LA County Issues Temporary Ban on Data Centers Across Unincorporated Areas
Los Angeles County's planning director has issued an immediate temporary ban on the development of large-scale AI data centers in unincorporated areas. This directive comes as the county works towards codifying the prohibition into its zoning regulations, following concerns raised by residents about public health and environmental impacts. This action aligns with similar bans and moratoriums enacted by several neighboring cities in the San Gabriel Valley.
Los Angeles County's Department of Regional Planning Director, Amy Bodek, has issued an immediate directive prohibiting the development of large-scale artificial intelligence data centers within the unincorporated areas of the county. This interim guidance is intended to serve as a temporary ban while the county proceeds with amending its zoning regulations to codify the prohibition permanently. The action stems from a unanimously approved motion in April by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, introduced by Board Chair Hilda Solis, in response to public health and environmental concerns voiced by residents, particularly in the San Gabriel Valley.
Solis emphasized that the need for such a ban is further underscored by alarming developments regarding the potential catastrophic impacts of the AI sector. She plans to bring additional actions before the Board of Supervisors to implement recommendations from the Departments of Regional Planning and Public Health, which include amending the county's zoning code to prohibit AI-powered data centers in unincorporated areas.
This county-level prohibition follows similar actions by several local municipalities. Monterey Park residents, for example, successfully opposed a proposed 218,400 square foot data center by SDCF Monterey Park, LLC, leading the City Council to impose and then extend a moratorium, eventually resulting in voters approving Measure NDC to ban data centers outright. Additionally, the city councils of El Monte and Baldwin Park voted in late April to implement a yearlong ban on data centers within their respective city limits. The City of Industry also faced criticism from residents and the No Data Centers SGV coalition over a zoning change that some feared could facilitate new data center development.