City of Durham Passes 60-Day Data Center Moratorium
News ClipINDY Week·Durham County, NC·5/5/2026
The City of Durham has enacted a 60-day moratorium on data center development, including data processing and cryptocurrency mining facilities. This temporary pause allows city staff to develop comprehensive zoning standards and mitigation methods to address concerns about environmental impact and quality of life. City and county officials have expressed interest in pursuing a longer-term ban.
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Gov: Durham City Council, Nate Baker, Shanetta Burris, Kimberly Rehberg, Durham County commissioners, Stephen Valentine, Nida Allam, Claudia Hager
The City of Durham has implemented a 60-day moratorium on new data center development, a decision made during a recent city council meeting. Initially, the council aimed for a two-year ban, but due to the proposed ordinance not having been reviewed by the joint city-county planning commission, only a 60-day pause was permissible under the city’s Unified Development Ordinance, which caps moratoriums at 12 months.
City Councilmember Nate Baker, who proposed the moratorium, acknowledged the shorter timeline but emphasized that discussions for a more robust, longer ban, potentially for 24 months, would continue. The city intends to use this time to develop comprehensive zoning standards and mitigation strategies for these