New Albany IN one-year data center moratorium (2026)
New Albany, Indiana — City Council Unanimously Passes One-Year Data Center Moratorium (July 16, 2026)
New Albany, IN · City of New Albany, Ind. — one-year data center moratorium ordinance (final reading July 16, 2026)
- Status
- Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Applies to
- Data center developers seeking to build in New Albany; city planning and permitting staff
- Enforced by
- City of New Albany Plan Commission / Building and zoning staff
New Albany's City Council unanimously passed a one-year ban on building new data centers on July 16, 2026. Mayor Jeff Gahan proposed the pause in June so the city could study what data centers would mean for it and update its zoning rules before any proposals arrive. No company had approached the city about a data center yet. The ordinance takes effect once the mayor signs it. One council member worried the ban could hold back companies already in New Albany.
Who is protected: New Albany residents, through a one-year pause on new data center construction while zoning rules are reviewed
Legal detail
City of New Albany, Ind. ordinance imposing a one-year moratorium on new data center construction. Proposed by Mayor Jeff Gahan (announced June 9, 2026), advanced by the Plan Commission, first reading June 2026, passed on final reading unanimously Thursday, July 16, 2026. Per News and Tribune, takes effect upon the mayor's signature (signature date not confirmed). Unopened search snippet (WDRB) says it covers new data centers over 100,000 sq ft and multi-building campuses totalling over 100,000 sq ft; not confirmed from an opened source. Purpose: study impacts and update zoning/land-use rules. Ordinance number not reported. New Albany is in Floyd County, adjacent to Jeffersonville/Clark County, which adopted similar one-year moratoria.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | New Albany, IN |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | July 16, 2026 |
| Citation | City of New Albany, Ind. — one-year data center moratorium ordinance (final reading July 16, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | New data center construction is not approved during the moratorium |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy · government use of AI |
| News report | City council pauses data center development in New Albany for 1 year — News and Tribune |
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
See something wrong or out of date? Submit a correction. Every entry must carry a verifiable source.