Clackamas County residents will get their first chance to weigh in on a proposed data center moratorium at a public hearing Tuesday, Sept. 15.

The hearing is part of the Board of Commissioners' Issues & Updates session, scheduled for 10 a.m. at 2051 Kaen Road #409 in Oregon City.

Residents can also attend via Zoom or watch live on the county's meeting page.

Free language assistance is available with 48 hours' notice by calling 503-655-8581.

The five-member board voted unanimously on Aug. 11 to direct staff to begin the moratorium process, The Oregonian reported.

No data centers operate in the county. No developers had requested a permit at that time, but under existing zoning, a company could build one in general industrial, light industrial or business park zones without special approval.

Commissioner Diana Helm said at the Aug. 11 meeting that she wanted to "be very responsive to our constituents. They want to make sure nothing happens at all until we have guardrails in place. So, putting a pause on it until we can do something, I think, is in our best interest."

Oregon law requires the county to demonstrate "compelling need" based on "public harm" before a moratorium can take effect. Once adopted, a moratorium lasts 120 days and can be extended.

Gov. Tina Kotek ordered state agencies on Sept. 8 to pause all data center-related land transactions on state-owned property.

Kotek said at a Capitol rally that she supports a legislative moratorium but acknowledged the state "currently lacks authority to enact a statewide moratorium on data center development," according to the Central Oregonian. Her pause runs through July 1, 2027.

Clackamas County joins a growing list of Oregon governments acting on data centers. Hillsboro, which hosts 35 operating data centers, enacted a 120-day moratorium on July 27, Hoodline reported. Woodburn and Salem have started similar processes. Washington County voted not to pursue one.

Four Democratic state lawmakers, including State Sen. Courtney Neron Misslin of Wilsonville, plan to propose a three-year statewide moratorium during the 2027 legislative session, the Lake Oswego Review reported.

In March, the Legislature passed a one-year pause on a tax incentive program for data centers.

The Sept. 15 agenda also includes a supplemental budget resolution for fiscal year 2026-2027 with a net increase of $13.2 million in appropriations.

Adjustments primarily affect the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and the Health, Housing and Human Services Fund.

Residents who want to comment on the moratorium can attend in person, join by Zoom or email the board at [email protected].