Lowell MA 360-day data center moratorium (2026)
Lowell, MA — City Council Imposes a 360-Day Moratorium on Permits and Approvals for New or Expanded Data Centers, Extendable by 180 Days, Amid the Markley Expansion Fight (March 10, 2026)
Lowell, MA · Lowell, Mass. City Council — 360-day data center moratorium adopted March 10, 2026
- Status
- In effect
- Expires
- March 5, 2027
- Applies to
- Developers of new or expanded data centers in Lowell
- Enforced by
- City of Lowell Department of Planning and Development; land-use boards
On March 10, 2026, Lowell's City Council voted to pause permits and approvals for new or expanded data centers for 360 days, with the option of a 180-day extension, while the city rewrites its zoning. It was described as the first such moratorium fully in place in Massachusetts. The fight is over the Markley Group's large data center in the Sacred Heart neighborhood, whose diesel backup generators have grown from 7 to 23. Markley sued, arguing the pause did not apply to it, but later agreed to drop the case. In October 2026 city planners are taking two options to the council: limit future data centers to 15 megawatts, or ban them in every zoning district. Markley's existing campus and recent property purchases would be grandfathered either way.
Who is protected: Lowell residents, particularly in the Sacred Heart neighborhood near the Markley facility
Legal detail
City of Lowell, Mass. (Middlesex County) — 360-DAY MORATORIUM on permitting and approval of NEW OR EXPANDED data centers until zoning and planning regulations are updated (buffer zones, noise standards, screening, protections against water and electric rate impacts). ADOPTED: Tuesday, MARCH 10, 2026 (Boston Business Journal via NBC Boston, 2026-03-10; search snippet reports a 10-0 vote, not confirmed on an opened page). TERM: Lowell Sun says 360 days; BBJ describes it as 'one-year' with an option to extend by 180 days. EFFECT ON MARKLEY: BBJ says work already underway may continue; Lowell Sun says Markley's main campus at 1 Markley Way and its Tanner, Bolt and Newhall Street purchases are not subject to the moratorium or proposed zoning. LITIGATION: Markley Lowell LLC and Tanner Street Investco LLC sued claiming exemption; dismissed by joint stipulation. Separate state-court generator case is Lowell MA Markley data center diesel generator injunction (2026). NEXT: DPD forum 2026-10-07; mid-October presentation of Option 1 (cap 15 MW, climate-friendly infrastructure) vs Option 2 (prohibit in all districts) as part of a zoning code overhaul. expires_date COMPUTED as 360 days from 2026-03-10; a 180-day extension is available.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | March 10, 2026 |
| Citation | Lowell, Mass. City Council — 360-day data center moratorium adopted March 10, 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 |
| News report | Data center zoning back on Lowell's agenda — Lowell Sun (Oct. 1, 2026); corroborated by Boston Business Journal via NBC Boston, 'Lowell imposes moratorium on data centers targeting state's largest facility' (Mar. 10, 2026) |
More AI rules in Lowell, MA
- Lowell MA Markley data center diesel generator injunction (2026) · Blocked / in litigation
- Lowell MA suspends Flock ALPR use (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
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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