Tehama County planning panel advances stricter rules for data centers
The Tehama County Planning Commission voted to advance rules requiring future data centers in industrial zones to obtain conditional use permits. County officials say no applications have been submitted, while residents raised concerns about impacts on agriculture and the area's natural landscape; the proposal now goes to the Board of Supervisors.
The Tehama County Planning Commission recommended requiring conditional use permits for data centers that are currently allowed by right in industrial zones. Planning Director Jessica Martinez said the county has not received any data center applications but wants greater oversight before developers propose projects.
During public comment, a resident warned that data center development could harm Tehama County's agricultural land and natural beauty. Commissioners also recommended exempting the zoning change itself from state environmental review, while planning staff clarified that any future data center project could still be subject to project-level environmental review. The proposal will proceed to the Tehama County Board of Supervisors for a final vote.