Lexington planners add more restrictions for data centers, including caps on size, capacity
Lexington's Urban County Planning Commission has added tighter restrictions, including caps on size and capacity, to a data center zoning amendment for Fayette County. This action follows public input and recommendations from the environmental commission, with some residents expressing concern over the rushed process. A moratorium on data center construction is currently in place through October 31, and the amendment will be sent to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council for final approval after their summer recess.
Lexington's Urban County Planning Commission approved a zoning amendment on Thursday, July 30, 2026, introducing tighter restrictions on data center construction within Fayette County. These new regulations include limitations on the size and capacity of future data center developments.
The decision followed extensive public input and recommendations from the urban county government's environmental commission. Some planning commission members, including Frank Penn, expressed concerns about the limited time (60 days) given by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council to develop the amendment, with residents also noting the rushed process.
The city currently has a moratorium on data center construction in effect through October 31. The newly amended zoning document will now proceed to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council for further review and a final vote after the council returns from its summer recess next month. The council retains the authority to make additional changes before approving or rejecting the amendment.