San Antonio Data Center Rules: Council Vote Set for Oct. 29
San Antonio City Council is scheduled to choose among four proposed rule frameworks for data centers on Oct. 29. The proposals would limit eligible zones and may impose setbacks, noise and lighting standards, public engagement requirements, and case-by-case approval, while power and water regulation would remain with CPS Energy and the San Antonio Water System.
San Antonio City Council is preparing to vote on four competing frameworks governing where and how data centers may be developed. The proposals would restrict projects to industrial, commercial or manufacturing areas and prohibit construction over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, with options ranging from by-right approval to mandatory review by the Zoning Commission and City Council. Some proposals include residential setbacks of up to 1,000 feet, noise limits, lighting controls, public notice and engagement requirements, and specific-use authorization for each project.
The rules were developed by the city’s Development Services Department after months of public meetings and recommendations from the advisory Zoning Commission. Council members remain divided over whether projects should receive automatic approval or undergo case-by-case review. Existing data centers could become nonconforming under new rules, although the commission recommended exemptions for expansions or phased construction already underway. The vote also comes as CPS Energy reports dozens of additional data centers and other large-load projects in its planning pipeline, while the San Antonio Water System promotes recycled water and more water-efficient cooling systems.