ZEPHYRHILLS - Prohibition Of Data Centers Considered
By Joe Potter
On June 8, Zephyrhills City Council members unanimously approved on its first reading an ordinance that would place a temporary one year moratorium on new Data Center proposals. The second reading and possible adoption is scheduled for June 22. During a public hearing, Laura Strange voiced opposition to the development of Data Centers in Zephyrhills, saying, “We need water. We can’t live without water. So, the amount, depending on the size of the data centers, is going to be probably unbelievable.” She was the only speaker at that hearing.
Preventing Data Centers in Zephyrhills is intended to protect local power and water resources, and if adopted on June 22, the moratorium would give the City a year to evaluate potential impacts on resources and services. City Manager Billy Poe said he had not been approached about any possible Data Center location. An agenda memo noted that Data Centers would require substantial utility infrastructure, including water and electricity, and that the Land Development Code (LDC) currently does not specify where Data Centers could be located or detail their design and operation.
If the moratorium is adopted, the City would have time to review regulations and amend the LDC regarding Data Centers, allowing the community to be heard in the planning process. Poe urged them to “not make a rash decision,” but to learn the facts and implement appropriate regulations if impacts prove significant. Consumer Reports recently estimated that a Data Center could use about 5 million gallons of water per day, a concern amplified by the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) driving growth in Data Center development. Planning Director Rodney Corriveau recalled how residents in other communities felt when centers were built without input, noting outrage from those who were not given a chance to voice concerns.
Corriveau emphasized that adopting the proposed ordinance and the one year moratorium would allow community input and be an important step in planning. Pasco County’s Board of County Commissioners held its first reading and public hearing on June 16 in New Port Richey to establish a temporary one-year moratorium on the development of Data Centers in the county’s unincorporated areas. The move followed Zephyrhills’ action eight days earlier regarding a similar temporary moratorium. A second reading, public hearing, and potential adoption are scheduled for July 14 at 1:30 p.m. in Dade City.
Marieke vanErven, Dade City’s city manager, said the staff is conducting additional research before proposing a temporary one-year moratorium on Data Centers within the city limits.
JUNE 22, 2026 ZEPHYRHILLS CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING UPDATE Zephyrhills Examines a Pause on Data Centers. The City of Zephyrhills is moving forward with a one-year pause on approving data center projects, joining other Tampa Bay-area municipalities in crafting development guidelines. After a second reading of the ordinance and a public hearing on Monday, June 22, the Zephyrhills City Council approved the measure with a 4-0 vote; Commissioner Ken Burgess was not present for the vote.
The proposed moratorium would temporarily stop building permits, zoning changes, and site-plan approvals related to data center developments. City officials describe the action as a precautionary step rather than a response to any specific project in the works. The council had previously given initial approval to a temporary moratorium on such facilities earlier in the month. Planning Manager Rodney Corriveau noted that no projects are currently under review and there are no known proposals in the pipeline. He added that the team’s early research revealed that data centers are rapidly expanding nationwide in ways that many residents aren’t aware of, and the city wants to ensure residents have an opportunity to voice their views on the issue.♥
