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The Data Center Divide

Lake County

Anti-Data Center Policies

Lake County’s Guenoc Valley district limits development to resort-focused uses, and data centers may not fit; projects there need approved plans and a use permit before development.

current law · Unincorporated areas
Updates Lake County’s zoning rules to implement housing policies, but does not specifically address data centers.Lake County Zoning Ordinance (2026)

People behind it

  • Identified as the sponsor of the ordinance amending the Lake County Zoning Code.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions8

  • The MP Industrial Park district permits enclosed-building high-technology manufacturing, assembly, packaging, or processing uses, expressly including computers, as well as research and development; this could accommodate a data center if classified within one of those uses. high technology products such as electrical instruments, computers, optical equipment and similar uses

  • The MP district also permits administrative and general business offices, professional construction-support services, research and testing laboratories, and other uses of similar character, providing potential classifications for data-center offices, technical operations, or support facilities. Administrative and general business offices and facilities and research, development, and testing laboratories and facilities

  • The M1 Commercial/Manufacturing district permits enclosed-building high-technology uses, expressly including computers and similar uses, with up to 6,000 square feet per use or 12,000 square feet total without a minor use permit, subject to performance and nuisance standards. Light manufacturing, assembly, packaging, or processing and maximum of six thousand (6,000) square feet

  • The M1 district provides a defined expansion path: qualifying uses above the ordinary 6,000-square-foot-per-use or 12,000-square-foot-total limits may obtain a minor use permit up to 12,000 square feet per use or 24,000 square feet total, while larger projects may seek a major use permit. Uses permitted subject to first obtaining a Minor Use Permit and Uses permitted subject to first obtaining a Major Use Permit

  • The MP district is intended for areas served by public water and sewer systems and requires qualifying road frontage, providing built-in infrastructure and access criteria for development. served by public water and sewer systems and front on a minor collector or larger

  • The MP district allows industrial accessory facilities and operations, including water and wastewater treatment systems, parking, shipping terminals, storage, garages, administrative offices, and fleet vehicles, which can support data-center construction and ongoing operation. industrial and commercial accessory uses and accessory structures and water and wastewater treatment facilities and systems

  • The MP district allows buildings up to 20 feet high, with additional height of six inches for each foot of setback beyond required setbacks, up to 45 feet; additional height may be approved through a use permit. maximum height

  • The M1 district permits structures up to 45 feet high, which can support facilities requiring substantial building volume. Maximum height: Forty-five (45) feet

Sources

current law · County measure: Guenoc Valley Zoning District within Special Study Area Number 3 of the Middletown Area Plan
Does not specifically regulate data centers; it establishes zoning and development rules for resort, residential, agricultural, and related uses in Guenoc Valley.Lake County Zoning Ordinance

What this means

The ordinance applies only in the Guenoc Valley district and does not expressly list data centers among its uses, so a data center may not fit the allowed resort-focused development. Projects also need approved development plans and a use permit before development, adding approval steps and potential delays (plans and permits required before development).

People behind it

  • Proposed, introduced, and enacted the ordinance establishing the Guenoc Valley Zoning District regulations and development standards.

  • Designated signatory for the Board of Supervisors on the ordinance.

  • Clerk of the Board of Supervisors; designated to attest to the ordinance.

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  • County Counsel; designated to approve the ordinance as to form.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements14

  • In the GVD District, development requires an approved general plan of development and a Specific Plan of Development use permit before construction or other development may proceed. Building and health permits cannot be issued beforehand.

  • GVD development applications must include a Fire and Emergency Response Management Plan endorsed by the local fire-management authority.

  • GVD projects must demonstrate that adequate water, sewer, and other infrastructure is available or will be provided without affecting existing public facilities.

  • GVD projects must provide internal circulation and emergency access, and the Planning Commission may require measures to reduce significant traffic impacts on roads or land uses outside the project.

  • In the GVD District, additions or alterations of up to 20 percent of an existing permitted use or structure require a minor use permit; expansions exceeding 20 percent require a major use permit.

  • GVD development is subject to a maximum building height of 40 feet, generally requires a minimum 10,000-square-foot lot, and is limited to five dwelling units per acre unless a density bonus is obtained.

  • GVD projects must comply with specified parking ratios, although a transportation or parking equivalency report, transportation-demand-management plan, or alternative circulation plan may support a waiver.

  • The GVD resort must establish approved covenants, conditions, and restrictions and an owners association responsible for maintaining shared facilities and exterior resort areas to luxury-resort standards.

  • In the MP Industrial Park District, all uses are subject to development review, and covered uses must be conducted in completely enclosed buildings and may not be obnoxious or offensive because of noise, dust, odor, smoke, vibration, or danger to life and property.

  • In the MP District, outdoor storage of finished products or materials is limited to 15 percent of the lot area and must be completely screened.

  • In the MP District, uses that may be obnoxious or offensive, or that do not comply with Article 41 performance standards, require a minor use permit; if those conditions apply as specified in the major-use provisions, a major use permit is required.

  • MP development is limited to 35 percent lot coverage, generally requires a 20,000-square-foot minimum lot, imposes minimum setbacks, and limits building height to 20 feet unless additional height is supported by setbacks or a use permit, with an overall 45-foot maximum.

  • MP uses must provide parking under specified ratios, including at least four spaces in addition to the applicable requirements for heavy commercial or manufacturing uses.

  • MP development must provide emergency access where necessary or required by the local fire district, adequate lighting, and clearly marked street numbers visible at night.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions6

  • The MP district permits administrative and general business offices, research and development facilities, testing laboratories, commercial warehouses, and certain light manufacturing or processing uses, plus other uses of a similar character. These provisions could provide a zoning path for a data center if the County classifies it within one of those categories, subject to enclosed-building, nuisance, and performance-standard requirements. research, development, and testing laboratories

  • The MP district is intended for designated community areas served by public water and sewer systems, which supports locating qualifying facilities where those infrastructure services are available. Parcels must also meet the specified road-frontage requirements. served by public water and sewer systems

  • In the MP district, minor additions or alterations to existing qualifying uses may be approved through a minor use permit when the increase is limited to 20 percent of the use or gross floor area, creating a limited expansion pathway. limited to an increase of twenty (20) percent

  • The GVD district requires adequate water, sewer, and other facilities to be available or planned for the proposed development, providing an infrastructure-support requirement for facilities approved within the district. adequate facilities, including water, sewer, and other facilities

  • The GVD primary-use table allows alternative-energy production and distribution using solar, wind, and geothermal resources, which could support on-site or associated power infrastructure for an approved facility. Alternative energy production and distribution

  • The GVD primary-use table permits support facilities including centralized shipping and receiving, maintenance and service areas, security, administrative support services, and offices, allowing these operational components to be included in an approved GVD development. Support Facilities

Sources

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