Breaking down the City of Birmingham’s new zoning ordinance for data centers
Birmingham, Alabama, has adopted a new zoning ordinance for data centers, which city leaders claim is the strongest in the Southeast. The ordinance imposes 20 conditions on future developers, including strict requirements for water use, a 500-foot setback from homes, and limitations on on-site power generation. A technical team will review applications to ensure compliance with these new regulations.
The city of Birmingham, Alabama, has officially adopted a new zoning ordinance specifically for data centers, which local leaders are touting as the most stringent in the Southeast region. This comprehensive ordinance introduces 20 mandatory conditions that prospective data center developers must satisfy to operate within the city limits.
Key provisions of the new regulations include a requirement for developers to provide estimated daily and annual water usage, with a mandate for closed-loop cooling systems, which city officials note are more water-efficient than those used by many other major data centers nationwide. Furthermore, a significant 500-foot setback is required between data centers and residential properties, with developers obliged to notify residents within this radius. According to Hunter Garrison, deputy director of the mayor's office of resilience and sustainability, these strict zoning categories will severely limit available sites for large-scale hyperscale data centers.
The ordinance also addresses power consumption, compelling data center owners to disclose their power requirements and restricting the use of on-site power generation unless it utilizes solar or fuel cell technology. Kim Speorl, zoning administrator for the Department of Planning, Engineering, and Permits, stated that a dedicated technical team of subject matter experts will meticulously review each application for adherence to these new protections. Alabama Power clarified its consistent policy for large-load agreements, where data centers cover the full cost of their energy needs, thereby safeguarding existing customers from financial impacts. The city retains the flexibility to amend the ordinance if necessary, and it will not affect current data center developers unless they plan expansions.