Data Centers Are Not Allowed in St. Petersburg, City Confirms
St. Petersburg officials confirmed that standalone data centers are prohibited under the city’s existing zoning code because they are not listed as permitted uses or special exceptions. The determination follows Florida’s enactment of Senate Bill 484, which preserves local authority over facilities with substantial electricity and utility demands.
St. Petersburg Planning Director Derek Kilborn told Mayor Ken Welch in an Oct. 9 memorandum that standalone data centers are prohibited under the city’s existing land development code. The code does not identify data centers as a permitted use or special exception, and Kilborn found no basis for classifying them as utility plants, substations or another approved use.
The determination follows Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signing of Florida Senate Bill 484, which preserves local governments’ ability to regulate facilities with major electricity and utility demands and prevents large-load customers from being treated as electric substations for certain state approvals. The city’s interpretation applies to both large-scale and smaller standalone data centers, while ancillary data infrastructure associated with an otherwise permitted business remains allowed. The memo did not propose changes to the zoning code.