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.
City of College Station
Neutral Data Center Policies
College Station allows data centers in industrial zones through conditional-use review, which can add approval time and conditions such as noise controls or screening; the descriptions do not indicate a ban or broad operating restrictions.
current law · City of College StationThis City of College Station amendment adds a definition for a data center—generally a structure or portion of a structure larger than 5,000 square feet used primarily for computing, network equipment, and servers—and lists the use as conditional in specified business-park, light-industrial, and heavy-industrial districts.College Station Unified Development Ordinance amendment adding data centers as a conditional use in industrial zones (2026)
What this means
The amendment creates a defined zoning path for data centers, but eligible projects must go through conditional-use review, where the city may add conditions such as noise controls and screening. That adds some approval time and uncertainty, but the sources do not indicate a ban or broad operating restrictions.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements3
Data centers are treated as a distinct regulated use when a structure, portion of a structure, or accessory structure is larger than 5,000 square feet and is primarily used for computing or digital-data operations. The definition applies to structures larger than 5,000 square feet.
The use table classifies data centers as conditional uses in designated zoning districts, requiring a Conditional Use Permit rather than allowing them automatically by right. The amendment establishes the zoning districts in which the use may be permitted.
During the Conditional Use Permit process, the City Council may impose additional site-specific conditions on a data center, including buffering, screening, lighting, and noise controls, as well as other measures intended to mitigate impacts and ensure compatibility with the surrounding area. Council may impose additional conditions.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions2
The amendment formally recognizes data centers in the UDO and defines them as structures or portions of structures larger than 5,000 square feet that are primarily used for computing or digital-data operations. The definition applies to accessory structures as well and is limited to facilities whose primary use involves activities such as storing, processing, managing, or transmitting digital data. The amendment defines a data center
The use table adds data centers as a specifically classified land use and marks the use as conditional in the applicable zoning districts shown in the amendment, creating a defined approval pathway rather than leaving the use unclassified. Approval may be subject to a Conditional Use Permit and additional conditions addressing buffering, screening, lighting, noise, and other potential impacts. The amendment clarifies the classification of data centers and establishes the zoning districts
Sources
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