Arlington Weighs Zoning Rules for Data Centers Covering Siting, Noise and Cooling

Arlington officials are considering where data centers could locate within city limits and what operating standards would apply if developers express interest. At a recent City Council meeting, members received proposed ordinances for the first time. The drafts sort facilities into categories based on how they operate: enterprise centers housed in their own buildings, stand-alone facilities, edge sites that function as equipment accessories, and accessory centers that share multi-tenant buildings.

Stand-alone data centers would be allowed only in light industrial and industrial manufacturing districts with a specific use permit, or in planned development districts when a project is specifically identified. They would need to sit at least 300 feet from homes, stay under 75 feet in height, and avoid evaporative cooling. All enterprise and stand-alone sites would face daytime and nighttime noise limits and testing before and after construction.

Edge facilities would be capped at 200 square feet of surface area and 12 feet in height, with no cooling rules proposed. Accessory centers could operate in any nonresidential district if tied to a primary building use, but would be barred from outdoor diesel backup generators and evaporative cooling, while battery storage may be permitted depending on size. Staff described the drafts as a work in progress that may change.

For developers and financiers, the practical implication is that site selection in Arlington will hinge on district type, buffer distances and noise compliance, so early zoning review matters.