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Councilmember seeks moratorium on data-center permits, citing energy and land-use risks
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Summary
Councilmember Slife introduced Ordinance 5-56-2026 to pause data-center permits and certificates of occupancy in Cleveland so the city can study energy, water and land-use impacts; several council members voiced support and asked staff for regulatory options and possible taxation of existing facilities.
Councilmember Charles Slife introduced Ordinance 5-56-2026 at the Cleveland City Council meeting, proposing a moratorium on the review and issuance of zoning permits, certificates of occupancy and related approvals for data centers in the city.
"This ordinance, if passed, would afford Cleveland City Hall an opportunity to analyze this land use and establish regulations that are in the common good," Slife said, arguing that hyperscale data centers can be highly energy- and water‑intensive and may require major upgrades to transmission and water systems. He cited industry estimates and policies used elsewhere as the rationale for pausing new approvals while officials study impacts.
Slife told the council his intent is not to ban data centers outright but to differentiate between ancillary data storage and large-scale hyperscale facilities tied to rapid growth in artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure. "My goal in legislating a moratorium is not so much to ban data centers outright, rather it's to understand how we must differentiate between data storage as an ancillary use versus large scale data storage to accommodate technological advances," he said.
Several council members signaled support for pausing approvals while staff and the administration prepare options. One member suggested the city should consider taxing existing data centers and directing revenue to Cleveland Public Power upgrades to offset grid impacts. Councilmember Austin Davis framed the issue as part of broader economic development priorities and urged careful weighing of jobs, tax base and infrastructure costs.
The ordinance text read into the record (Ordinance 5-56-2026) would declare a moratorium on the review and issuance of zoning permits and occupancy certificates for data centers and related permits by the Division of Public Utilities. Slife and others raised concerns that, under current zoning and form-based code classifications, some large data-center uses might be permitted in areas intended for mixed-use and walkability, potentially undermining neighborhood planning goals.
Councilmembers asked for additional analysis of energy and water usage, grid impacts, potential state preemption (including the Ohio Power Siting Board's authority), and employment benefits versus costs. Slife requested feedback from the administration and his colleagues before committee review and noted he expected input from economic development staff.
Next steps: the ordinance was introduced for first reading and will go to committee for further review; council did not take a final vote on the moratorium during this meeting.
