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 North Port
This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.
Mixed Data Center Policies
North Port has enacted an 18-month pause on most city approvals for building or expanding data centers, with limited exceptions; existing centers may continue operating.
Rating from Florida statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for City of North Port.
current law · City of North PortTemporarily pauses most city approvals for new, expanded, or intensified data centers in North Port while the city studies their impacts, with limited exceptions.North Port Ordinance No. 2026-25 (2026)
What this means
The measure would impose an 18-month moratorium on city approvals for building, expanding, or intensifying data centers, making new development substantially harder during that period. It allows limited exceptions, but does not appear to stop existing centers from operating.
Timing
- Ends
- 18 months after the effective date of Ordinance No. 2026-25
The moratorium applies to specified data-center-related applications and approvals. The sources do not provide the ordinance's effective date, so no calendar expiration date can be determined.
People behind it
- Commissioner Stokes
Made the motion directing the City Manager to issue public notice and schedule an ordinance imposing the data center moratorium.
- Commissioner Petrow
Seconded the motion directing development of the data center moratorium ordinance.
- Michael Fuino
City Attorney who introduced the measure, was directed to create the first-reading agenda item, reviewed the ordinance for legal form, and prepared it for the City Commission.
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- A. Jerome Fletcher II
City Manager responsible for presenting the measure and administering the Commission's direction to issue public notice and schedule the ordinance.
- Rachel Cigich
Business Services Coordinator who prepared the Business Impact Statement for the measure.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements3
Imposes an 18-month moratorium within North Port on accepting, processing, reviewing, approving, or issuing building permits, rezonings, site plans, conditional-use approvals, variances, comprehensive-plan amendments, or other city approvals for constructing, establishing, expanding, or intensifying data centers, data center facilities, large-scale data centers, or large-load customer facilities.
The pending data-center application is exempt from the moratorium's acceptance, processing, and review restrictions, but it may not receive approval or an issued development approval without further City Commission action.
The moratorium allows exceptions for applicants who demonstrate that its impact would create an extraordinary hardship and for properties affected by Hurricanes Debbie, Helene, or Milton.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions3
The pending data-center development application is exempt from the moratorium’s restrictions on acceptance, processing, and staff review, allowing those steps to proceed. However, the application may not receive final approval or have development approvals issued unless the City Commission takes further action.
An applicant may seek an exception from the moratorium by demonstrating extraordinary hardship. The exception is not automatic and is subject to the ordinance’s process and approval requirements.
Applicants or properties affected by Hurricanes Debbie, Helene, or Milton may qualify for an exception to the moratorium, subject to the ordinance’s conditions.
Sources
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