The Data Center Divide
A policy snapshot ahead of the 2026 midterms. Mapping data center incentives, restrictions, and bans through legislation, regulations, and executive actions across all 50 states and 1,462 local jurisdictions.
City of Richmond
This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.
Slightly Anti-Data Center Policies
Richmond city enacted a temporary citywide pause on data-center development and related permits, while allowing existing lawful centers to operate and exempting small server rooms serving another use.
Rating from California statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for City of Richmond.
current law · City of RichmondProhibits new data centers in Richmond for 45 days while the city studies whether and how to regulate them.Richmond Urgency Ordinance No. 13-26 N.S. (2026)
What this means
The proposed extension would temporarily stop new data centers and any construction, conversion, or expansion, and block related permits citywide; the recommended extension is 22 months and 15 days (longest single extension). Existing lawful data centers could keep operating, and small server rooms serving another use are exempt, but the development pause is a major restriction (existing and subordinate uses).
Timing
- Ends
- Oct 30, 2026
The 45-day moratorium expires on 2026-10-30 unless extended by the City Council under Government Code section 65858. The ordinance allows a single extension of up to 22 months and 15 days after a further noticed hearing.
People behind it
- City Council of Richmond
Adopted the 45-day urgency moratorium and is responsible for considering its extension.
- City staff
Administered the moratorium study, conducted research and stakeholder planning, and issued a request for proposals for community engagement and policy development.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements4
A temporary 45-day moratorium, effective upon adoption on September 15, 2026 and lasting through October 30, 2026 unless extended, prohibits establishing, constructing, converting, or expanding any new data center in every zoning district and on all land within Richmond. (45-day moratorium)
During the moratorium, the City may not accept, process, grant, approve, or issue applications or entitlements for data centers, including use permits, variances, building permits, licenses, certificates of occupancy, subdivision and parcel maps, general-plan amendments, zone changes, specific plans, development agreements, site-plan reviews, grading permits, and other permits or land-use entitlements. (prohibited applications and entitlements)
The moratorium does not cover a subordinate-use data room or server room that is incidental and subordinate to a lawfully established primary use on the same site, provided it is not used for independent commercial, wholesale, or third-party data processing, storage, or transmission. (server-room exception)
A person with an existing permit, license, or land-use entitlement for a lawfully operating data center as of the ordinance’s effective date may continue operating under the existing authorization and standards, although the City retains authority allowed by law to revoke or suspend it. (existing-operation exception)
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions2
Existing data centers that lawfully hold a permit, license, or land-use entitlement and were operating when the ordinance took effect may continue operating under their existing standards. This does not prevent the City from revoking or suspending those authorizations where otherwise allowed by law.
A subordinate-use data room or server room that is incidental and subordinate to a lawful primary use is excluded from the moratorium. It must not be used for independent commercial, wholesale, or third-party data processing, storage, or transmission.
Sources
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