City of Savannah asks for input on proposed data center ordinance
Savannah is seeking public input on a proposed data center zoning ordinance that would define data centers as a land use and establish development standards tailored to the city. City officials are working with Chatham County and the Metropolitan Planning Commission, with a draft expected in November and City Council review targeted for January 2027.
The City of Savannah has opened a public survey on a proposed ordinance governing data center development. The amendment would formally define data centers as a land use in the city’s zoning ordinance and establish Savannah-specific development standards.
City officials are developing the proposal with the Chatham County-Savannah Metropolitan Planning Commission and Chatham County. Public comments are being accepted through Nov. 20, followed by publication of a draft ordinance and public hearings. Mayor Van Johnson said the city must weigh infrastructure capacity, community benefits, environmental health, public safety and neighborhood impacts before finalizing the rules. The proposal is expected to go before Savannah City Council for review and a possible adoption recommendation in January 2027.