Attachment G - Proposed Code Amendment Fact Sheet(PDF, 752KB)

Rev. 3/2/26 
  |  https://tucsonpdsd.info/DataCentersCodeAmendment |    
Page 1 of 2 
Rev. 5/21/2026 
LARGE-SCALE DATA CENTERS PROPOSED CODE 
AMENDMENT FACT SHEET 
On August 6, 2025, Mayor and Council directed City staff to develop a Unified Development Code 
(UDC) amendment to establish clear standards for large-scale data centers. Currently, Tucson lacks 
substantial specific guidance for these facilities. This proposed amendment seeks to establish 
standards and regulations for this land use that reflect Tucson’s community values and ensure future 
developments align with the City's long-term goals. 
DRAFT RECOMMENDATION - PROCESS TIMELINE (AS OF MAY 21, 2026) 
PROPOSED DEFINITION: LARGE-SCALE DATA CENTER 
Defining these facilities is critical to their effective regulation. A Large-Scale Data Center is proposed 
to be defined as: 
•
Any facility, multiple facilities, or portion of a facility on a contiguous site with the same
controlling ownership interest, and a gross floor area greater than 25,000 square feet or uses
greater than 20 megawatts (MW) of energy, housing networked computer systems and/or
telecommunications equipment used for remote storage, processing, and distribution of data
PROPOSED PUBLIC REVIEW AND NOTIFICATION PROCESS
To ensure transparency, the City proposes a rigorous review procedure that exceeds standard 
requirements: 
1.
Pre-application meeting with City staff 
2.
Required neighborhood meetings, including invitations to property owners and 
Neighborhood Associations
3.
Application submittal
4.
Zoning Examiner Public Hearing
5.
Zoning Examiner recommendation
6.
Final Mayor & Council decision 
Increased Notification Radius: Notice of public hearings must be sent to all property owners 
within ½ mile and all Neighborhood Associations within 2 miles of the proposed site. This is a 
significant expansion over standard city notification requirements. 
ttachment G
Attachment G

Rev. 3/2/26 
            |  https://tucsonpdsd.info/DataCentersCodeAmendment |                        
 
Page 2 of 2 
Rev. 5/21/2026 
 
PROPOSED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: ENERGY AND WATER 
Energy Requirements: 
Applicants must demonstrate access to an adequate and secure energy supply at the time of 
application. Furthermore, developers are required to disclose their projected energy consumption 
and proposed energy mix, including the specific percentage of renewable energy sources utilized. 
Water Requirements: 
In alignment with Tucson's "One Water" approach, facilities are subject to strict conservation 
standards: 
• 
Must demonstrate access to adequate water supply 
• 
Large Quantity Water Users Ordinance: Projects projected to use 10,000 centum cubic feet 
(CCF) (approx. 7.48 million gallons) or more on a monthly average must submit a Sustainable 
Water Service Application and a Water Conservation Plan for Mayor & Council approval 
• 
Small Facility Regulation: For facilities that fall below the 10,000 CCF threshold, the zoning 
code itself serves as the regulatory tool to prohibit the use of potable water for cooling 
PROPOSED SITE AND SETBACK STANDARDS 
To protect residential integrity and commercial character, the City proposes the following: 
• 
2,640 feet setback from urban residential zones and noise-sensitive uses (e.g., schools) 
• 
1,000 feet setback from commercial or office zones 
• 
Landscaping: A 40-foot enhanced landscaping border is required 
• 
Parking: Right-sized parking standards will be enforced to reduce paved surfaces and mitigate 
urban heat island effects 
PROPOSED OPERATIONAL MITIGATIONS: NOISE AND GENERATORS 
Noise Regulation: Applicants must provide an independent noise study at the time of application. The 
code will establish strict decibel limits at the property line and require annual monitoring. 
Generator Use: 
• 
Only Tier IV or natural gas/dual-fuel generators are permitted 
• 
Requirement for "battery-first" backup systems 
• 
Prohibition of "load shifting" (using generators for non-emergency power) 
• 
Routine maintenance testing is limited to weekdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL COMPATIBILITY 
Future developments must comply with Plan Tucson 2025 policies and existing environmental 
protections: 
• 
Full compliance with Environmental Resource Zone (ERZ) and Watercourse Amenities, Safety, 
and Habitat (WASH) regulations 
• 
Strict protection of all existing arroyos 
• 
50% of landscape water must be sourced from on-site water harvesting