Planning commission recommends council change code to make data centers conditional
News ClipSalem Reporter·Salem, Marion County, OR·7/29/2026
The Salem Planning Commission has recommended that the Salem City Council modify the city code to make future data centers conditional and impose limits on their scale. Currently, data centers are permitted in certain zones without specific scale restrictions. The commission also sought to have one of its members join the newly formed data center task force.
zoninggovernment
Gov: Salem City Council, Salem Planning Commission, Salem Mayor's Office, Salem Data Center Task Force
The city’s quasi-judicial planning commission voted Tuesday to send a letter to the Salem City Council recommending it change city code to limit or restrict future data centers. Under current code, certain zones allow for data centers under broad criteria with no limits on scale. The commission will also ask Salem Mayor Julie Hoy to allow a planning commissioner to join the city’s newly established data center task force. To comment on this story, use the form at the end of the report.