Minnesota cities implement new data center regulations

Municipalities in Minnesota are advancing new regulations to manage the development of data centers.

The St. Cloud Planning Commission voted 4-2 to amend the city’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code. The amendments target large-scale hyper-scale data centers, requiring them to be located in business parks at least a quarter-mile from residential areas. Future proposals would undergo a multi-step approval process, including environmental reviews, rezoning, and assessments of impacts on noise, traffic, and city services. The measure now moves to the St. Cloud City Council for further consideration.

In Minneapolis, the City Planning Commission has moved forward with regulations designed to limit the size, noise, and location of data centers. The proposed rules would restrict development to specific downtown zoning districts and reduce the maximum allowed server space from 175,000 to 50,000 square feet. To mitigate noise, servers must be located at least 20 feet inside a building and 100 feet from residential walls. The commission aims to balance the potential tax revenue from these facilities with resident concerns regarding community impact.