Madison, WI — One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers (>10,000 sq ft)

Madison, Wisconsin's Common Council approved a one-year moratorium on issuing zoning approvals for new data centers larger than 10,000 sq ft while city staff develop permanent land-use and zoning standards for data-center uses.

Technical detail

City of Madison Common Council passed a temporary moratorium prohibiting issuance of zoning approvals for data centers or telecommunications centers with floor area >10,000 sq ft. The moratorium automatically ends when the city adopts permanent data-center zoning standards (before the one-year term expires). Only applies to principal or primary data-center uses. The city's DPCED office maintains an official page tracking the moratorium and rulemaking status.

Who is protected: Madison residents and ratepayers

Who must comply: Data-center developers seeking zoning approvals for facilities >10,000 sq ft within the City of Madison

Key facts

More AI rules in Madison, WI

• Madison Face Surveillance Ban · In effect
• Use of Surveillance Technology Ordinance (Ordinance 59300; M · In effect
• Ordinance ORD-20-00056 prohibiting city-agency use of facial · 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
• 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
• Washington Township OH data center moratorium (360-day, Apr 2026) · In effect