Dearborn MI 6-month data center moratorium (2026)
Dearborn, MI — City Council Votes 7-0 for a Six-Month Moratorium on New Data Centers While Permanent Regulations Are Drafted (September 2026)
Dearborn, MI · Dearborn, MI — City Council data center moratorium ordinance (second reading approved 7-0, Sept. 22, 2026)
- Status
- Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Applies to
- Developers and applicants for new data centers in Dearborn
- Enforced by
- City of Dearborn (City Council; legal department receives applications during the moratorium)
Dearborn's City Council unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on new data centers so the city can write permanent rules for them. The pause is expected to start in October 2026 and run through the end of March 2027. Applications can still be filed during the pause, but they are forwarded to the city's legal department and applicants are told they must reapply. The ordinance also adds a definition of 'data center' to the zoning ordinance for the length of the moratorium.
Who is protected: Dearborn residents and neighboring properties
Legal detail
Ordinance amending the Dearborn zoning ordinance to impose a six-month moratorium on new data centers. Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval after an Aug. 10, 2026 public hearing; first reading Sept. 8, 2026; second and final reading approved 7-0 on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026 (MLive). Per MLive, expected to take effect in October 2026 and last through the end of March 2027 (exact effective and expiry dates not stated, so left null). Adds a data center definition to the zoning ordinance for the moratorium's duration; applications are still accepted but forwarded to the legal department, and applicants receive written notice of the timeline and their obligation to reapply (copy to Council). Context: the city had earlier removed 'data processing' as a listed use in the Technology and Research District and industrial districts, though such uses may still be permitted in the general industrial district. WXYZ broadcast (Sept. 23, 2026) separately reported the council approved a six-month moratorium. NOT ESTABLISHED: ordinance number; exact effective/expiry dates; size thresholds.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Dearborn, MI |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | September 22, 2026 |
| Citation | Dearborn, MI — City Council data center moratorium ordinance (second reading approved 7-0, Sept. 22, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated in the located sources |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Dearborn approves 6-month pause on new data centers amid AI boom — MLive |
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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