Minneapolis Council Passes Data Center Rules
The narrowly approved ordinance limits data centers to two downtown zones and existing buildings, pending approval from Mayor Jacob Frey.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Data Centers
Live Poll
Should Minneapolis allow data centers in downtown zones?
The Minneapolis City Council narrowly passed a data center ordinance that would restrict new facilities to two downtown zones and existing buildings. The measure still requires approval from Mayor Jacob Frey before it can take effect.
Why it matters
The ordinance arrives as Minneapolis weighs how to fill about 9 million square feet of vacant office space and whether data centers can strengthen the city's jobs and tax base. Supporters argue adaptive reuse of vacant buildings may be the only path out of the vacancy problem.
Minneapolis has roughly 9 million square feet of vacant office space, the figure cited as the basis for reusing buildings for data centers. The extraction does not specify power, cooling, or capacity requirements that the ordinance would impose on facilities.
The players
Minneapolis City Council
The Minneapolis City Council is the legislative body of Minnesota's largest city, responsible for passing local ordinances.
Jacob Frey
Jacob Frey is the mayor of Minneapolis, whose approval is required before the data center ordinance can take effect.
The details
Under the ordinance, data centers would be limited to two downtown zones and existing buildings, and each would require full approval of the council. The measure must still receive approval from Mayor Jacob Frey before taking effect.
Timeline
Nov. 13, 2026: City Council narrowly passed the data center ordinance.
Nov. 21, 2026: The current data center moratorium is set to expire.
Roadmap
The ordinance is the proposed successor to Minneapolis's data center moratorium, which is set to expire on November 21, 2026. It would replace a temporary pause with permanent zoning limits restricting facilities to two downtown zones and existing buildings.
Residents and businesses near downtown Minneapolis could see data center development restricted to two zones and existing buildings. The ordinance would also shape how the city uses its vacant office space going forward.
The takeaway
Minneapolis is weighing whether converting vacant office buildings into data centers can deliver jobs and tax revenue without unchecked development. The outcome will depend on the mayor's decision and how the zoning limits are applied.
What happens next
The ordinance requires Mayor Jacob Frey's approval, and the current moratorium expires on November 21, 2026.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Data Centers in Minneapolis.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
Live Poll
Should Minneapolis allow data centers in downtown zones?
