2026-0114
INTRODUCED BY: MICHELLE O’DANIELS, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT V
LA SANDRA D. WILSON, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT I
WALTER PILIÈ, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT III
ORDINANCE NO. ___________
Title
An ordinance to enact a MORATORIUM on the permitting, consideration, approval, location, construction, and/or installation of any Data Center facilities for a period of 12 months.
Body
WHEREAS, Data Center means any facility, campus of facilities, or interconnected facilities which has the primary business purpose of processing, storage, retrieval or communication of data, including any appurtenances for power, cooling, securing or connecting the equipment regardless of ownership of the equipment; and,
WHEREAS, due to concerns from the public and Parish officials about appropriate regulations to regulate Data Centers among other issues associated with Data Centers; and,
WHEREAS, the Parish has a legitimate purpose in addressing the proper design, size, location, and operation of a Data Center in the Parish; and,
WHEREAS, the amount of water and energy consumed by, and noise produced by Data Centers raises concerns that necessary regulations may be required to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare; and,
WHEREAS, it is appropriate for the Parish to have the necessary time to formulate the protective regulations for the Parish and to enact a Moratorium for a period of 12 months or until any necessary regulations can be enacted; and,
WHEREAS, the Parish is reasonably concerned that without appropriate regulation, future Data Centers could be established within inappropriate or inadvisable locations of the Parish; and,
WHEREAS, the Parish determines that the adoption of this ordinance is necessary to preserve the public peace, health, and safety by preventing the inappropriate location and establishment of Data Centers in the Parish of St. Charles during the time needed to study, review and enact appropriate regulations.
THE ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION I. That there is hereby imposed a Moratorium on the permitting, consideration, approval, location, construction, and/or installation of any Data Center facilities.
SECTION II. Data Center means any facility, campus of facilities, or interconnected facilities which has the primary business purpose of processing, storage, retrieval or communication of data, including any appurtenances for power, cooling, securing or connecting the equipment regardless of ownership of the equipment.
SECTION III. That the Moratorium shall be in effect until enactment of the regulations addressing the proper design, size, location and operation of a Data Center in the Parish or a period of 12 months, whichever occurs first.
The foregoing ordinance having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
And the ordinance was declared adopted this ______ day of __________, 2026, to become effective immediately.
CHAIRMAN:
SECRETARY:
DLVD/PARISH PRESIDENT:
APPROVED: DISAPPROVED:
PARISH PRESIDENT:
RETD/SECRETARY:
AT: RECD BY: