Missouri
Under DiscussionNo statewide moratorium legislation, but Missouri is a hotbed of local action. St. Charles enacted a citywide moratorium and is considering a permanent ban. Kansas City and St. Louis enacted zoning restrictions, and Columbia froze permits. Jackson County passed a 180-day moratorium (8-0) on June 22, 2026, and Springfield followed with a 120-day administrative delay on June 29. In mid-July 2026 the pace picked up again: St. Charles County unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on July 13 and the City of St. Joseph paused new applications the same day. Missouri also landed two of the nation's largest 2026 data center announcements — a $15B Google campus and a $10B Amazon campus, both in Montgomery County. Kansas City is now reviewing a 20-story downtown data center that would redevelop the historic Western Newspaper Union building; more than 80 residents turned out against it over water demand and preservation concerns, and the City Planning Commission takes it up August 5, 2026. On August 12, 2026 state lawmakers announced plans for AI and data center legislation when the General Assembly reconvenes in January 2027, and released an evaluation framework for local governments assessing proposals. Local decisions continue to cut both ways: St. Joseph's council rejected a proposal to create a citizen data center advisory committee 3-6 on August 17, with opponents arguing existing committees already provide oversight. Ozark's Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended preemptive data center regulations on August 25, 2026 — requiring a conditional use permit, environmental impact report, noise compliance and size/use disclosure — which now go to the Board of Aldermen. Kirksville's Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended confining data centers to a single heavy industrial district, with council action expected October 26, 2026.
Local Actions
One-year moratorium enacted August 2023, now permanent ban proposed. Triggered by 440-acre 'Project Cumulus'.
Mayor issued Executive Order establishing requirements for data center developers. Proposed rules would limit large-scale data centers to industrial zones with a 500,000 sq ft cap.
Reclassifies data centers from commercial to industrial facilities, limits them to specific industrial zoning districts, requires City Council approval for larger facilities and utility capacity confirmation.
County Legislature passed a 180-day moratorium (8-0) on June 22, 2026 on data center and battery-storage land-use applications in unincorporated areas.
City Council voted 8-0 on June 29, 2026 for a 120-day administrative delay on processing data center applications, expiring November 17, 2026.
City Council voted 6-0 to direct staff to bring forward a six-month administrative delay on processing data center applications.
County Council unanimously approved a six-month moratorium on new data centers.
City Council paused acceptance of new data center applications while it updates zoning rules.
Council rejected 3-6 a proposal to establish a citizen data center advisory committee; opponents argued existing committees provide sufficient oversight.
Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended new data center regulations on August 25, 2026 — conditional use permit, environmental impact report, noise compliance, and size/use disclosure — advancing to the Board of Aldermen for two hearings before a final vote.
The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended (reported the week of September 21-24, 2026) a zoning amendment confining data centers to a single heavy industrial district; a council study session is set for October 19 with action expected October 26.