Monterey Park Votes on Nation's First Citywide Data Center Ban
Monterey Park Votes on Nation's First Citywide Data Center Ban
Monterey Park residents cast ballots Tuesday, June 2, 2026, on Measure NDC, a proposition that would make the California city the first in the United States to enact a permanent citywide prohibition on data centers. The special municipal election, consolidated with the statewide primary, represents the culmination of a months-long effort by the city council to formalize restrictions that began with temporary moratoriums earlier this year.
The ballot measure would amend the Monterey Park Land Use and Urban Design Element—originally adopted by voters as Measure JJ in November 2020—to explicitly prohibit data center development across all zoning categories within city limits. Monterey Park election information shows the city council unanimously added the proposition to the ballot during its March 4, 2026 meeting.
Legislative Path to the Ballot
The road to Measure NDC began with the city council's unanimous decision in March to extend an existing moratorium on data center development. At the same March 4 meeting, council members authorized the city attorney to pursue "all legal action needed" to protect the council's legislative actions against data center development and committed to considering a permanent prohibition ordinance in April 2026.
The measure builds on the city's existing Land Use and Urban Design Element framework, which voters approved through Ordinance No. 2198 in 2020. That ordinance established baseline zoning and development standards that Measure NDC would now expand to include explicit data center restrictions.
Regional Context and Opposition
The Monterey Park initiative emerges against broader regional tensions over data center siting in Los Angeles County. Los Angeles Times reporting indicates residents are simultaneously fighting proposed data center developments in nearby Vernon and City of Industry, suggesting a coordinated response to what they view as incompatible land use in densely populated areas.
Bilingual opposition signage in English and Chinese has appeared throughout Monterey Park neighborhoods, reflecting the city's demographic composition and the grassroots nature of the anti-data center campaign. The Monterey Park City Council has formally endorsed a "yes" vote on Measure NDC, according to Ballotpedia documentation.
Notably, HMC StratCap, which had been pursuing data center development in the area, indicated it would pursue alternative land uses rather than mount a ballot measure campaign against the prohibition, according to Times reporting.
Technical Implementation
Under Measure NDC's framework, a "yes" vote would incorporate data center restrictions directly into the municipal code, making circumvention more difficult than simple zoning amendments. The measure targets all forms of data center development, from hyperscale facilities typically associated with cloud providers to smaller colocation and edge computing installations.
The prohibition would operate as an overlay restriction across all existing zoning categories, rather than creating new zoning classifications. This approach mirrors environmental overlay zones used for sensitive habitat protection but applies to a specific category of commercial development.
Precedent and Broader Implications
The timing of Monterey Park's vote coincides with intensifying national debates over data center siting, particularly as artificial intelligence workloads drive demand for computing infrastructure. Traditional zoning frameworks often struggle to address the unique characteristics of data centers: high electrical loads, minimal employment density, and 24/7 operational requirements that differ substantially from conventional commercial or industrial uses.
We have seen this pattern before, when communities faced with unfamiliar industrial technologies sought blanket prohibitions rather than targeted regulation. The nuclear waste storage battles of the 1980s followed similar trajectories, with municipalities opting for outright bans when existing zoning categories proved inadequate for emerging industrial uses.
If approved, Measure NDC would likely prompt legal challenges on grounds ranging from interstate commerce restrictions to federal telecommunications policy preemption. The measure's language and implementation structure will be scrutinized by other municipalities considering similar restrictions, making Monterey Park an early test case for local authority over critical digital infrastructure.
Electoral Mechanics
The Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder's office is administering the consolidated election, with Monterey Park's special municipal election running alongside the statewide primary. This timing provides higher turnout than a standalone municipal election might generate, potentially affecting the measure's outcome by drawing voters who might not otherwise participate in local zoning decisions.
The measure requires a simple majority for passage. If approved, the prohibition would take effect immediately upon certification of election results, with no grace period for pending applications or existing negotiations.
Looking ahead, the vote's outcome will influence broader discussions about local control over digital infrastructure siting. Success for Measure NDC would likely encourage similar initiatives in other municipalities facing data center proposals, while defeat might signal the limits of local opposition to facilities increasingly viewed as critical infrastructure by state and federal policymakers.
The consolidation with the statewide primary means results should be available within hours of poll closure, providing quick resolution to a debate that has consumed Monterey Park municipal politics for months.
