Savannah, Chatham County Seek Public Input on Proposed Data Center Zoning Ordinance
Savannah and Chatham County are seeking public input on a proposed zoning ordinance that would formally define data centers and establish development standards. The draft rules could address location, noise, power and water use, emergency response, decommissioning, and community benefits before review by the Metropolitan Planning Commission and Savannah City Council.
The City of Savannah and Chatham County are developing an amendment to the zoning ordinance to define data centers as a land use and establish standards tailored to the area. Residents, businesses, and neighborhood groups can submit feedback through Nov. 20, with a draft ordinance expected in November and formal reviews anticipated in early 2027.
The proposed framework would distinguish between minor, major, and adaptive-reuse facilities and could require public engagement, special-use approvals, setbacks from sensitive locations, noise and landscaping buffers, limits on electricity and generator use, water-conservation measures, emergency-response planning, decommissioning plans, and community benefits. Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson said the process is intended to determine what local infrastructure can support while protecting neighborhoods, environmental health, and quality of life.