Oregon City adopts 120-day data center moratorium
Oregon City commissioners approved a 120-day moratorium blocking new data center and battery energy storage applications in five industrial and mixed-use zones. The pause will allow city staff to review existing codes and draft new regulations, while a separate countywide moratorium and statewide environmental permitting pause are also in effect.
Oregon City commissioners approved a 120-day moratorium on new data center and battery energy storage development. The measure blocks applications in five industrial and mixed-use zones while city staff audit municipal codes and prepare regulations for facilities that are not currently addressed by city rules. No data center applications or inquiries were pending when the moratorium was adopted.
Mayor-elect and City Commissioner Adam Marl said the pause is intended to give Oregon City a proactive framework for evaluating potential projects and protecting community interests before industrial land is assembled for data center development. Clackamas County separately enacted a 120-day countywide moratorium effective Oct. 22, while Gov. Tina Kotek directed the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to withhold environmental permits for new or expanding data centers through July of the following year.