San Francisco Board of Supervisors Enacts 45-Day Moratorium on New AI Data Center Approvals

Board of Supervisors Unanimously Enacts Emergency 45-Day Moratorium on Data Centers

SAN FRANCISCO, California — In an unprecedented regulatory intervention responding to the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence computing infrastructure, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in mid-October 2026 to enact an immediate 45-day moratorium on new data center construction and expansions. Authored by Supervisor Shamann Walton, expedited by Board President Rafael Mandelman, and officially signed into law by Mayor Daniel Lurie, the interim emergency ordinance halts all municipal planning approvals for data facilities citywide.

The temporary freeze compels the San Francisco Planning Department, the Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), and municipal environmental officials to conduct an exhaustive technical evaluation of the electric grid demands, water consumption, and localized noise impacts generated by high-density AI server farms. Lawmakers noted that unregulated data center expansions threaten neighborhood electrical distribution networks and climate action targets, requiring a permanent regulatory framework balancing technological innovation with municipal environmental standards.

Board Expands Landmark Protection for Historic Compton's Cafeteria Riot Site

Demonstrating cultural preservation, the Board of Supervisors advanced landmark legislation expanding official municipal protections for Landmark No. 307, the historic Site of the Compton's Cafeteria Riot in the Tenderloin. The measure broadens the landmark designation to encompass the entire architectural structure at 101–121 Taylor Street, extending the historic period of significance to recognize the foundational 1966 transgender and queer civil rights uprising.

Community advocates and preservationists commended the unanimous action, noting that codifying full structural protections ensures that working-class civil rights heritage remains preserved amid downtown commercial pressures.

Green Building Code Updates Mandate Low-Carbon Construction Standards

Complementing infrastructure oversight, the board processed comprehensive updates to the San Francisco Environment Code, tightening municipal green building mandates for major commercial renovations and multi-family residential towers. The upgraded regulations mandate low-embodied-carbon concrete, full building electrification, and expanded on-site solar storage systems across future developments, reinforcing the city's leadership in sustainable urban planning.