Denton TX proposed data center development code amendments (2026)
Denton, TX — Proposed Development Code Amendments Requiring Specific-Use Permits, 300-Foot Residential Setbacks, Water Studies and Low-Water Cooling for All New Data Centers; Council Vote Oct. 13 (2026)
Denton, TX · Denton, Tex., proposed Denton Development Code amendments on data centers (P&Z recommendation, Sept. 2026)
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- Developers of new data centers within Denton city limits
- Enforced by
- City of Denton Development Services / Planning; Denton City Council
Denton's Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended tightening the city's data center rules, and the City Council is set to vote on October 13, 2026. Every new data center would need a council-approved specific-use permit, even where zoning now allows it by right; data centers would no longer be allowed in several commercial and mixed-use districts; the setback from homes would grow to 300 feet; and developers would have to submit water and wastewater studies and use closed-loop or free-air cooling. The rules apply only inside city limits. A separate proposed 90-day moratorium is tracked as its own entry.
Who is protected: Denton residents
Legal detail
Denton, Texas — Denton Development Code amendments recommended 5-0 by the Planning and Zoning Commission at a Wednesday meeting (article published Sept. 28, 2026 via Denton Record-Chronicle; exact meeting date not stated). PROPOSED CHANGES: (1) warehouse data centers, now permitted by right in general office, light/heavy industrial and public facility districts, would require a specific-use permit (SUP) in all allowed districts; (2) removal as an allowable use in mixed-use regional, suburban corridor (and per the article other heavily trafficked) districts; (3) setback from residential districts/uses increased from 100 to 300 feet; (4) water and wastewater demand studies required with initial applications; (5) closed-loop or free-air cooling required; (6) Texas PUC and ERCOT ('Electric Reliability Council') approvals required before an SUP request can be placed on the agenda. Applies only within city limits (no zoning authority in the ETJ). Council vote scheduled Oct. 13, 2026. MORATORIUM TRACK: pitched by Mayor Pro Tem Nick Stevens; next public hearing Oct. 27, 2026; 'a possible moratorium could start in early December.' Existing approved facilities: Core Scientific (up to 391 MW, AI conversion approved 2024) and QumulusAI (20 MW modular, approved January 2026). NOT ESTABLISHED: ordinance/case numbers; moratorium length and scope. Companion: Denton TX proposed 90-day data center moratorium (2026).
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Denton, TX |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Citation | Denton, Tex., proposed Denton Development Code amendments on data centers (P&Z recommendation, Sept. 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated in the located source |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy · government use of AI |
| News report | Amendments to strengthen data center rules in Denton's development code now head to the City Council — Denton Record-Chronicle |
More AI rules in Denton, TX
- Denton TX proposed 90-day data center moratorium (2026) · Proposed / pending
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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