Louisville Metro Council begins debate on data center regulations

The Louisville Metro Council's Planning and Zoning Committee held its initial debate on proposed regulations for data center construction, which will dictate future development in Louisville and Jefferson County. The city currently has a moratorium on new data center approvals in Jefferson County until February or until new regulations are passed.

The recommendations from the city's Planning Commission include a ban on data centers exceeding 500,000 square feet and stringent rules for smaller facilities, such as a quarter-mile setback from schools and community centers. No immediate decisions were made, and committee members, including Chair Andrew Owen, plan to continue extended discussions. Council Member Tammy Hawkins suggested special hearings and voiced support for a complete ban on data centers in residential communities, citing environmental and health concerns for her West End constituents, where a hyperscale data center is already under construction.

Representatives from the Jefferson County Attorney's office confirmed that while a ban is possible, it would require substantial justification. The proposed regulations are the result of months of public feedback, including town halls and surveys, which indicated a strong desire among residents to ban data center construction throughout Jefferson County. The Planning Commission also recommended requiring rezoning for most data center projects, ensuring public scrutiny and comment opportunities, and mandating closed-loop cooling systems to reduce water usage.