Fort Smith AR data center ordinance
Fort Smith, AR — Board of Directors Adopts Data Center Ordinance: Planning Commission Review, Board Approval, 500-Ft Setbacks and Utility Capacity Letters (Oct. 5, 2026)
Fort Smith, AR · Fort Smith, AR data center development ordinance (adopted Oct. 5, 2026)
- Status
- Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Applies to
- Data center developers in Fort Smith industrial districts
- Enforced by
- City of Fort Smith Board of Directors; Planning Commission
Fort Smith, Arkansas adopted an ordinance that makes data center projects in industrial zones go through Planning Commission development plan review and then approval by the full city board. Sites must have an eight-foot opaque wall, 500-foot setbacks from every property line, and letters from utilities about capacity and the proposed load. Some directors want tougher rules, including whether water contracts can be used, to be considered later.
Who is protected: Fort Smith, AR residents
Legal detail
Ordinance requires development plan review by the Planning Commission and Board of Directors approval for data centers in industrial zoning districts; 8-ft opaque wall; 500-ft setbacks from each property line; utility capacity/proposed-load letters. Planning Commission had recommended it unanimously. Effective date not stated in sources.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Fort Smith, AR |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | October 5, 2026 |
| Citation | Fort Smith, AR data center development ordinance (adopted Oct. 5, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Fort Smith board approves data center ordinance but seeks more restrictions — Talk Business & Politics (Oct. 6, 2026) |
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- Superior WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Dane County WI Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Manitowoc County WI Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026) · In effect
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