Woodburn pauses new data center projects for 120 days
The Woodburn City Council has approved a 120-day moratorium on new data center applications following a public hearing. This temporary ban allows city officials to review zoning rules, utility needs, and assess the impact of future facilities on local water, energy, and noise levels. The decision aligns with similar actions or considerations in other Oregon localities.
The Woodburn City Council has enacted a 120-day moratorium on new data center developments, effective Monday night, following a public hearing. This temporary ban will halt the acceptance, review, and approval of city permits and development proposals for new data storage, processing, and information technology facilities under the Woodburn Development Ordinance, though it will not affect other industrial projects.
City officials plan to utilize this four-month window to update existing zoning rules, assess utility and infrastructure needs, and refine location criteria for future data centers. Furthermore, staff will conduct studies to understand the potential impact of these facilities on local water resources, energy consumption, and noise levels. Currently, no data center applications are pending or under review in Woodburn.
This decision by Woodburn reflects a broader trend within Oregon. Hillsboro previously implemented a similar 120-day moratorium on new data center and battery storage applications in July 2026 to evaluate local impacts. Additionally, Clackamas County and Salem are reportedly considering their own moratoriums, and earlier this month, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek paused state land requests for new data centers.