Indianapolis data center moratorium (Council 23-1 Aug 10; MDC 6-0 Aug 19; effective)
Indianapolis, IN — City-County Council and Metropolitan Development Commission Enact Data Center Moratorium Through Dec. 31, 2027 (Effective August 19, 2026)
Indianapolis, IN · Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council, Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2026-AO-001 (committee-approved 10-3, August 3, 2026; full council 23-1 vote August 10, 2026; MDC 6-0 final approval August 19, 2026; effective August 19, 2026 through December 31, 2027)
- Status
- In effect
- Expires
- December 31, 2027
- Applies to
- Data center developers seeking approvals in Indianapolis-Marion County, IN
- Enforced by
- Indianapolis-Marion County Metropolitan Development Department; City-County Council (if enacted)
The Metropolitan Economic Development Committee of the Indianapolis City-County Council voted 10-3 on August 3, 2026 to recommend approval of a Zoning Ordinance Amendment imposing a moratorium on data centers through at least December 31, 2027. The committee vote fell along party lines: all 10 yes votes were Democrats and all 3 no votes were Republicans. The full 29-member City-County Council is scheduled to vote on August 10, 2026. Council President Maggie Lewis announced support for the moratorium after months of community pressure from residents and environmental groups, and Mayor Joe Hogsett also supports the measure. The moratorium would pause acceptance and processing of land-use applications, site plans, and building permits for data centers within Indianapolis-Marion County.
Who is protected: Indianapolis-Marion County, IN residents from new data center development through December 31, 2027 (if enacted)
Legal detail
Zoning Ordinance Amendment imposing a moratorium on acceptance, processing, and approval of data center land-use applications, site plans, and building permits within Indianapolis-Marion County, IN through at least December 31, 2027; committee-recommended 10-3 by the Metropolitan Economic Development Committee on August 3, 2026. Full City-County Council vote scheduled August 10, 2026, 7:30 PM at the City-County Building. Council President Maggie Lewis (D-5) support announcement followed months of community pressure. Mayor Hogsett (D) publicly supports. Note: This moratorium proposal is a separate action from the previously-tracked SU-47 Special Use District ordinance (Indianapolis SU-47 District (draft)), which would create permanent data center zoning regulations; both are moving on parallel tracks.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Indianapolis, IN |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | August 19, 2026 |
| Citation | Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council, Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2026-AO-001 (committee-approved 10-3, August 3, 2026; full council 23-1 vote August 10, 2026; MDC 6-0 final approval August 19, 2026; effective August 19, 2026 through December 31, 2027) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Indianapolis City-County Council committee recommends moratorium on data centers — WISHTV |
More AI rules in Indianapolis, IN
- Indianapolis MDC data center special zoning proposal (July 2026) · Proposed / pending
- Indianapolis Data Center Pause Resolution · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Indianapolis DC Zoning · Proposed / pending
- Indianapolis Metro PD FR Prohibition · In effect
- Indianapolis SU-47 District (draft) · 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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