Indianapolis MDC data center special zoning proposal (July 2026)
Indianapolis (Marion County) — Metropolitan Development Commission Data Center Special Zoning District Proposal (MDC 5-3, July 1, 2026)
Indianapolis, IN · Indianapolis MDC 5-3 vote (July 1, 2026) recommending data center special zoning district ordinance; City-County Council final vote pending
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- Data center developers seeking approvals in Indianapolis-Marion County
- Enforced by
- Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development; City-County Council
Indianapolis's Metropolitan Development Commission voted 5-3 on July 1, 2026 to recommend creating a new special zoning class for data centers in Marion County. The proposed ordinance would regulate where data centers can be built and how close they can sit to residences, set noise limits (the MDC debated returning to 65 dB from a proposed 55 dB), and require water management plans, annual reporting on water use and power consumption, noise compliance studies, and decommissioning/environmental-remediation plans. A motion to remove the decommissioning-plan requirement failed 6-2. The ordinance now heads to the full City-County Council for final approval, expected in August 2026.
Who is protected: Indianapolis-Marion County residents near data center sites
Legal detail
Indianapolis-Marion County MDC voted 5-3 (July 1, 2026) to advance a data center special-zoning-district ordinance to the City-County Council. Standards include: mandatory noise study and mitigation plan; water management plan; annual reporting on water use, power consumption, and noise compliance; decommissioning plan with hazardous-materials and environmental-remediation provisions. MDC voted 5-3 to return noise limit to 65 dB (from a proposed 55 dB). Added grandfather clause for existing zoned data centers. Final City-County Council vote expected August 2026.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Indianapolis, IN |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Citation | Indianapolis MDC 5-3 vote (July 1, 2026) recommending data center special zoning district ordinance; City-County Council final vote pending |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Data center rules proposal clears initial vote in Indianapolis — WFYI |
More AI rules in Indianapolis, IN
- Indianapolis data center moratorium (Council 23-1 Aug 10; MDC 6-0 Aug 19; effective) · In effect
- 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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