Spokane, WA — One-Year Citywide Data Center Moratorium

Spokane City Council voted 6-1 on June 22, 2026 to impose an immediate one-year citywide moratorium on building permit applications for new computer data centers. The ordinance was amended before passage to focus on data-center activity rather than building type, closing a loophole that might have allowed data centers in mixed-use facilities. The moratorium gives the city one year to develop a permanent regulatory framework for energy, water, and noise impacts. Sole dissent: Council Member Michael Cathcart, who argued the ban could inadvertently block a planned aerospace research center.

Technical detail

Emergency ordinance imposing an immediate one-year citywide moratorium on the acceptance, processing, review, and approval of building permit applications for new computer data centers in Spokane. Ordinance amended to define the restriction based on end use (data-center activity) rather than physical facility or building type, preventing a loophole. Term: one year from June 22, 2026; expires approximately June 22, 2027. Vote: 6-1.

Who is protected: Spokane residents and Avista utility ratepayers

Who must comply: Data center developers seeking building permits in Spokane

Key facts

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