Evansville IN 180-day data center moratorium (Oct. 5, 2026)
Evansville, IN — City Council Adopts a 180-Day Data Center Moratorium Within City Limits (Oct. 5, 2026)
Evansville, IN · Evansville, IN 180-day data center moratorium ordinance (first reading Sept. 28, 2026; adopted 9-0 Oct. 5, 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- October 5, 2026
- Applies to
- Applicants for new data centers in Evansville
- Enforced by
- City of Evansville
Evansville's City Council voted 9-0 on Oct. 5, 2026 to pause data center development within city limits for 180 days. The Evansville Area Plan Commission recommended the pause so officials can study data centers' impacts and decide how they should be zoned. It took effect immediately and could be extended.
Who is protected: Evansville residents
Legal detail
Ordinance first reading at the City Council meeting of Mon. Sept. 28, 2026 (WFIE Sept. 14 article: council president Ben Trockman said first reading would be at the next meeting on Sept. 28; WEHT published Tue. Sept. 29 says 'last night'). Recommended by the Evansville Area Plan Commission earlier in September. Terms: new applications on hold 180 days; effective immediately upon passage; may be extended. Council considered but rejected forming its own study committee because Vanderburgh County formed one in August, and Vanderburgh County already has its own moratorium (WEHT; WFIE says the county committee created its own moratorium). Second reading Oct. 5, 2026. NOT ESTABLISHED: ordinance number; sponsors. The Vanderburgh County moratorium is not in the dataset (lead).
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Evansville, IN |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | October 5, 2026 |
| Citation | Evansville, IN 180-day data center moratorium ordinance (first reading Sept. 28, 2026; adopted 9-0 Oct. 5, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated in the located sources |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Evansville council approves data center moratorium — Inside INdiana Business (Oct. 6, 2026) |
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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