September 15, 2026
DocID #76702v1
City Manager’s Office
Community Development
City Attorney’s Office
DATE: September 15, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Shasa Curl, City Manager
Lina Velasco, Director of Community Development
Avery Stark, Planning Manager
Shannon Moore, Interim City Attorney
SUBJECT:
Urgency Ordinance Imposing a 45 -Day Moratorium on
New Data Centers
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with this action as there are currently no pending applications or approved proposals for data centers within the City. Any future fiscal impacts would depend on the timing, scale, and regulatory framework of potential projects, which
remain uncertain at this time.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Data centers are becoming a more prominent land use in
cities, driven by growing demand for digital infrastructure.
While they can contribute to economic activity and tax
revenue, they also require substantial electricity, water, and land resources. Their expansion raises concerns
about energy capacity, environmental and health
impacts, noise, and compatibility with existing community priorities. A temporary moratorium would allow the City time to evaluate these impacts, engage in a public
planning process to evaluate whether and under what
regulations data centers may be permitted.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT an Urgency Ordinance establishing a 45-day
temporary moratorium on the establishment of new data
centers within the City of Richmond pending a public
planning process to evaluate whether and under what
AGENDA
REPORT
September 15, 2026
DocID #76702v1
regulations data centers may be permitted utilizing
Government Code Section 65858(b) – City Manager’s
Office/Community Development Department/City
Attorney’s Office (Lina Velasco 510-620-6841).
DISCUSSION:
Data centers are emerging as a more prominent land use in cities nationwide, driven by increasing demand for digital infrastructure to support cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data storage. While these facilities can generate economic benefits, including construction activity, limited employment opportunities, and potential tax revenue, they also present unique land use considerations. Unlike traditional commercial or industrial uses, data centers operate with high infrastructure demands and relatively low on-site employment, raising questions about their long-term value relative to other potential land uses.
A primary concern associated with data center development is the significant demand for electricity, water, and land resources. Data centers require substantial and continuous power supply to operate servers and cooling systems, which may strain existing energy infrastructure and conflict with local and regional climate goals. Water usage for cooling, particularly in areas facing drought conditions, further complicates sustainability considerations. Additionally, these facilities often require large building footprints, which can limit opportunities for more community-serving or employment- generating uses.
Beyond resource consumption, data centers may also create compatibility challenges with surrounding land uses. Potential impacts include noise from mechanical equipment, visual scale and design concerns, and limited activation of the public realm.
These factors can affect nearby residential neighborhoods and may not align with broader community priorities for equitable development, economic vitality, and environmental stewardship. As such, careful planning and policy guidance are necessary to ensure that any future data center development is consistent with the City’s goals and standards.
Given the evolving nature of this industry and the uncertainty in balancing its potential benefits with long-term costs, a temporary moratorium is desired by the City Council to engage in a public planning process to evaluate whether and under what regulations data centers may be permitted. A temporary moratorium would provide the City with time to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of impacts, review best practices from other jurisdictions, and engage stakeholders, including residents, utility providers, and industry representatives. This process would enable the City to evaluate the desirability of the land use and if desired, develop clear policies and regulations to guide future data center proposals in a manner that aligns with community priorities and resource constraints.
September 15, 2026
DocID #76702v1
A proposed urgency ordinance is provided for the Council’s consideration by imposing a temporary 45-day moratorium. The proposed urgency ordinance would require a vote of at least four-fifths of the City Council to pass. A public hearing was noticed in the West County Times for this urgency ordinance. Following a noticed public hearing, the Council may extend the subject moratorium for an additional 22 months and 15 days.
Unless otherwise directed by the Council, and assuming the Council adopts the proposed moratorium, staff intends to return to the Council within the 45-day period to seek an extension of the moratorium. (Gov. Code § 65858.) If adopted by a four-fifth’s vote of the City Council, no new permit, license, or other entitlement for any new data center within the City would be allowed during the moratorium.
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
The proposed moratorium would provide the city with time to undertake a public planning process to evaluate whether data centers should be allowed and under what conditions to align with the goals specified in the City’s Energy and Climate Change Element, given that these uses are known to be highly energy-intensive, and to evaluate their potential impact on local energy demand and emissions. In addition, given concerns about noise, environmental impacts, and compatibility with other land uses, evaluating data centers through a public health lens is consistent with the City’s Health in All Policies Strategy. A temporary moratorium would provide time to assess potential impacts on other land uses and ensure that future policies prioritize health equity and environmental justice.
CONCLUSION:
In consideration of these factors, the proposed temporary moratorium is a prudent and proactive approach to land-use planning. This action would allow the City to thoughtfully assess the full range of economic, health, environmental, and community impacts associated with this emerging use, while ensuring consistency with adopted General Plan policies and community priorities. By taking this step, the City can position itself to make informed, balanced decisions that safeguard critical resources, protect neighborhood compatibility, and support long-term sustainability and equitable development goals.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 – Draft Urgency Ordinance