Lubbock Council Imposed Data Center Moratorium
The Lubbock City Council approved a 90-day pause on all new large-scale data center projects in the city.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Data Centers
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The Lubbock City Council passed a resolution on September 22, 2026, establishing a 90-day moratorium on large-scale data centers. This decision places all new development projects within the city on an immediate pause.
Why it matters
The pause allows city staff to develop new standards for the special use of data centers within the community. This regulatory review follows a statewide push from Governor Greg Abbott, who has directed audits of data center projects and ordered the TCEQ to halt new permitting.
The approved 90-day moratorium is significantly shorter than the 18-month timeline originally requested by the Save Lubbock petition. Under state law, the maximum legal duration for a single municipal moratorium is 180 days.
The players
Lubbock City Council
This is the governing body responsible for setting local ordinances and land-use regulations in Lubbock, Texas.
Greg Abbott
He is the Governor of Texas who has initiated state-level audits and permit freezes for data center projects.
Christy Martinez-Garcia
She is a member of the Lubbock City Council who sponsored the resolution to pause data center developments.
Gordon Harris
He is a member of the Lubbock City Council who served as a sponsor for the recent data center moratorium resolution.
Save Lubbock
This is a local advocacy group that gathered signatures for a petition calling for an 18-month moratorium on data centers.
The details
The resolution, which requires two public hearings and a follow-up vote to become standard practice, was sponsored by councilmembers Christy Martinez-Garcia and Gordon Harris. While the council approved the measure, two councilmembers voted against the resolution.
Timeline
The Lubbock City Council voted on the moratorium on September 22, 2026.
A petition regarding the moratorium was circulated by Save Lubbock during the summer of 2026.
Roadmap
The move reflects a broader trend of municipalities reassessing the infrastructure and resource demands of large-scale technology facilities. By aligning with state-level audits, Lubbock is positioning its land-use policy to better manage the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure.
Residents and developers should expect a total pause on new data center project permitting for the next three months. This period will directly dictate which facilities are allowed to move forward once new city standards are finalized.
The takeaway
Local governments are increasingly utilizing temporary moratoriums to evaluate how massive technology facilities fit into existing zoning and utility frameworks. Citizens can participate in the ongoing regulatory process by attending the required public hearings scheduled throughout the 90-day window.
Further reading
For more information on industry trends, see our Data Centers section.
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Should your city government pause new large-scale commercial developments to implement stricter local operating standards?
