Rhode Island data center moratoriums

As of 31 Oct 2026, we count at least 1 local data center pause in force in Rhode Island, 2 bans and 2 proposals, across its counties, cities and townships. At state level: checked, nothing found.

1 pauses in force · 2 bans · 2 proposed
1 pauses end within 60 days
Checked: 5 counties, 2 cities, 25 townships · 5 on tracker

Cite this page

Source: Grounded Compute, Rhode Island moratorium tracker, 31 Oct 2026. https://groundedcompute.com/us/rhode-island/moratoriums

Every row below has its source and the date we checked it. For reporters: contact and corrections

State level · Checked, nothing found

We asked about state laws, orders and bills: checked, nothing found (31 Oct 2026).

Expiring by 30 Dec 2026

2 Nov 2026Hopkinton TownPauseopengov.sos.ri.govGovernment confirmed

Moratorium map · counties

Ban: 0 counties
Pause (active or extended): 0 counties
Pause proposed: 0 counties
End date passed, no update found: 0 counties
Ended, expired or none found: 5 counties
No government or news source found: 0 counties

Township: ban
Township: pause
Township: pause proposed

City: ban
City: pause
City: pause proposed

5 counties checked · 31 Oct 2026
Cities on the tracker drawn as dots (1)
Townships on the tracker (4) drawn as one square at their county's centre
Schematic; outlines: US Census

Tracker · 5 bans, pauses and proposals

Rows grouped under their count; each count matches the figures at the top
3 government confirmed · 2 news reported
Ended pauses and no-pause checks: on the map only. We checked counties, cities and townships; nothing found is not proof that none exists
Method

Jurisdiction	Status	Covers	End	Permanent rules	Source
Bans (2)
Charlestown Town (Washington County)	Ban	–	–	Rules adopted	ecori.org News reported Checked 31 Oct 2026
Smithfield Town (Providence County)	Ban	–	–	Rules adopted	smithfieldri.gov Government confirmed Checked 31 Oct 2026
Pauses in force (1)
Hopkinton Town (Washington County)	Pause	All data centers	2 Nov 2026	–	opengov.sos.ri.gov Government confirmed Checked 31 Oct 2026
Proposed (2)
Warren Town (Bristol County)	Pause proposed	–	–	Rules drafted	eastbayri.com News reported Checked 31 Oct 2026
Warwick (city, Kent)	Pause proposed	–	–	Rules drafted	warwickri.gov Government confirmed Checked 31 Oct 2026

– = not found in the sources we checked