Mayor Daniel Lurie Signs 45-Day Data Center Moratorium as Board Advances Freedom West 2.0 Housing Plan

Mayor Lurie Enacts 45-Day Moratorium on New Data Center Construction

SAN FRANCISCO, California — Enacting emergency municipal controls to safeguard local electrical grid reliability, Mayor Daniel Lurie officially signed into law a 45-day citywide moratorium on new data center developments in late October 2026. Authored by Supervisor Shamann Walton and expedited by Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, the ordinance passed unanimously through the Board of Supervisors.

The moratorium directs the San Francisco Planning Department and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to conduct an exhaustive environmental and electrical capacity assessment. City planners will formulate long-term zoning regulations ensuring that high-density computing centers do not strain electrical grids, escalate resident utility bills, or emit excessive cooling tower noise in surrounding neighborhoods.

Advancing the Landmark Freedom West 2.0 Housing Redevelopment

Concurrently inside City Hall, Mayor Lurie introduced major development legislation to accelerate the Freedom West 2.0 transformation in the Western Addition. Spanning four full city blocks, the revitalized master plan will deliver approximately 2,400 new homes, vibrant public open plazas, neighborhood retail, and an innovative community STEM educational center.

The project provides newly constructed, modern cooperative residences for all existing legacy shareholder families at zero out-of-pocket cost, while introducing hundreds of workforce housing units. Mayor Lurie hailed the development as a national gold standard for equitable urban revitalization that honors community history while addressing the housing shortage.

Unanimous Passage of Tenant Eviction Protections

The Board of Supervisors also enacted a tenant protection measure introduced by Supervisor Jackie Fielder and co-sponsored by seven colleagues. The legislation prohibits residential landlords from filing nonpayment eviction notices against tenants whose outstanding rent is less than the regional fair-market value of a single month's rent. Civic leaders praised the ordinance for preventing homelessness caused by temporary, nominal financial shortfalls.