th) and sent to Rules (Tribune, WTTW). SAME MEETING: a separate Hadden ordinance requiring data centers to report annual water and energy use passed final vote (Tribune) — not part of this entry. NOT ESTABLISHED: ordinance file number, exemptions, hearing date.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Chicago, IL |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Citation | City of Chicago, Data Center Moratorium Ordinance (introduced Sept. 23, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated in the located sources |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy · government use of AI |
| Agency page | Mayor Brandon Johnson and City Council Members Introduce Data Center Moratorium Ordinance — City of Chicago (Sept. 23, 2026) |
More AI rules in Chicago, IL
- Chicago data center executive order (2026) · In effect
- Chicago Public Schools AI Guidebook · In effect
- Chicago City AI Ordinance (stalled) · Proposed / pending
- Chicago data center energy/water benchmarking disclosure (SO2026-0027165) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Chicago AI police report ban (proposed, O2026-0024089) · Proposed / pending
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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