Baltimore Council President Zeke Cohen seeks temporary data-center ban while city drafts zoning and utility safeguards

Proposal would pause approvals as officials assess land-use, power demand and neighborhood impacts

Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen is pursuing legislation that would temporarily block new data center development in Baltimore, positioning the move as a time-limited pause while the city reviews how such facilities should be regulated through zoning and related permitting.

The initiative arrives as local governments across Maryland weigh whether existing land-use rules are sufficient for a fast-growing industry that can require large, highly reliable electricity supplies and significant on-site mechanical infrastructure. In nearby Baltimore County, elected officials have already adopted a time-bound moratorium tied to a planning and policy review, reflecting a broader regional approach of “pause-and-study” before allowing additional projects.

What a temporary ban would likely cover

While legislative language and enforcement details determine the practical reach of any moratorium, proposals of this type are generally designed to pause one or more of the following actions for a defined period:

• Approvals of zoning requests or text amendments that would newly allow data centers in additional districts
• Acceptance or approval of site plans and development plans for data center projects
• Permitting pathways that could lock in project rights before new standards are adopted

In Baltimore, a central policy question is how the city should define “data center” in the zoning code, where such facilities would be permitted, and what performance standards—such as noise, setback, lighting, emissions controls for backup generators, and other operational requirements—should apply.

Energy demand and infrastructure planning are key issues

Data centers can intensify demand on the electric grid, raising planning questions for local distribution infrastructure and for the regional grid that supplies much of Maryland. State and local officials have increasingly focused on whether high-load facilities should be required to secure appropriate interconnection arrangements and demonstrate adequate power supply planning before local approvals are granted.

Maryland lawmakers have also introduced proposals aimed at placing statewide limits or conditions on new data center construction, underscoring how permitting questions extend beyond any single jurisdiction.

Economic development versus land-use conflicts

Supporters of data center recruitment often cite construction jobs, potential tax revenue, and the role of digital infrastructure in supporting business activity. Critics and cautious local officials point to land-use conflicts, cumulative infrastructure costs, and uncertainty about long-term community benefits relative to footprint and resource demands.

A temporary ban is typically framed as a mechanism to prevent piecemeal approvals while a city establishes consistent rules—rather than a permanent prohibition. Whether Baltimore ultimately allows projects, limits them to specific industrial areas, or sets stricter operating conditions would be determined through subsequent legislative and planning actions.

Next steps will depend on committee scheduling, public testimony, and amendments that clarify the moratorium’s duration, covered approvals, and exemptions for already-entitled projects.

If enacted, the measure would set a defined window for city agencies and the Council to craft a longer-term regulatory framework, with the stated aim of aligning any future data center development with neighborhood compatibility and infrastructure capacity.