On June 9, 2026, the Urban County Council unanimously passed a moratorium on data center development in Lexington.

This action pauses permits, development plans, and zone changes related to data centers in Fayette County until October 31, 2026. Council also initiated a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (ZOTA) or the formal process to make changes to Lexington's zoning ordinances related to data centers.

Council wants to hear from you!

Share your thoughts, concerns, ideas, or questions and learn what your neighbors have to say about data centers in Fayette County by joining the online forum below!

There is also the "Idea Submission" tab that allows you to leave a digital "sticky note" for the community and the Council to see. Please share any benefits of, concerns about, or thoughts on locations for data centers.

Residents are also invited to send their feedback to staff in the Division of Planning by emailing: PlanningMailbox@LexingtonKY.gov.

As future updates (ordinance drafts, etc.) become available, residents will be invited to share further feedback.

Helpful Terms & Definitions:

A Data Center is the physical infrastructure that houses computer systems that store and process information. These facilities allow users to access webservices, analyze information, and support cloud storage. They come in an array of sizes and vary widely in terms of the power, water, and structural needs.

The Planning Commission is the appointed body that oversees numerous "land use" issues in Lexington; it reviews development plans for proposed projects, makes recommendations to Council when there is a zone change request, helps to craft and approves Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments (ZOTAs), etc.

Lexington's Zoning Ordinance regulates how land in Fayette County is developed and used.

• A Conditional Use is an approved exception to the regular rules of the zone that a property is in; specific conditions must be met and requires special approval to address potential negative impacts.
• A Principle or Permitted Use is the primary use of land or a main building, which use is compatible with the purpose of and permitted in the zone it's located in.
• A Prohibited Use is any use of land which is not listed as permitted use or conditional use within a zone.

A Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (ZOTA) provides a means for the Planning Commission, Urban County Council, or a public Applicant to update the Zoning Ordinance. ZOTAs are not tied to a specific piece of property, but are based on the needs of the community as a whole.