Mayor and Council Approve Regulations for Large-Scale Data Centers

Published on August 06, 2026

On August 5, 2026, the Mayor and Council adopted regulations for large-scale data centers within the City of Tucson with a 6-1 vote. Prior to this, no land use regulations specific to large-scale data centers existed in the City of Tucson. These regulations were developed through a year-long public process that included extensive community engagement, consultation with technical experts, and input from the Planning Commission. The regulations establish a public review process for proposed large-scale data centers that includes neighborhood coordination, a public hearing, review by the Zoning Examiner, and final consideration by the Mayor and Council. Under the new regulations, large-scale data centers are among the most highly regulated land uses within the City.

The regulations establish development standards for large-scale data centers that:

• Define large-scale data centers and establish a review process through existing Planned Area Development (PAD) and Planned Community Development (PCD) zoning processes
• Establish enhanced separation distances between large-scale data centers and residential areas, commercial and office uses, and other sensitive locations
• Require applicants to study sound impacts, install noise barriers, and adhere to operational noise limits
• Require facilities to have access to adequate water and power supply, and mandate disclosure of their energy mix, including renewables
• Require environmental reviews, as well as enhanced green space and open space with substantial landscaping around facilities
• Provide the opportunity to protect sensitive lands off-site at a 2:1 ratio, at the discretion of the Mayor and Council

The new regulations for large-scale data centers go into effect on September 4, 2026.

Visit the large-scale data centers webpage to learn more.