Jackson County Commissioner Discusses Data Center Zoning Regulations
A Jackson County commissioner says the county’s 2025 zoning regulations provide a proactive framework for evaluating data centers in unincorporated areas. Data centers require a special use permit, allowing officials to assess individual proposals and their potential effects on power, water, infrastructure and the community.
A Jackson County commissioner said the county adopted data center zoning regulations in 2025 ahead of broader public concern about the industry. The rules require proposed data centers in unincorporated areas to obtain special use permits, while county staff consult with power providers and water-resource officials before applications reach the planning office.
The commissioner described the framework as a model for other Georgia communities, emphasizing that special-use review gives the county discretion to approve or reject projects based on their individual impacts. The discussion also placed data center oversight within the context of Jackson County’s broader infrastructure pressures, including growth-related demands on water, sewer, roads and schools.