Pima County AZ data center zoning amendments (proposed 2026)

Pima County, Ariz. — draft amendments to Title 18 (Zoning Code) for data centers, set out in County Administrator Jan Lesher's memo to the Board of Supervisors dated Monday, Sept 21, 2026 (KVOA). DRAFT CONTENT (KVOA): definition of data centers; formal development review process; design and development standards; noise studies and mitigation plans; compliance with the Conservation Lands System; closed-loop water cooling; certified access to adequate water and energy supply; bufferyards of at least 200 ft next to residential or mixed-use areas (100 ft next to commercial); noise cap of 55 dB at the property line for projects near residential areas. Data centers are currently allowed only in the most intensive industrial zones. PROCESS: online survey; open house Sept 28, 2026; online forum in October; Planning and Zoning Commission review Wed., Oct 28, 2026; then a Board of Supervisors vote before the 120-day moratorium (Pima County AZ 120-day data center moratorium, adopted Sept 22, 2026) expires (AZ Luminaria). NOT ESTABLISHED: final text, ordinance number. Draft details come from two KVOA (News 4 Tucson) articles, which count as one outlet. The process (recommendations to P&Z in October, board vote before the moratorium expires) is independently confirmed by AZ Luminaria. Related: Pima County AZ 120-day data center moratorium (expires about Jan. 20, 2027).