Moratorium Business Impact Estimate

Business Impact Estimate

Proposed Ordinance Title/Reference:

This Business Impact Estimate is provided in accordance with Section 166.041(4), Florida Statutes. If one or more of the boxes are checked below, the checked exceptions to the Business Impact Estimate requirement apply to the above-referenced proposed ordinance, although the City is completing a Business Impact Statement to ensure that no inadvertent procedural issue could impact the enactment of the proposed ordinance.

Exceptions:

• ☐ The proposed ordinance is required for compliance with Federal or State law or regulation;
• ☐ The proposed ordinance relates to the issuance or refinancing of debt;
• ☐ The proposed ordinance relates to the adoption of budgets or budget amendments, including revenue sources necessary to fund the budget;
• ☐ The proposed ordinance is required to implement a contract or an agreement, including, but not limited to, any Federal, State, local, or private grant, or other financial assistance accepted by the City;
• ☐ The proposed ordinance is an emergency ordinance;
• ☐ The ordinance relates to procurement; or
• ☒ The proposed ordinance is enacted to implement the following:
  1. Development orders and development permits, as those terms are defined in s. 163.3164, Florida Statutes, and development agreements, as authorized by the Florida Local Government Development Agreement Act under ss. 163.3220-163.3243, Florida Statutes;
  2. Comprehensive plan amendments and land development regulation amendments initiated by an application by a private party other than the municipality;
  3. Sections 190.005 and 190.046, Florida Statutes, regarding community development districts;
  4. Section 553.73, Florida Statutes, relating to the Florida Building Code; or
  5. Section 633.202, Florida Statutes, relating to the Florida Fire Prevention Code.

In accordance with the provisions of controlling law, notwithstanding that an exemption noted above may apply, the City hereby publishes the following information:

1. Summary of the proposed ordinance

Must include statement of the public purpose, such as serving the public health, safety, morals, and welfare.

The proposed ordinance establishes a temporary moratorium of twelve (12) months on the acceptance, processing, review, and approval of applications for Development Permits, Development Orders, and other City approvals that would authorize the establishment, construction, expansion, or intensification of a Data Center. The ordinance also directs City staff to review and prepare proposed amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Code, and other regulations addressing Data Centers and Large Load Customers.

The public purpose of the proposed ordinance is to preserve the status quo while the City evaluates appropriate land use classifications, development standards, infrastructure requirements, and utility impacts for these uses. The moratorium serves the public health, safety, and welfare by allowing time for technical analysis, utility coordination, public input, and adoption of appropriate regulations for Data Centers and Large Load Customers.

2. Estimate of direct economic impact of the proposed ordinance on private, for-profit businesses in the City

The moratorium does not impose compliance obligations on existing businesses and does not affect ordinary server rooms, computer rooms, or similar incidental IT infrastructure that is subordinate to a principal use and not operated as a commercial data center service. Any direct economic impact would be limited to prospective applicants seeking to establish, construct, expand, or intensify a Data Center or use by a Large Load Customer during the moratorium period, who would experience delay in application processing. The City cannot reasonably quantify those costs at this time, as they would depend on project-specific facts not currently known. Any impact is limited due to the fact that (1) Data Centers are not currently permitted in the City of Lakeland by land use or zoning regulations, and (2) the City has no utility customers that qualify as a Large Load Customer.

3. Estimate of direct compliance costs that businesses may reasonably incur

No direct compliance costs are anticipated for existing or prospective businesses. The ordinance imposes no affirmative compliance obligations.

4. Any new charge or fee imposed by the proposed ordinance

The proposed ordinance does not impose any new charge or fee.

5. Estimate of the City’s regulatory costs, including estimated revenues from any new charges or fees to cover such costs

The proposed ordinance does not impose regulatory costs and generates no revenue from fees or charges.

6. Good faith estimate of the number of businesses likely to be impacted by the proposed ordinance

Minimal. Data Centers are not currently permitted in the City of Lakeland by land use or zoning regulations, and the City has no utility customers that qualify as a Large Load Customer.

7. Additional information, if any

The proposed ordinance is temporary and does not determine whether Data Centers or Large Load Customers will ultimately be permitted, conditionally permitted, or prohibited. Chapter 2026-65, Laws of Florida, preserves local government authority over comprehensive planning and land development regulation for Data Centers and Large Load Customers.

Date of Posting: June 26, 2026

Documents and Media

Moratorium Business Impact Estimate.pdf