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Indianapolis
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Indianapolis

Indiana's capital city, where a council committee now recommends a data-centre moratorium through 2027.

Last refreshed: 25 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Why did Indianapolis choose zoning rules over a moratorium on data centres?

Timeline for Indianapolis

#11 21 Jul
#10 12 Jul

Hosted the MDC committee's moratorium vote

Data Centres: Boom and Backlash: Indianapolis backs freezing new data centres
#10 5 Jul

Indiana counties turn pauses into bans

Data Centres: Boom and Backlash
#9 30 Jun

A third of Indiana counties resist

Data Centres: Boom and Backlash
View full timeline →

Background

Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana and the seat of Marion County, the state's largest city by population. It sits near the geographic centre of Indiana on the White River.

On 1 July 2026 the city's Metropolitan Development Commission voted 5-3 to advance a special use zoning district, SU-47, for data centres, over resident calls for an outright moratorium. That approach was overtaken twelve days later: the City-County Council's Metropolitan Economic Development Committee voted 10-3 on 13 July 2026 to recommend a full moratorium on new data-centre approvals through 31 December 2027 instead, targeting hyperscale facilities over 70 feet tall near residential areas. Council President Maggie Lewis sponsored the amendment and Mayor Joe Hogsett backs the pause; the full City-County Council votes on 10 August 2026.

The move comes amid a statewide wave in which roughly a third of Indiana's 92 counties have adopted some form of data-centre restriction, from ordinances to moratoriums to outright bans in counties such as Marshall and Cass.

Common Questions
What is Indianapolis's SU-47 data centre zoning proposal?
A new special use zoning district advanced 1 July 2026 that sets setbacks, a 55-decibel noise cap, and mandatory decommissioning and annual reporting for data centres in Marion County.
Why did Indianapolis choose zoning rules instead of a data centre moratorium?
The Metropolitan Development Commission advanced the SU-47 zoning proposal over resident calls for an outright pause, opting to regulate location, noise and reporting rather than block development.
How many Indiana counties restrict data centres?
Close to a third of Indiana's 92 counties have adopted some restriction, ranging from formal ordinances and temporary moratoriums to outright bans in counties such as Marshall and Cass.
Where is Indianapolis located?
In central Indiana on the White River; it is the state capital and the seat of Marion County.
Is Indianapolis passing a data centre moratorium?
A City-County Council committee voted 10-3 on 13 July 2026 to recommend a moratorium on new data-centre approvals through 31 December 2027. The full Council votes 10 August 2026.Source: event
What happened to Indianapolis's SU-47 data centre zoning proposal?
The Metropolitan Development Commission advanced SU-47 zoning rules on 1 July 2026, but the City-County Council's own committee overtook that approach on 13 July, recommending a full moratorium instead.
Who supports Indianapolis's data centre moratorium?
Council President Maggie Lewis sponsored the moratorium amendment and Mayor Joe Hogsett has publicly backed the pause.Source: event
Source Material