Aurora Passes Stringent Rules on Data Center Developments

Aurora is officially overhauling its regulatory requirements for data center developments, introducing significant hurdles for new projects as a six-month moratorium on the sector expires.

The city council voted Tuesday to implement strict new standards governing where these facilities can be built and how they manage resource consumption. According to city documents and statements from Mayor John Laesch following the council meeting, the new ordinances establish rigorous safeguards regarding noise, electricity usage and land use. The Daily Herald reported that these measures reflect growing municipal concerns over the impact of industrial-scale computing on local infrastructure and residential quality of life.

The city council formally integrated a specific definition for “data center” into the zoning code, effectively ending the era where these facilities were classified as simple warehouses. Under the updated ordinance, data centers are now designated as conditional uses, requiring developers to undergo public hearings and obtain specific city council approval.

Future development is restricted to areas specifically zoned for manufacturing, office, research, or light-industrial activities. Previously, the lack of a specific definition allowed for more flexible site selection and streamlined permitting processes, according to the outlet.

New setback requirements for essential infrastructure like chillers and generators aim to mitigate noise pollution near residences, schools and hospitals. Rooftop generators are now prohibited entirely, while rooftop chillers must maintain a minimum 1,500-foot distance from sensitive lot lines, according to the ordinance.

Ground-based equipment faces a 1,000-foot setback requirement, a move that city zoning administrator John Curley noted significantly limits viable development sites. Curley indicated at the meeting that unless developers choose to raze existing structures, very few remaining parcels within city limits meet these stringent spatial parameters.

Sustainability mandates were also introduced, requiring new or expanded facilities to generate at least 25 percent of their peak electricity needs through on-site renewable sources. Alternatively, projects may install “resilience storage” systems capable of supporting 50 percent of the facility’s load during a 15-minute power disruption.

To secure building permits, developers must now provide comprehensive modeling reports covering sound levels, water consumption and energy usage. These reports must include baseline pre-development sound studies to ensure compliance with new standards regarding low-frequency noise, according to the publication.

The city is also addressing data privacy by implementing local biometric protections that govern how facilities handle fingerprints, iris scans and facial geometry. These measures remain in effect even if state-level biometric laws are rescinded.

Aurora currently hosts five operational data centers, with an additional five in the development pipeline and two more applications currently under review.

— Eric Weilbacher