Data Center Moratorium

At a glance

What: An interim urgency ordinance (California Government Code section 65858), sponsored by Councilmember Fife, creating a temporary moratorium on approving land use entitlements or agreements for developing or operating data centers in Oakland. It took effect on adoption as Interim Emergency Ordinance No. 13899 C.M.S.
Where it stands: Council approved it for final passage on October 6 with proposed amendments from Councilmember Wang (District 2) attached to the agenda. On October 22 the Rules & Legislation Committee scheduled two follow-up items for a public hearing on November 10.
Next (deadline): November 10, 2026 Special Concurrent Meeting: a resolution adopting the written report required by section 65858(d) within 35 days of passage of the 45-day moratorium, and an ordinance extending the moratorium by ten months and fifteen days.

Detail

Oct. 6 (consent item 6.15, file 27-0050): "Approved for Final Passage" as part of the consent calendar, which passed 7 to 0 (Houston excused) on a motion by Councilmember Fife, seconded by Councilmember Ramachandran, after 55 speakers on the consent agenda as a whole. The minutes do not say whether Wang's amendments were adopted.
Oct. 22 (Rules & Legislation, items 3.2, files 27-0177 and 27-0178): both items were placed on the November 10 agenda as public hearings, bypassing committee under Rule 24 with a statement on the record. The committee's scheduling motion carried 4 to 0 (Brown, Fife, Ramachandran, Jenkins) after two speakers.

Sources

City Council final agenda (PDF), November 10, 2026: https://oakland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=1456405&GUID=16E1117A-B7DC-4995-8060-55D73A168005
City Council minutes (draft), October 6, 2026: https://oakland.legistar1.com/oakland/meetings/2026/10/9589_M___Concurrent_Meeting_of_the_Oakland_Redevelopment_Successor_Agency_and_the_City_Council_26-10-06_Meeting_Minutes.pdf
Rules & Legislation Committee minutes (draft), October 22, 2026: https://oakland.legistar1.com/oakland/meetings/2026/10/9598_M__Rules___Legislation_Committee_26-10-22_Meeting_Minutes.pdf

Log

2026-09-22 Life Enrichment Committee

Fife presented amendments (Charter emergency findings, Government Code 65858 report); Wang's proposed work-plan amendments were discussed; staff said 45 days is too short for a full report and consultants would be needed. Approved as amended and forwarded to the Oct. 6 City Council.

2026-11-10 City Council

Final agenda item 4.1 (report 27-0177 and Interim Emergency Ordinance 27-0178 under Charter section 213 and Government Code 65858): public hearing on the written report and a ten-month, fifteen-day extension of Interim Emergency Ordinance No. 13899 C.M.S. Seven votes are needed; the ordinance can be introduced and adopted at the same meeting. Outcome not yet recorded.

2026-10-22 Rules & Legislation Committee

Rules & Legislation scheduled the section 65858(d) report resolution (27-0177) and the ten-month, fifteen-day extension ordinance (27-0178) for public hearing on November 10, bypassing committee.

2026-10-06 City Council

The moratorium ordinance, sponsored by Councilmember Fife with amendments proposed by Councilmember Wang, was approved for final passage on the consent calendar.

2026-11-10 City Council (scheduled)

Public hearing on the extension still scheduled for the November 10 Special Concurrent Meeting; no agenda is posted yet.

News coverage

Closest news found; none covers the 2026-11-10 item itself.

2026-10-06 - Concurrent Meeting of the Oakland Redevelopment Successor Agency and the City Council

Item 6.15 needed seven affirmative votes; extensive public comment; approved with the consent calendar.