Oklahoma City bans new data centers until 2027

The city council wants to "step back" and evaluate how to approach new data center proposals.

1 minute read

April 23, 2026, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Canal in downtown Oklahoma city with outdoor dining patios on either side and tall modern skyscraper in background.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. | Shutterstock

The Oklahoma City Council unanimously approved an emergency moratorium on new zoning and development applications for data centers through the end of 2026, report Maria Guinnip and Steve Lackmeyer in The Oklahoman.

According to the article, "City Manager Craig Freeman described the ordinance as allowing local leaders to step back and evaluate concerns with staff and developers about facilities moving forward and to develop a strategic and consistent response, possibly amending city codes to specifically address hyperscale data centers."

The ordinance exempts two proposed data centers that are already in the permitting pipeline. The moratorium also creates an appeal process for affected businesses, addressing concerns that the ordinance is overly restrictive and could impact other businesses.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in The Oklahoman

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