Spokane data center moratorium: what the new 1-year building-permit freeze means—and the July 22 public hearing

In late June 2026, Spokane City Council passed an emergency ordinance (Ordinance C36887) creating an immediate one-year moratorium on the acceptance, processing, review, and approval of building permit applications for new “computer data centers” within city limits. The pause is in effect now, and the city is scheduling a public hearing for July 22, 2026.

What the 1-year freeze does (and what it’s aiming for)

Under the ordinance, the city is putting a hold on key steps in the building-permit pipeline for new computer data centers. That means applications for new qualifying facilities are not moving forward through the stages the city would normally use to review plans and issue approvals while the moratorium is in effect.

Council’s stated goal is to create “safeguards” while the city studies potential impacts and builds a policy framework for the next step—so decisions aren’t made before the city has a clearer picture of how these projects could affect land use, utilities, and community resources.

Where the moratorium applies

The moratorium applies to the area inside Spokane city limits. The pause is citywide for those properties covered by the ordinance’s scope and does not automatically reach projects on the other side of the city boundary.

What counts as a “computer data center” under the amended definition

As the ordinance moved toward approval, City Council adopted an amendment offered by Council Member Zack Zappone intended to bring more clarity to how the moratorium applies to facilities that include both a data-center component and other business activity—for example, manufacturing-related operations that also house computers.

Along with that clarification, the language also reflects a threshold change from an earlier version discussed by the Council: the definition was adjusted from 20 to 25 and removed the word “generally,” according to the City’s Official Gazette meeting/record. The Spokesman-Review reported that the updated approach blocks projects that use more than 25 megavolt-amperes, focusing the rule on the level of activity the city is trying to evaluate.

Timeline to watch: July 22 public hearing and the post-moratorium framework

The emergency ordinance sets a public hearing on July 22, 2026. Community members will have that formal opportunity to share views and hear how the city plans to evaluate the impacts while the one-year pause is in place.

The ordinance also directs the City’s Climate Resilience and Sustainability Board and the Plan Commission to develop a Data Center Impact Review and Policy Framework. In practice, this work will likely shape what comes next after the moratorium expires—potentially including future permitting rules, review standards, and clearer definitions for what projects qualify.

What residents and stakeholders can do now

• Plan to show up for July 22. If you live near potential development areas or rely on city services impacted by growth, the hearing is the first scheduled moment for public comment on the city’s direction.
• Track what the boards and Plan Commission are working on. The ordinance doesn’t end with the one-year pause; it directs staff and boards to produce an impact review and policy framework. Watching those drafts early can help residents understand what questions the city is prioritizing.
• If you’re an applicant or neighboring business, ask how the city will measure the definition. Because the amendment narrows the rule using the updated threshold and language, stakeholders will want clarity on what information the city will treat as relevant during review for data-center-related proposals.

Business impact: uncertainty, and why the framework matters

Local industry advocates are warning that moving quickly to pause permits could reduce Spokane’s appeal to companies looking for regulatory certainty. Spokane Journal of Business reported that advocates argue the city needs time to study impacts without sending a signal that future projects will face delays.

For residents, the practical takeaway is simpler: the city has paused a specific approval path for new data centers, and the real next step is the impact review and policy framework that will determine whether the city’s final rules will be more predictable—or more restrictive—for future proposals.

Sources

• City of Spokane news release (Ordinance C36887 / July 22 public hearing included)
• Spokane Public Radio (SPR News Today transcript, June 23, 2026)
• The Spokesman-Review (local reporting on the Council decision)
• Spokane Journal of Business (business/economic frame)
• City of Spokane Official Gazette (June 24, 2026 issue; ordinance language change/record)