LA County delays proposal to restrict large data centers
A proposal to restrict large data centers in unincorporated Los Angeles County was referred back to Supervisor Hilda Solis’ office Oct. 6.
The action delayed a motion that would direct county planners to draft a zoning amendment. It did not enact the proposed prohibition.
The proposal matters to residents concerned about the water, energy and noise demands of large computing facilities. Its jurisdiction would be unincorporated county land, rather than every city within Los Angeles County.
Solis’ motion would distinguish large hyperscale and artificial intelligence data centers from smaller facilities serving ordinary business computing needs. Definitions would consider measures such as size, energy use and water consumption.
Facilities meeting the large-scale definition would be prohibited in all unincorporated zones under the proposed amendment. The motion also calls for reviewing noise rules and identifying money for the planning and environmental review work, according to CNS.
The county’s data-center planning page traces the broader study to an April 14 board direction to examine environmental, health and resource impacts.
