Tucson AZ large-scale data center zoning ordinance
Tucson, AZ — City Council Large-Scale Data Center Zoning Regulations (Unified Development Code Amendment, 2026)
Tucson, AZ · Tucson Unified Development Code Amendment — Large-Scale Data Centers (adopted August 5, 2026, effective September 4, 2026; Mayor and Council vote 6-1)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- September 4, 2026
- Applies to
- Developers proposing large-scale data centers (>25,000 sq ft or >20 MW) within the City of Tucson; applicable to incorporated city area only (not unincorporated Pima County or other Pima County municipalities)
- Enforced by
- City of Tucson Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD); Mayor and City Council (final approval authority for PAD/PCD rezoning)
Tucson, Arizona's City Council voted 6-1 on August 5, 2026 to adopt strict zoning regulations for large-scale data centers, effective September 4, 2026. A 'large-scale data center' is defined as a facility exceeding 25,000 square feet or using more than 20 megawatts of power. Any such facility must go through a Planned Area Development (PAD) or Planned Community Development (PCD) rezoning process — the same high-level public review required for power plants — including a neighborhood meeting, a zoning examiner hearing, and a final vote by the Mayor and City Council. Additional restrictions include: a half-mile setback from residential areas, homes, schools, natural areas, washes, and open space; a 50-foot building height cap; and a prohibition on using city drinking water (potable water) for cooling. Data centers using more than 7.48 million gallons per month of water must submit water use plans to the Mayor and Council. City staff must report back within one year on implementation. Tucson had previously rejected the Project Blue data center annexation in 2025 over water and secrecy concerns.
Who is protected: Tucson, AZ residents from large-scale data centers locating near homes, schools, or natural areas; city water supply protected from potable-water data center cooling; residential neighborhoods protected by half-mile setback and community review process
Legal detail
Tucson Unified Development Code Amendment (adopted August 5, 2026, effective September 4, 2026): defines 'large-scale data center' as any facility >25,000 sq ft or >20 MW electrical capacity; requires PAD or PCD rezoning (Tucson Land Use Code, same process as major utility facilities) — involving neighborhood meeting, zoning examiner hearing, and final Mayor-and-Council vote — for all qualifying facilities; imposes half-mile setback from R-zone designations, single-family homes, schools, natural areas/washes/open space; 50-foot height cap; prohibits potable water for cooling (unless facility is subject to the Large Quantity Water Users Ordinance, i.e., water use ≥7,480,000 gallons/month, which triggers its own water management and approval process); facilities subject to LQWUO must also present water use plans for Mayor-and-Council approval. Planning Commission reviewed May/June 2026; first reading June 2026; adopted August 5, 2026. One-year staff review of implementation required. Pre-existing approved projects are not grandfathered out of the ordinance unless their vested rights pre-date the amendment. This is a permanent UDC amendment, not a temporary moratorium.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | August 5, 2026 |
| Citation | Tucson Unified Development Code Amendment — Large-Scale Data Centers (adopted August 5, 2026, effective September 4, 2026; Mayor and Council vote 6-1) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Applications not meeting standards rejected; developments built without required PAD/PCD approval subject to code enforcement and potential demolition |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| Agency page | Mayor and Council Approve Regulations for Large-Scale Data Centers — City of Tucson PDSD |
More AI rules in Tucson, AZ
- Tucson Unified School District AI policy revisions (2026) · In effect
- Tucson Project Blue Rejection · In effect
- Tucson Data Center UDC Standards (adopted 2026) · In effect
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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