Denton TX proposed 90-day data center moratorium (2026)
Denton, TX — City Council Holds First of Two Required Public Hearings on a 90-Day Data Center Moratorium; Second Hearing Oct. 27, Vote Possible as Early as Dec. 1 (2026)
Denton, TX · Denton, TX — 90-day data center moratorium process (hearings Sept. 22 and Oct. 27, 2026) and Denton Development Code data center amendments (vote Oct. 13, 2026)
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- New data center developers within Denton city limits
- Enforced by
- City of Denton (Development Services)
Denton is weighing a 90-day moratorium on new data center development and permitting inside city limits. The City Council unanimously voted on August 18, 2026 to start the legal process, held the first of two required public hearings on September 22, and has the second hearing set for October 27, with a vote possible as early as December 1. If adopted, the moratorium would take effect immediately and could be extended another 90 days. A separate set of development code amendments for data centers is tracked as its own entry.
Who is protected: Denton residents
Legal detail
Moratorium track: pitched by Mayor Pro Tem Nick Stevens May 14; council approved the pitch June 2; unanimous vote to start the legal process Aug. 18, 2026; two noticed public hearings required, then a vote on a 90-day moratorium on new development and permitting for data centers in city limits (extendable by another 90 days); first hearing Sept. 22, 2026; second Oct. 27; vote as early as Dec. 1 per staff presentation (Community Impact); Denton Record-Chronicle: 'a possible moratorium could start in early December.' City attorney Mack Reinwand said whether it applies to expansions of existing data centers needs more research. Existing facilities: Core Scientific (up to 391 MW) and QumulusAI (20 MW, approved January 2026, not built). NOT ESTABLISHED: ordinance/resolution number; exemptions. Companion: Denton TX proposed data center development code amendments (2026).
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Denton, TX |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Citation | Denton, TX — 90-day data center moratorium process (hearings Sept. 22 and Oct. 27, 2026) and Denton Development Code data center amendments (vote Oct. 13, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated in the located sources |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Denton officials weigh data center moratorium during first public hearing — Community Impact |
More AI rules in Denton, TX
- Denton TX proposed data center development code amendments (2026) · Proposed / pending
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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