Spokane City Council Passes One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers

Spokane City Council Passes One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers

Lisa Gardner, City Council Communications Director, [email protected]

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.

During Monday's Legislative session, the Spokane City Council passed Ordinance C36887, imposing an immediate one-year citywide moratorium on the acceptance, processing, review, and approval of building permit applications for new computer data centers. The ordinance was introduced by Council Members Paul Dillon, Sarah Dixit, and Kate Telis.

"I am proud of this Council and Administration for taking necessary steps to create safeguards to protect Spokane due to rising concerns around data centers," said Council Member Paul Dillon. "We have heard loud and clear that communities across Spokane want this pause while we create a regulatory framework."

At Council's Agenda Review Meeting, the City Council adopted an amendment proposed by Council Member Zack Zappone that provided greater clarity on how the moratorium applies to facilities that include both data centers and other business activities, such as manufacturing. The amendment also directed the City's Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board and the Plan Commission to develop a "Data Center Impact Review and Policy Framework" to ensure the evaluation of the potential impacts of data centers.

"Across the country, we've seen what happens when tech companies build data centers: communities suffer while companies' profit," said Council Member Sarah Dixit. "The Spokane community has made it abundantly clear that a data center would be disastrous for our region, and I wholeheartedly agree. It is important that this council acted swiftly in response to our community's advocacy, and I am proud to have supported this moratorium."

"Our community has raised serious concerns about the long-term impacts of data centers, and those concerns deserve answers," said Council Member Kate Telis. "I support this moratorium because we cannot afford to make irreversible decisions without fully understanding the potential consequences for our water supply, electrical grid, environment, and ratepayers. Lastly, I encourage residents to continue advocating to all the leaders who control the land above our aquifer. The fight doesn't end with the City; it's across the region."

The ordinance also sets a public hearing date for July 22, 2026, allowing community members to share their views and engage in discussions on this important issue. The moratorium will provide time for comprehensive evaluations and potential regulatory adjustments.

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