On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will debate a proposal to amend the county’s zoning code and bar large‑scale data centers from being built in unincorporated neighborhoods. The motion, introduced by Supervisor Hilda Solis, directs the Department of Regional Planning to draft definitions for data‑center types based on acreage, square footage, energy use and water consumption.
What the amendment would do
The draft amendment would separate “hyperscale” and artificial‑intelligence (AI) data centers from what the motion calls “beneficial‑use” facilities, such as enterprise or sole‑source centers that serve everyday computing needs. Any facility that meets the county’s definition of “large‑scale” would be prohibited in every zoning district of unincorporated Los Angeles County.
Why supervisors are acting now
Supervisors say the rapid growth of AI‑driven computing has spurred the construction of massive data centers that consume high levels of electricity and water, generate noise and raise unanswered public‑health questions. The motion notes that data centers powering AI “over‑utilize water resources, contribute to environmental pollution, and impact public health in ways that are still being understood.”
According to the motion, the Board has already received 101 pages of public comments, most of which call for a moratorium on new data‑center projects until the environmental and health impacts are fully evaluated.
Local precedents and community concerns
The proposal points to recent actions by nearby cities—Monterey Park, Montebello, Baldwin Park and El Monte—that have restricted or halted data‑center development. Voters in Alhambra are also slated to consider a similar ballot measure in November.
County officials began examining the issue in April, when the Board directed staff to study the potential health, environmental and safety effects of data centers, as well as their impact on electrical and water resources. A subsequent county report recommended amending Title 22 of the zoning code to define data centers and prohibit hyperscale facilities countywide.
Next steps and enforcement tools
If the motion passes, Regional Planning will be tasked with informing residents of unincorporated communities about the upcoming restrictions. The Department of Public Health, in coordination with County Counsel, will also review whether the county’s noise regulations should be updated to address low‑frequency, continuous noise associated with large‑scale data centers.
The county’s chief executive officer would be asked to identify funding needed for the zoning amendment, its required California Environmental Quality Act analysis, and any changes to noise rules. Additionally, the motion authorizes Regional Planning and County Counsel to prepare a moratorium if a proposed data center presents an “immediate threat to public health, safety, and welfare.”
What this means for residents
Should the amendment be adopted, unincorporated neighborhoods across Los Angeles County would see a clear ban on new hyperscale and AI‑focused data centers. Existing facilities that do not meet the “large‑scale” definition would be allowed to continue operating, but any future expansion that pushes them into the prohibited category would be blocked.
Community members who are concerned about water scarcity, energy costs and potential health impacts can expect more transparency from the county as the planning department prepares outreach materials. The move reflects a growing local focus on ensuring that emerging technologies do not compromise the quality of life for families and neighborhoods that form the backbone of the county.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
