Memphis TN data center zoning ordinance 5987 (first reading)
Memphis, TN — Data Center Zoning Standards Amending the Unified Development Code Pass First Reading (Oct. 8, 2026)
Memphis, TN · Memphis, TN Ordinance No. 5987 (data center UDC definitions), first reading Oct. 8, 2026
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- Data center developers and operators in Memphis
- Enforced by
- Memphis City Council; Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development
Memphis is considering its first zoning standards for data centers, added to the city's Unified Development Code. The City Council passed them unanimously on first reading on Oct. 8, 2026; two more readings are needed. A separate one-year moratorium proposal is set for a final vote on Oct. 20.
Who is protected: Memphis residents near data centers
Legal detail
Memphis City Council Ord. No. 5987 — amends the Unified Development Code by adopting zoning definitions specific to data centers (WATN); described as new zoning standards for data centers (Tri-State Defender). First reading Thursday Oct. 8, 2026 (unanimous per TSD). Full text not public at time of reporting. Related: Ord. 5982 moratorium (see Memphis TN data center moratorium Ord. 5982 (pending final reading)) postponed 7-5 on Oct. 6 to Oct. 20. NOT ESTABLISHED: full text; second-reading date; the second ordinance WREG says passed first reading is not identified.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Memphis, TN |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Citation | Memphis, TN Ordinance No. 5987 (data center UDC definitions), first reading Oct. 8, 2026 |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Memphis City Council approves data center zoning standards on first vote — Tri-State Defender (Oct. 9, 2026) |
More AI rules in Memphis, TN
- Memphis TN data center moratorium Ord. 5982 (pending final reading) · Proposed / pending
- Memphis xAI Permit Challenge · Blocked / in litigation
- Memphis SkyCop Surveillance Program · In effect
- Memphis xAI Colossus Permits · 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
See something wrong or out of date? Submit a correction. Every entry must carry a verifiable source.