Woodbury MN 1-year data center moratorium (2026)
Woodbury, MN — City Council Unanimously Adopts One-Year Interim Ordinance (Moratorium) on New and Expanded Data Centers and Other High-Volume Infrastructure Users, With Study (September 23, 2026)
Woodbury, MN · City of Woodbury, Minn. — interim ordinance (moratorium) on data centers and high-volume infrastructure users (adopted Sept. 23, 2026)
- Status
- Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Applies to
- Data center developers/operators and other high-volume infrastructure users seeking new or expanded approvals
- Enforced by
- City of Woodbury Community Development / City Council
On September 23, 2026, Woodbury's mayor and all four council members approved a moratorium of up to one year on new data centers and on expanding existing ones beyond current approvals, along with other 'high-volume public infrastructure users,' while the city studies water use, electricity demand, noise and zoning. It blocks rezonings, comprehensive plan amendments, conditional use permits, variances and building and other city permits for such projects, and covers proposed water or sewer users that would be among the city's largest. It cannot apply retroactively to existing approvals. The city has three existing data centers and no pending applications; staff expect initial findings in early 2027.
Who is protected: Woodbury residents and water/electric ratepayers
Legal detail
Interim ordinance adopted unanimously (Mayor Burt + 4 council members) on Wednesday 2026-09-23. Scope: applications to establish or expand data centers; related rezonings, comp plan amendments, CUPs, variances; amended at the meeting to include building permits and other city permits (electrical, right-of-way work); also proposed water/sewer users whose annual consumption would place them among the city's largest users (WNN). Term: in effect for one year unless the council decides otherwise; takes effect on adoption and publication; may end early on repeal or adoption of replacement rules. City attorney Kevin Sandstrom: no retroactive operation — existing facilities (IronGate at 401 and 500 Bielenberg Drive; Medtronic at 515 Bielenberg Drive) may use existing permitted capacity. Proactive, not project-driven. Initial study findings expected early 2027, then Planning Commission review. expires_date null because the one-year term runs from publication, whose date was not found. NOT ESTABLISHED: ordinance number; publication/effective date.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Woodbury, MN |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | September 23, 2026 |
| Citation | City of Woodbury, Minn. — interim ordinance (moratorium) on data centers and high-volume infrastructure users (adopted Sept. 23, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated in the located sources |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Woodbury Approves Data Center Moratorium After Questions About Water, Power — Woodbury News Net |
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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