Data centers are no longer permitted in the PRC District, and data centers in the PDC and PTC Districts require special-exception approval rather than being permitted by right.

In the I-4, I-5, and I-6 Districts, data centers may be permitted by right or may require special-exception approval, depending on the applicable use-table permission.

Cooling, ventilation, power-generation, and other operating equipment must be fully enclosed unless the Director determines enclosure is not mechanically feasible based on manufacturer specifications. Equipment that cannot be enclosed must be screened by a wall or similar barrier, and ground equipment and accessory electrical substations must be screened from abutting lots and rights-of-way by a visually solid wall or building. Solar panels are exempt.

Data center buildings are limited to 40,000 square feet of gross floor area in the C-3 and C-4 Districts. The limit may be exceeded only with special-exception approval.

Data center buildings are limited to 80,000 square feet of gross floor area in the I-2, I-3, and I-4 Districts. The limit may be exceeded only with special-exception approval.

A data center building must be at least 200 feet from the lot line of an R District or property developed with a residential use. Lesser distances require special-exception approval.

Ground-based cooling, ventilation, power-generation, and other operating equipment must be at least 300 feet from an R District or residentially developed property, or must be separated from it by the principal data center building. Lesser distances require special-exception approval.

A data center building must be at least one mile from a Metro station entrance. A lesser distance requires special-exception approval.

Before site-plan approval, the applicant must submit a noise study demonstrating compliance with Chapter 108.1 of the County Code, and before issuance of a Nonresidential Use Permit, must submit a post-construction noise study demonstrating continued compliance.

When permitted by right, a data center must have a differentiated and projecting or recessed main entrance feature, façade-surface changes at least every 150 horizontal feet, and windows, doors, or similar fenestration distributed across each façade and covering at least 30 percent of that façade.

When permitted by development plan or special exception, a data center must be designed to minimize adverse visual impacts, supported by elevations, architectural sketches, or sight-line studies, and must use high-quality materials, color, and texture. If located less than 200 feet from residential property, it should include changes in building height or other techniques to vary the building mass.

Applications for a rezoning that would allow a data center must include a noise study demonstrating compliance with Chapter 108.1 and architectural depictions of the proposed building and associated equipment as viewed from all lot lines and street lines.

Applications for a special exception for a data center must include a noise study demonstrating compliance with Chapter 108.1 and architectural depictions of the proposed building and associated equipment as viewed from all lot lines and street lines.

[ { "provision": "Data centers may be permitted by right or by special exception in the I-4, I-5, and I-6 Districts. They may also be approved by special exception in the PDC and PTC Planned Development Districts, although the amendment removes the prior PRC permission. permitted by right or special exception" }, { "provision": "The 40,000-square-foot maximum data-center building size in the C-3 and C-4 Districts may be exceeded with special exception approval.", }, { "provision": "The 80,000-square-foot maximum data-center building size in the I-2, I-3, and I-4 Districts may be exceeded with special exception approval.", }, { "provision": "Special exception approval may authorize a data-center building to be located less than 200 feet from an R district or property developed with a residential use, and may authorize ground equipment to be closer than the otherwise required 300 feet.", }, { "provision": "Special exception approval may authorize a data-center building to be located less than one mile from a Metro station entrance.", }, { "provision": "If the Director determines that fully enclosing cooling, ventilating, generating, or other operating equipment is not mechanically feasible under the manufacturer's specifications, the equipment may instead be screened by a wall or similar barrier.", }, { "provision": "Ground equipment and accessory electrical substations may satisfy the residential-screening requirement by being separated from the residential lot line by the principal data-center building, instead of being located at least 300 feet away.", }, { "provision": "For data centers permitted through a development plan or special exception, the architectural provisions are phrased as design expectations: the building should minimize adverse visual impacts, use high-quality materials, and may use changes in height or other techniques to vary building mass when near residential property.", }, { "provision": "A site plan for a data center accepted for review on or before July 16, 2024, may be reviewed under the zoning rules in effect on that date if it is approved by July 16, 2025, remains valid, and the approved uses, features, and structures are established or constructed as approved.", }, { "provision": "For qualifying prior approvals issued on or before July 16, 2024, including rezonings, development plans, special exceptions, site plans, and building permits involving a data center, the applicant or owner may continue under the previous approval; later submissions and revisions may proceed if consistent with the prior approval and revisions do not aggravate conflicts with the amendment." } ]