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The Data Center Divide

Lowndes County

Anti-Data Center Policies

Lowndes County’s enacted measure is described as proposed in its explanation; it permits data centers at a site rezoned for light manufacturing, but requires closed-loop cooling and limits noise and lighting, with no variance.

current law · Geographic scope is not expressly limited in the sources.
Sets site-specific zoning conditions on a 719-acre industrial parcel that could host a data center, including a 200-foot buffer, limits on lighting and certain noise or electromagnetic effects, and developer-paid infrastructure upgrades; a broader data-center ordinance is still being drafted.Lowndes County, Georgia REZ-2025-11 Coleman Road Rezoning (2025)

What this means

The proposed ordinance would allow data centers but add meaningful operating and design requirements, including closed-loop cooling and limits on noise and lighting. The county has also rezoned the site to light manufacturing, which permits development, but the new standards would add costs and restrictions, with no variance available for them.

People behind it

  • Instructed county staff to work with the County Attorney to develop a draft data center ordinance.

  • Assigned to work with the County Attorney on developing the draft data center ordinance.

  • Assigned to work with county staff on developing the draft data center ordinance.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements15

  • Data-center supplemental standards will be ineligible for variance consideration, preventing applicants from seeking variances from those standards.

  • The planned ordinance will require closed-loop cooling systems that do not discharge into the wastewater system.

  • Initial cooling-system fill water may be required to come from outside Lowndes County’s aquifer, and maintenance wastewater or other discharge may be required to be collected and disposed of outside the county.

  • Closed-loop data centers will be limited to water consumption no greater than normal office use plus landscape irrigation.

  • Servers, computer components, and other personal property housed in a data center may be required to be disposed of or abandoned outside Lowndes County.

  • The planned ordinance will require environmental studies addressing matters covered by federal and state law, together with expected engineering practices.

  • The planned ordinance will regulate data-center noise by imposing limits on both decibel level and frequency.

  • The rezoning conditions prohibit loudspeakers, paging systems, or electromagnetic interference from being discernible at any adjoining residential property line.

  • The planned ordinance will regulate outdoor lighting through requirements concerning shielding, lumens, and color temperature.

  • The rezoning conditions require all lighting to be shielded and directed so that it does not directly illuminate adjacent residential properties.

  • A 200-foot undisturbed buffer is required along the northern and southern property lines adjoining current residential zoning districts.

  • The property may not provide access to Briarberry Drive or Quail Hollow Circle.

  • If a change in use requires additional transportation or water/sewer infrastructure upgrades, the developer must pay for the design, necessary right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and construction.

  • All lots in the rezoned property must front interior roads.

  • Lowndes County does not intend to offer or approve local tax-abatement options for data centers; any state or federal incentives are outside county control.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions2

  • The 719-acre Langdale property was rezoned to M-1 Light Manufacturing, a zoning category that allows data-center development, so a data center could be pursued there without obtaining a separate rezoning to a data-center-specific category. The approval remains subject to seven conditions, including access limits, a 200-foot buffer along residential boundaries, shielded lighting, and noise restrictions.

  • If power for the site is approved, the developer may obtain the infrastructure needed to serve the development by funding those improvements. Georgia Power also stated that data-center development costs would not be passed to residential users and that data centers would not take power priority from residential distribution.

Sources

Specific to Lowndes County only.

expired · County measure
Proposes a temporary moratorium on accepting permit applications for data centers in Lowndes County.Lowndes County Commission 60-Day Data-Center Permit Application Moratorium

What this means

The proposal would temporarily stop the County from accepting permit applications for data centers, delaying new construction and expansions that need permits. It does not say how long the pause would last, and it does not indicate that existing data center operations would be affected.

Timing

The measure proposes a temporary moratorium on accepting applications for permits for data centers, but the provided source does not state an expiration date or ending condition.

People behind it

  • The governing body requested to consider and approve the proposed resolution establishing a temporary moratorium on accepting data center permit applications.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1

  • Establishes a temporary moratorium on accepting applications for permits for data centers.

Sources

Specific to Lowndes County only.

pending · Unincorporated areas
Sets out proposed protections for Lowndes County while staff and the County Attorney develop a draft data center ordinance, following the Board’s instruction to begin drafting and with public sharing planned before final consideration.Lowndes County Data Center Considerations Presentation (July 2026)

What this means

The proposed rules would add meaningful requirements, including closed-loop cooling, environmental studies, noise and lighting controls, and possible extra buffers. These could increase costs and limit design choices, but the document does not describe an outright ban or specific rules so strict that development would be impossible.

People behind it

  • Instructed staff to work with the County Attorney to develop a draft Data Center Ordinance.

  • Responsible for working with the County Attorney to develop the draft Data Center Ordinance.

  • Responsible for working with Lowndes County staff to develop the draft Data Center Ordinance.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements16

  • Data centers must use a closed-loop cooling system rather than a system that discharges cooling water into the wastewater system. The ordinance will require a “Closed Loop” system.

  • The initial water fill for a closed-loop system may be required to come from outside Lowndes County’s aquifer, and maintenance wastewater may be required to be collected and disposed of outside the county.

  • Water consumption for a data center using closed-loop cooling may not exceed the amount associated with normal office use and landscape irrigation.

  • Data-center supplemental standards will be ineligible for variance consideration, preventing applicants from seeking variances from those standards.

  • The ordinance will require environmental studies addressing applicable federal and state environmental requirements and expected engineering practices.

  • The ordinance will impose limits on both the decibel level and frequency of noise generated by data centers.

  • The ordinance will regulate outdoor lighting through shielding, lumen limits, and color-temperature requirements.

  • The ordinance may require servers, computer components, and other property housed in a data center to be disposed of or abandoned outside Lowndes County.

  • For the rezoned 719-acre property, no access may be provided from the subject property to Briarberry Drive or Quail Hollow Circle.

  • For the rezoned property, any change in use requiring additional transportation or water/sewer infrastructure requires the developer to pay for design, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and construction.

  • For the rezoned property, all lots must front interior roads.

  • For the rezoned property, a 200-foot undisturbed buffer is required along the northern and southern property lines adjoining residential zoning districts.

  • For the rezoned property, lighting must be shielded and directed so that adjacent residentially zoned properties are not directly illuminated.

  • For the rezoned property, loudspeakers, paging systems, and electromagnetic interference must not be discernible at any adjoining property line zoned residentially.

  • If power service is approved, the developer must fund the infrastructure needed to provide power to the site.

  • Lowndes County does not intend to offer or approve local tax-abatement options for data centers.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions3

  • Data centers are allowed in several zoning categories, including M-1 Light Manufacturing, M-2 Heavy Manufacturing, M-3 High Intensity Industrial, and Non-Residential Planned Development districts.

  • A 719-acre property was rezoned to M-1 Light Manufacturing, a zoning category identified as allowing data center development and providing the lowest impact among the listed qualifying categories. The rezoning is subject to seven conditions, including residential buffers, lighting controls, noise and electromagnetic-interference limits, and restrictions on certain property access.

  • If power service to a proposed site is approved, the developer may proceed with required power infrastructure by funding its design and construction; Georgia Power has stated that data center development costs will not be passed to residential users.

Sources

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