The Boston City Council is scheduled to consider a citywide zoning measure on data centers at its meeting on Oct. 21, 2026, according to the published agenda on the city’s Legistar system.
The agenda item, listed as Order 1718, is described as “a text amendment to the Boston Zoning Code to prohibit data centers in all zoning districts.” It appears under the agenda section “Matters Recently Heard — For Possible Action,” according to the official record.
The measure matters to residents because it would affect where data center facilities can be built throughout the city, under the terms described in the agenda. The zoning code governs land use across Boston’s various zoning districts, and a citywide prohibition would apply broadly rather than to a single neighborhood or parcel.
The same meeting agenda also lists Order 1601, a separate item calling for a hearing to explore raising the percentage of Community Preservation Act funds dedicated to affordable housing, according to the published record.
- Meeting: Boston City Council, Oct. 21, 2026
- Agenda Item 1718: Text amendment to prohibit data centers in all zoning districts
- Status: Listed under “Matters Recently Heard — For Possible Action”
- Related item: Order 1601, concerning Community Preservation Act funds for affordable housing
- Source: Official Legistar meeting agenda, City of Boston
The council is scheduled to take up the zoning order for possible action at the Oct. 21 meeting, according to the agenda. The agenda does not specify the outcome of any vote or further procedural steps beyond the meeting listing itself.
Residents seeking to engage with the process can attend the Oct. 21 City Council meeting or review the full agenda and meeting details through the city’s Legistar portal, where the item is posted under meeting ID 14268.
Official source: the published record