Potential amendment could change zoning classification of data centers
News ClipWDIO.com·Hermantown, St. Louis County, MN·3/10/2026
The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners is considering a proposed amendment to change the zoning classification of data centers from Commercial III to the stricter Industrial II. This would place more regulations on the development of data centers in the county. Local residents have expressed concerns about the resource demands and environmental impacts of large-scale data centers, while construction trade groups have voiced support for project labor agreements related to data center projects.
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Gov: St. Louis County Board of Commissioners, St. Louis County Planning and Zoning Department
The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners is considering a proposed amendment that would change the zoning classification of data centers from a Commercial III class to a stricter Industrial II class. This would impose more regulations on data centers. During public comments, some residents expressed concerns about the resource-intensive nature of large-scale data centers, while union representatives highlighted the benefits of project labor agreements for local workers. The board chair acknowledged the difficulty in balancing these competing interests and said they will carefully review the information before acting on the amendment proposal.