The Data Center Divide
A policy snapshot ahead of the 2026 midterms. Mapping data center incentives, restrictions, and bans through legislation, regulations, and executive actions across all 50 states and 1,462 local jurisdictions.
San Joaquin County
Neutral Data Center Policies
San Joaquin County’s enacted ordinance temporarily pauses approvals for new data centers in unincorporated areas for 45 days; existing operations are unaffected.
current law · Unincorporated areasTemporarily prohibits land-use approvals for new large-scale data centers in unincorporated San Joaquin County for 45 days while officials study their impacts.San Joaquin County, California Ordinance No. 4703 (2026)
What this means
The measure temporarily blocks land-use approvals for new data centers in unincorporated areas, delaying potential projects, but the pause lasts only 45 days and there are no proposals to delay. It does not directly affect existing operations, and the sources describe study and possible future rules—not permanent new restrictions.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1
- Establishes a 45-day moratorium on land use approvals for new data center development in unincorporated San Joaquin County. - Uses the pause to evaluate the General Plan, Development Title, zoning regulations, and infrastructure standards before future policy decisions. No permanent prohibition is established by the accessible sources.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions1
Limited carve-outs, not affirmative incentives: ABC10 reports that the moratorium excludes telecommunications facilities, government emergency communications facilities, and facilities owned and operated by public utilities. Exact statutory definitions and other exceptions require the adopted ordinance.
Sources
current law · County measureUpdates county zoning and development rules, but does not specifically address data centers.San Joaquin County Development Title, Title 9
What this means
The proposal does not specifically encourage or restrict data centers; it mainly updates zoning tables and procedures. Its new public water, wastewater, and drainage rules apply to particular commercial zones, so the sources do not show a meaningful overall effect on data centers.
People behind it
- San Joaquin County
Public agency responsible for the countywide text amendment and lead agency under CEQA.
- San Joaquin County Community Development Department
Department responsible for proposing and administering the Development Title text amendment.
- Board of Supervisors of the County of San Joaquin
Governing body that enacted and adopted the ordinance amending the Development Title.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements7
Development projects in Commercial Recreation (C-R) and Freeway Service Commercial (C-FS) zones must use public water systems. Exceptions require either a parcel of at least 5 gross acres or a private development agreement with an adjacent developed commercial site that has existing water service.
Development projects in C-R and C-FS zones must use public wastewater systems. Exceptions require either a parcel of at least 5 gross acres or a private development agreement with an adjacent developed commercial site that has existing wastewater service.
Development in C-R and C-FS zones outside urban communities must use a public drainage system. For C-FS properties, the system must serve the applicable freeway-service area and discharge into a terminal drain; exceptions require either a parcel of at least 5 gross acres or a private development agreement with an adjacent developed commercial site.
Development in C-R zones outside urban communities must use public water, wastewater, and drainage systems planned to serve the applicable C-R area.
A Type 3 wireless telecommunications facility permit is required for new wireless facilities and major collocations or modifications, and approval requires Planning Commission review after a duly noticed public hearing.
General Plan Amendment and zone-reclassification applications require pre-application review, adding an additional review step before those applications may proceed.
The ordinance requires fees for Williamson Act or Farmland Security Zone contract applications associated with lot-line adjustments, and the related notice cannot be recorded until the contract application is deemed complete.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions5
Pre-Application Review is optional for discretionary permits other than General Plan Amendments and Zone Reclassifications, and is intended to provide information for large or complex projects before formal applications are submitted.
Approved development applications may receive time extensions of up to two years, and approvals other than subdivision approvals may be extended by the Zoning Administrator.
Lot line adjustments receive an approval pathway through the Zoning Administrator when specified standards are met, including involving no more than four adjoining legal parcels, not increasing the number of parcels, avoiding new non-buildable parcels, and complying with applicable zoning, access, utility, yard, and lot-width requirements.
Development in Commercial Recreation and Freeway Service Commercial zones outside urban communities must generally be served by public water, wastewater, and drainage systems, providing a framework for shared infrastructure. Limited exceptions may apply outside urban communities, city fringe areas, or utility districts for parcels of at least five gross acres or for smaller parcels covered by a private service agreement with an adjacent developed commercial site.
Commercial Recreation and Freeway Service Commercial development is subject to area-wide infrastructure planning: water and wastewater systems must be planned to serve the applicable commercial area, while drainage systems must serve the applicable area and, for Freeway Service Commercial properties, discharge into a terminal drain.
Sources
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