Scope
Memphis Ordinance No. 5986 would amend Ordinance No. 5367 (the Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code) to establish regulations for the siting, development, construction, expansion, alteration and operation of large-scale data centers, including development standards, a prohibition on routine evaporative and once-through cooling, required closed-loop water circulation, a prohibition on major withdrawals of local water resources for data center cooling, water conservation and monitoring, renewable and non-carbon electricity requirements, requirements for expansion of existing data centers, and public disclosure, reporting, enforcement and penalties. The official 15 September 2026 agenda lists it for second reading.
- 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. 5986 would add large-scale data center rules to the Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code, covering siting and development standards, closed-loop cooling and limits on local water withdrawals, water monitoring, renewable-electricity requirements, expansion of existing facilities, and disclosure, reporting and penalties. The official City Council agenda for 15 September 2026 lists it for second reading. It is a proposal only; it would apply within the City of Memphis if adopted.
What this does not establish
- The terms come from the unsigned ordinance text in the official 15 September 2026 agenda documents; it was not adopted as of that agenda.
- Whether it would also bind unincorporated Shelby County (the Unified Development Code is joint) is not stated in the agenda listing; this record treats it as a City of Memphis proposal.
- The outcome of the second reading on 15 September 2026 is not recorded.
- The council agenda headed October 6, 2026 lists Ordinance No. 5986 for third and final reading. It does not record a vote or say the ordinance passed. That meeting had not occurred when the agenda was captured on October 5, 2026.
Unresolved questions
- Whether the Council adopts Ordinance No. 5986 and in what form.
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-Docs-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