Laredo City Council rejects a data center moratorium and directs staff to draft permanent standards for heavy water and utility users
Laredo City Council declined to impose a temporary moratorium on data center permits. It instead directed city management and the city attorney's office, unanimously, to draft permanent regulations for industries that consume large amounts of water or place heavy demand on public utilities. The city attorney told the council that Laredo's existing Land Development Code already prohibits uses that are not specifically permitted. Planning staff reported that neither the city nor Webb County had received an application for a data center. Mayor Victor Trevino held a community town hall on August 11th, 2026 on the proposed regulations.
How to take part
The draft regulations return to Laredo City Council for public consideration, and the mayor has been holding community town halls on the proposals. Council agendas and matter records are published in the city's Legistar system.
Where
1 county. In Laredo.
Dates
| Date | What | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-05 | ordered | Council rejected the moratorium and directed staff to draft permanent standards, as reported |
| 2026-08-11 | hearing | Mayor-hosted community town hall on proposed data center regulations |
The evidence
Every fact above rests on one of these. The words are the source's own.
city management and the city attorney's office to draft regulations governing industries that require substantial water consumption or place significant demands on public utilitiesLaredo, Texas, Moves to Set Permanent Data Center Standards, Government Technology Journalism
I believe we're well protected at this point in time,Laredo, Texas, Moves to Set Permanent Data Center Standards, Government Technology Journalism
had also contacted Webb County, which reported it had not received an application for a similar project.Laredo, Texas, Moves to Set Permanent Data Center Standards, Government Technology Journalism
This is not about stopping economic development. It is about ensuring that growth is responsible, sustainable, and in the best long-term interests of our community.Laredo, Texas, Moves to Set Permanent Data Center Standards, Government Technology Journalism
we need a moratorium on data centers for Laredo, just like the City of Harlingen did... to write the rules for any potential applications that we get.Laredo council moves to freeze data center applications amid regulatory gap, KGNS Journalism