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San Francisco board approves pause on new data centers

San Francisco board approves pause on new data centers

Rule Changes San Francisco, CA local

Moratorium runs to Nov. 30; planners owe the board a report within 25 days

November 2026: Hearing scheduled on Planning Department findings

Overview

Updated Oct 23

San Francisco's 45-day ban on new data center approvals took effect Oct. 16, when Mayor Daniel Lurie signed it. It runs through Nov. 30 unless the Board of Supervisors extends it, and planners owe the board a report within 25 days.

The pause has already caught a pitch for an AI facility in the former Bloomingdale's at San Francisco Centre. A developer asked in June what permits such a project would need. No application had been filed as of Oct. 16; server rooms accessory to other permitted uses are exempt.

Why it matters

The moratorium could delay new AI data centers in San Francisco, forcing companies to build elsewhere and setting a precedent for cities weighing similar pauses.

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Key Indicators

45 days
Moratorium duration
Ban on new data center approvals took effect Oct. 16 and runs through Nov. 30, 2026.

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People Involved

Shamann Walton
Shamann Walton
District 10 Supervisor, San Francisco Board of Supervisors
Terming out in January 2027
 Daniel Lurie
Daniel Lurie
Mayor of San Francisco
Signed the moratorium on October 16; it runs through November 30.
 Arieann Harrison
Arieann Harrison
Executive director, Marie Harrison Community Foundation
Supported the moratorium at committee hearing
 Carroll Fife
Carroll Fife
Oakland City Councilmember
Sponsored Oakland's 45-day data center moratorium
 Jared Krieger
Jared Krieger
Chief executive, KG Growth Partners
Said his firm has not applied for permits for the 845 Market St. project

Organizations Involved

San Francisco Board of Supervisors
San Francisco Board of Supervisors
City legislative body
Approved the moratorium unanimously

The city's 11-member legislative body, which approved the 45-day moratorium on data centers on Oct 6, 2026.
San Francisco Planning Department
San Francisco Planning Department
City agency
Studying data center impacts; report due to the Board of Supervisors by Nov. 10

Will study energy, water, air quality, land use, and community impacts of data centers during the moratorium period.

Timeline

2001 November 2026

9 events Latest: November 2026
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Hearing scheduled on Planning Department findings

    Latest Hearing

    The ordinance requires the Planning Department to report to the clerk of the board within 25 days of Oct. 16 and a hearing within 35 days.

  2. Fairfield vice mayor announces plan to propose moratorium

    Policy

    Pam Bertani said she would make a motion for a data center moratorium at the Oct. 20 council meeting. No outcome from that meeting was reported in the sources reviewed.

  3. Board unanimously approves 45-day moratorium

    Policy

    San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the moratorium. Mayor Daniel Lurie signed it on Oct. 16.

  4. Committee advances Walton's proposal

    Policy

    Land Use and Transportation Committee advanced the moratorium to the full board after a hearing with more than a dozen supporters.

  5. LA County halts new data centers on unincorporated land

    Policy

    LA County planning director ordered an immediate halt to new data center development on unincorporated land.

  6. Richmond approves moratorium; Walton introduces SF ordinance

    Policy

    Richmond City Council approved a similar moratorium. Walton introduced his 45-day pause in San Francisco with three co-sponsors.

  7. Gilroy enacts 45-day data center moratorium

    Policy

    Gilroy City Council unanimously enacted an immediate 45-day pause on new data center approvals.

  8. Developer asks city about permits for AI data center at former Bloomingdale's

    Development

    A construction consultant for Maryland-based KG Growth Partners asked the Department of Building Inspection what permits an AI data center would need at 845 Market St., about 350,000 square feet Bloomingdale's had occupied. No permit application had been filed as of Oct. 16.

  9. SF zoning framework for data centers designed

    Policy

    San Francisco's current zoning rules for data centers were written, predating the AI era.

Scenarios

1

Mayor signs data center moratorium into law

Deadline passed (Oct 20, 2026)

Discussed by: The San Francisco Standard, city political observers

The 45-day moratorium takes effect without a veto from Mayor Daniel Lurie, triggering the pause on new data center approvals and starting the Planning Department's study. The board could then vote to extend it to 22 months while long-term rules are developed.

2

Moratorium extended to 22 months after planning study

Possible Resolves by Dec 15, 2026

Discussed by: The San Francisco Standard, Planning Department

After the initial 45-day period, the board votes to extend the moratorium to 22 months while the Planning Department develops long-term data center zoning rules. This would give the city time to craft new standards for energy, water, and community impacts.

3

Moratorium expires after 45 days without long-term rules

Possible Resolves by Dec 15, 2026

Discussed by: Data center industry observers

The moratorium runs its 45-day course without extension. The Planning Department's study continues, but new data center applications resume under the existing 2001 zoning rules. The article notes it's unclear whether city leaders would entertain an extension.

4

San Francisco makes data center moratorium permanent

Possible Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: Mission Local, candidates for District 10

Walton has said he hopes the moratorium grows into a permanent ban. Support for stronger controls, and possibly an outright ban, is rising among the candidates running to succeed him. If the Planning Department's study finds data centers harm nearby residents, the board could adopt lasting restrictions or controls.

5

Board extends the data center moratorium past Nov. 30

Possible Resolves by Nov 30, 2026

Discussed by: Mission Local, Data Center Feed

State law lets the board extend an interim ordinance for up to 22 months if it finds data centers pose a significant environmental impact. A yes vote before the Nov. 30 expiration keeps approvals frozen while permanent zoning rules are written.

6

AI exhibit at the former Bloomingdale's gets permits after the pause

Uncertain Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: KG Growth Partners, San Francisco Chronicle reporting

KG Growth Partners has described the 845 Market St. concept as a community-facing AI exhibit rather than a server hall. It still needs a buyer to win the bid and city permits, and the moratorium bars approvals until it lifts.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2001

San Francisco's 2001 data center zoning rules

San Francisco designed its zoning framework for data centers in 2001, when computing infrastructure was far less resource-intensive. The rules don't account for the energy, water, and environmental demands of modern AI data centers.

Then

The rules governed data center development for 25 years.

Now

The framework is now seen as outdated for AI-era infrastructure.

Why this matters now

Walton cited the 2001 rules as the reason for the moratorium: 'We should not be approving this new generation of industrial infrastructure under rules that were written 25 years ago.'

September 2026

California's September 2026 data center moratorium wave

Gilroy (Sept 14), Richmond (Sept 15), and Oakley enacted moratoriums on new data center approvals. Oakland and Los Angeles County followed with their own pauses.

Then

A regional pause on data center development across the Bay Area and beyond.

Now

Cities are developing long-term zoning rules for AI infrastructure.

Why this matters now

San Francisco's moratorium is part of this coordinated regional response to the rapid growth of AI data centers.

Sources

(14)
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The San Francisco Standard Local News Matters NewsData San Francisco Examiner Mission Local NBC Bay Area KTVU FOX 2 SFist The Oaklandside GrowSF The Guardian We Are San Francisco San Francisco Planning Department The San Francisco Standard