Reno council extends data-center moratorium through August 2027

Reno is keeping its data-center rules on pause longer. At a special June 1 meeting, the Reno City Council voted 6-1 to extend the city’s moratorium on new data centers through August 31, 2027, giving staff more time to continue rewriting the land-use rules in Title 18. Councilmember Kathleen Taylor cast the lone no vote.

The decision matters because Reno is not treating data centers as a simple permit question anymore. City records show the council initiated a Title 18 text amendment on April 22 to review and modify the standards for data-center uses. In that same city summary, staff said the city had already reviewed four data-center projects, and each one had different utility needs even though the land-use issues were similar.

What the pause changes

The extension means new data-center applications remain on hold while the city works through the rulemaking process. The city’s Development Services page says staff will continue working with the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency to engage the public and stakeholders, gather feedback, and use that information to draft proposed amendments to the city’s data-center regulations.

That gives Reno a longer window to sort out the practical questions that come with large facilities. Data centers can affect power and water planning, site design and how development fits around surrounding neighborhoods. City officials have said they want a more consistent set of standards before more applications move ahead.

For residents and businesses, the decision shapes how Reno plans for infrastructure demands and what kind of review new proposals will face. For developers, the message is that the city wants new rules in place before it processes more data-center applications.

Reno’s current timeline now points well past this summer. The moratorium runs through August 31, 2027, while the Title 18 rewrite and related public process continue. The next developments to watch are the draft standards, the public review schedule and any future council action on the new rules.

Sources

• City of Reno special meeting calendar page
• 2 News report on Reno’s new data-center moratorium
• This Is Reno report on Reno City Council’s data-center vote