Reno City Council to Vote on Temporary Data Center Permit Moratorium
May 10, 2026
Reno City Council to Vote on Temporary Data Center Permit Moratorium
The Reno City Council is set to hold a special meeting on May 14 to consider a proposed moratorium on new data center developments, responding to more than a year of public pressure from residents demanding stricter oversight of the rapidly growing industry. The move signals a potential shift in Reno’s approach to data center expansion, which has drawn both economic investment and community concerns over environmental and infrastructure impacts.
According to the meeting agenda, council members will deliberate a resolution that would initiate a pending moratorium under Reno Municipal Code Section 1.07.010, halting the acceptance of conditional use permit applications for data center uses. The moratorium would remain in effect until a date determined by the council, with a two-stage process: first, adoption of a pending moratorium resolution, followed by consideration of a final resolution at a later meeting.
The proposed moratorium would last for 30 calendar days, or until the council formally considers the final resolution, whichever comes first. If approved, the city manager would be directed to reject any new conditional use permit applications for data centers during this period. The measure would not affect new business license applications, renewals, or ownership changes for existing licensed businesses, ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
The staff report indicates that the moratorium is intended to give the city time to review existing regulations related to data center uses, gather public input, and consider amendments to Title 18 of the Reno Municipal Code. This review process aims to address community demands for clearer standards on data center development, which have been a point of contention since the council previously voted against creating specific protocols for such facilities.
The special meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 10 a.m. in the Reno City Council Chamber, located at 1 East First St., Reno, NV 89501. Residents can participate via Zoom registration, phone, or watch the livestream on Reno.gov/meetings and the City of Reno YouTube channel. The outcome of the vote could set a precedent for how other municipalities in the region balance data center growth with local regulatory needs.
Source: thisisreno
