Raleigh City Council Evening Meeting - October 06, 2026

The City of Raleigh City Council’s evening meeting on October 6, 2026, included a public hearing on a proposed data-center moratorium. Council adopted the temporary moratorium, with a technical clarification exempting certain state-owned buildings and property, by a 7–1 vote. It pauses required development approvals for major utility data centers for six months—from October 6 through April 6, 2027—or until new regulations are adopted, whichever comes first. Minor data centers (10,000 square feet or less and five megawatts or less), qualifying pre-existing or vested projects, and specified statutory exemptions are not covered. Residents urged a 32-month moratorium and raised concerns about water and power use, noise, pollution, neighborhood impacts, and public engagement. Staff said it is developing zoning and Raleigh Water amendments, including consideration of reclaimed-water connections, and outlined further public input and review opportunities.

Other land-use decisions included unanimous approval of a Midtown Market Avenue street closure; denial, 7–1, of the Litchford Road rezoning; approval, 6–2, of the Capital Boulevard rezoning; and unanimous approval of the Western Boulevard rezoning. Council continued the Wake County-owned Caria Drive rezoning hearing to October 20 to allow further discussion with the applicant. No procurement activity, contract awards, vendor selections, or purchasing decisions were identified.