NewsMySuncoast / WWSB (ABC Sarasota)October 27, 2026Sarasota County
Venice City Council adopts 12-month moratorium on large-scale data center applications
Photo: MySuncoast / WWSB (ABC Sarasota)
The Venice City Council adopted a 12-month moratorium that immediately pauses the city's acceptance and review of development applications, permits, rezoning, and building permits for large-scale data centers and facilities with major utility demands. The temporary halt applies to facilities with an anticipated monthly peak electrical load of 50 megawatts or more, while city staff study utility and environmental impacts.
Read the full story at MySuncoast / WWSB (ABC Sarasota)Why It Matters
Property owners and developers cannot submit or process applications for facilities exceeding a 50-megawatt electrical load in Venice for one year unless the council lifts the pause early or extends it.
Key Facts
- The Venice City Council adopted a 12-month moratorium on large-scale data center applications on Oct. 27.
- The ordinance immediately pauses acceptance, review, processing, and approval of applications for construction, expansion, or operation of affected facilities.
- The pause covers comprehensive plan amendments, rezoning, land development regulation changes, conditional uses, design alternatives, site and development plans, and building permits.
- A large-scale data center is defined under the ordinance as a single location with an anticipated monthly peak electrical load of 50 megawatts or more.
- City staff will use the 12-month period to review impacts on water supply, wastewater treatment, electrical capacity, and land-use compatibility.
- The review will also consider environmental concerns including wetlands, coastal ecosystems, noise, lighting, and nearby land uses.
- The moratorium will remain in effect for 12 months unless the city adopts related regulatory changes sooner.
- The council may extend the moratorium through another ordinance following public hearings.
- A city business impact estimate states there are currently no large-load-customer businesses in Venice and none that have indicated plans to enter the city.