Mayor and Council Approve Regulations for Large-Scale Data Centers
The City of Tucson's Mayor and Council adopted new regulations for large-scale data centers on August 5, 2026, following a year-long public engagement process. These regulations establish a public review process and development standards, making large-scale data centers one of the most highly regulated land uses in the city. The new rules are set to become effective on September 4, 2026.
On August 5, 2026, the City of Tucson's Mayor and Council approved new land use regulations for large-scale data centers with a 6-1 vote. This decision fills a previous gap in the city's zoning code, as no specific regulations for such facilities existed before.
The City of Tucson Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD) spearheaded the year-long development process, which involved extensive community engagement, consultation with technical experts, and input from the Planning Commission. The newly adopted regulations establish a comprehensive public review process for proposed large-scale data centers.
Under these new rules, which take effect on September 4, 2026, data centers will be subject to neighborhood coordination, public hearings, review by the Zoning Examiner, and final consideration by the Mayor and Council. The regulations also set specific development standards, classifying large-scale data centers as one of the most highly regulated land uses within the City of Tucson.