Boston City Council to consider zoning changes that would bar data center construction

The Boston City Council is scheduled to consider a proposal that would significantly restrict data center construction within the city limits. Councilor Miniard Culpepper filed an order to amend the city's zoning code, which would define data centers and designate them as a "prohibited use in every zoning district and subdistrict" unless developers secure a zoning variance through a community process.

This legislative move comes amid increasing opposition to data centers nationwide, which has prompted state and local officials to adopt a more critical stance on their development. The proposed Boston measure specifically references a recent executive order by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, which mandates local community approval before state agencies can issue permits for large data center projects.

Boston's potential restrictions follow similar actions taken by other Massachusetts municipalities. Lowell approved a one-year moratorium in March, Westfield passed a comparable measure in July, Holyoke enacted a near-total ban, and Everett and Mansfield have implemented strict regulations. The council's initiative also highlights concerns about the environmental impact, noise, emissions, and significant water and power consumption of data centers, particularly within Boston's dense urban environment and limited infrastructure capacity. The city's sole existing large, for-profit data center on Summer Street would be grandfathered in, but any future expansions could be affected.