Data Center Moratorium (Ordinance 2026-14)
At a glance
Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard.
- What: Ordinance 2026-14 is an immediate moratorium on accepting, processing and approving applications for new large energy use facilities and data centers, giving the city time to write regulations on location, electrical and public infrastructure demand, ratepayer cost allocation and stranded costs.
- Where it stands: adopted on final reading on 2026-10-12 by roll call, eight yes. First reading was 2026-09-28. The only change since first reading is a definition of data center.
- Scope: pauses permits, site plans, rezonings, conditional uses, subdivisions, utility service agreements and occupancy certificates for covered facilities; pending complete applications are stayed, with limited exceptions requiring council approval. Exempt: government, hospitals, universities, public safety, limited expansions by existing industrial users, routine maintenance, existing telecommunication facilities, qualifying clean hydrogen facilities and public utility infrastructure.
- Sponsor: Councilwoman Hall briefed and moved adoption. Councilman Lewis supported it and said he does not support data centers coming to Dover.
Sources
- 2026-09-14 - Regular City Council (minutes): https://www.cityofdover.gov/meetingfiles/101493/minutes/7a4922f3e0da4f8d975b2f1fb85587e4.pdf
- 2026-09-15 - Council Committee of the Whole (minutes): https://www.cityofdover.gov/meetingfiles/101495/minutes/fcb541538da547498c3d9ad9fe55d67a.pdf
- 2026-09-28 - Regular City Council (minutes): https://www.cityofdover.gov/meetingfiles/101611/minutes/15335276c9ea40da9d7d5bafaaf39a0e.pdf
- 2026-10-12 - Regular City Council
- 2026-10-12 - Regular City Council
- https://www.cityofdover.gov/meetingfiles/101611/agendas/ef626785f3ea4ddb91dc2c9a5dc1cb1f.pdf
Discussion time
About 4 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-12 - Regular City Council | 4 |
Log
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2026-10-12 - 2026-10-12 - Regular City Council: final reading; Hall briefed and moved, Lewis spoke in support; adopted by roll call, eight to zero.
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2026-10-22 - Page created from a posted agenda; no meeting transcript processed yet.
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2026-09-14 - 2026-09-14 - Regular City Council: The August 11 Legislative, Finance, and Administration Committee report, accepted by consent agenda, recommended having staff work with councilmembers to prepare an ordinance for a temporary moratorium; motion by Mr. Neil, seconded by Dr. Sudler, unanimously carried.
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2026-09-15 - 2026-09-15 - Council Committee of the Whole: Councilwoman Hall presented the proposed 18-month moratorium. Dr. Sudler moved to forward it to Council, the Planning Commission, and the City Solicitor, seconded by Mr. Anderson, unanimously carried.
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2026-09-28 - 2026-09-28 - Regular City Council: The item was removed from the consent agenda. Council amended the committee recommendation to send the ordinance to Council without Planning Commission referral by motion of Mr. Anderson, seconded by Ms. Arndt, unanimously. First reading was acknowledged, and Mr. Anderson moved to incorporate the packet amendment defining "data center," seconded by Mr. Boggerty, unanimously. Final action was set for October 12, 2026.