Tulsa Hits Pause on Data Center Expansion

City leaders approve temporary moratorium to update zoning and address community concerns

Apr. 7, 2026 at 11:35am

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A photorealistic studio still-life image of a sleek, modern data server rack made of polished steel and glass, floating on a clean, monochromatic grey background with dramatic studio lighting casting deep shadows.As Tulsa weighs the economic potential of data centers against their strain on local resources, the city pauses new development to update policies and find the right balance.Today in Tulsa

Tulsa city leaders have unanimously approved a temporary moratorium on new data center development, stepping back amid growing concerns about the impact of these massive projects on the city's power grid, water supply, and long-term growth. The nine-month pause will allow the planning office to update zoning policies and study best practices, while projects already in the pipeline can continue.

Why it matters

Data centers promise jobs, investment, and a foothold in a rapidly expanding industry, but they also raise concerns about their strain on local resources and proximity to residential areas. The moratorium gives Tulsa an opportunity to get its policies right before more data centers are built, balancing economic opportunity with community impact.

The details

The moratorium does not stop Project Anthem's phase one development, and potentially phase two, from moving forward. However, it prevents any new data center permits from being issued during the nine-month pause. This time will allow Tulsa's planning office to update the zoning code, which currently treats data centers like light industrial uses that don't have significant off-site impacts. In reality, large-scale 'hyperscale' data centers can have major effects on power, water, and nearby neighborhoods.

  • The Tulsa City Council unanimously approved the moratorium in April 2026.
  • The moratorium will last approximately 270 days, ending in early 2027.

The players

Laura Bellis

Tulsa District 4 City Councilor who supported the moratorium as a way to update zoning policies and ensure Tulsa has the capacity to support data center development.

Phil Lakin

Tulsa District 8 City Councilor who backed the moratorium as a compromise to take time and 'get the policy right' around data centers, balancing economic benefits with community concerns.

Project Anthem

A data center project in Tulsa that is allowed to continue its phase one development during the moratorium.

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What they’re saying

“This is a good first step, but it's not a complete solution. Technology, especially AI and data centers, is evolving faster than regulation.”

— Laura Bellis, Tulsa District 4 City Councilor

“The most important thing is getting the zoning code right, clearly defining where data centers can and can't go.”

— Phil Lakin, Tulsa District 8 City Councilor

What’s next

The Tulsa City Council will review the updated zoning policies and best practices for data centers at the end of the moratorium period in early 2027, determining whether to lift the pause and allow new data center development under the new guidelines.

The takeaway

Tulsa's temporary pause on new data centers allows the city to get ahead of the rapid growth in this industry, updating policies to balance the economic benefits with community concerns over power, water, and neighborhood impacts. This proactive approach aims to position Tulsa for sustainable data center development in the future.