Scope
Memphis Ordinance No. 5982 would declare a temporary moratorium on the acceptance, processing, approval and issuance of zoning, land use, building and other associated infrastructure permits for data center developments within the City of Memphis. The official 15 September 2026 City Council agenda lists it for third and final reading; it had not been adopted as of the agenda.
- Geographic scope
- City of Memphis, Tennessee
- Jurisdiction
- Local
- Authority type
- Local government
- Issuing authority
- Memphis City Council
Dates
- Adopted
- No adoption day is recorded
- Effective
- Not enacted
- Scheduled expiration
- None scheduled
- Ended
- Not recorded as ended
- Completion condition
- None stated
- Source document
- 15 September 2026
- Last checked
- 23 September 2026 (earlier than tracker date 5 October 2026; not an automatic status change)
Summary
Memphis Ordinance No. 5982 would temporarily stop the city from accepting, processing, approving or issuing zoning, land use, building and related infrastructure permits for data center developments. The official City Council agenda for 15 September 2026 lists it for third and final reading. No adopted text, vote or minutes showing final passage were found, so it is recorded as a proposal and applies only to the City of Memphis if adopted.
What this does not establish
- Only the official agenda listing was relied on; the minutes of the 15 September 2026 meeting were not posted on the council agenda page when checked, so the outcome of the third reading is not recorded.
- Earlier draft PDFs of a moratorium ordinance on memphistn.gov are unsigned drafts and were not used for the terms.
- The unsigned text in the 15 September 2026 agenda documents would run the moratorium until the earlier of twelve months after its effective date, adoption of comprehensive data center zoning regulations, or repeal or amendment; the text as finally voted may differ.
- The council agenda headed October 6, 2026 lists Ordinance No. 5982 for third and final reading and marks it held from the September 15, 2026 meeting. The agenda records no vote. That meeting had not occurred when the agenda was captured on October 5, 2026. The agendas page captured the same day links September 15 agendas and does not link September 15 minutes.
Unresolved questions
- Whether the Council adopts, amends, defers or rejects Ordinance No. 5982 on third reading.
Relationships
Supersession means a later instrument replaces the earlier legal effect. Repeal links identify the repeal instrument and the measure it ends. A later implementation or related letter is not treated as a replacement unless the record says so.
- No related action is recorded.
Sources
https://memphistn.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Regular-Agenda-9.15.26.pdf
- October 6, 2026 council agenda, captured October 5 before the meeting Future meeting agenda documents reading stage only; not a vote or adopted ordinance