San Francisco supervisors pass temporary moratorium on data centers
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an immediately effective, 45-day moratorium on approving permits for new data centers and expansions of existing facilities. The pause, proposed by Supervisor Shamann Walton, will allow the city to study energy, water, air quality, land-use and community impacts and develop longer-term regulations.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a 45-day urgency ordinance halting approval of permits for new data centers and expansions of existing facilities. The moratorium took effect immediately and was proposed by District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, who cited concerns about energy and water consumption, air quality, noise, contamination risks and limited community input.
Walton said the pause will give the city time to define data centers more clearly, assess their environmental and neighborhood impacts, and develop stronger long-term protections. The measure follows approval of a data center on Paul Avenue in Bayview-Hunters Point under 2016 planning conditions; amendments proposed by Supervisor Matt Dorsey clarify that the moratorium does not cover server rooms used solely for a business's onsite operations.