Aurora Planning Commission Recommends Stricter Data Center Regulations

Proposed rules would give City Council more control over new data center developments.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Aurora's Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend the city adopt stricter regulations around data centers, including giving the City Council the ability to approve or deny proposed developments and setting requirements around energy use, water use, noise, and other emissions. The proposed rules would only apply to new data centers or substantially renovated existing ones, and still need to be approved by the City Council.

Why it matters

The new regulations are in response to an increased number of data center applications and residents' concerns with existing facilities, particularly around noise and environmental impact. The city had placed a moratorium on data center developments to allow time to create these proposed rules.

The details

Under the proposed regulations, data centers would only be allowed in general industrial zones, not in limited industrial zones or office/research districts. The rules would set strict limits on sound levels, require sound studies and modeling, and mandate sound walls around equipment like chillers and generators. Data centers would also need to meet energy efficiency standards and have on-site renewable energy generation or battery storage.

  • The Planning and Zoning Commission voted on the proposed regulations on March 5, 2026.
  • The Aurora City Council is expected to vote on the final regulations on March 24, 2026, which is also when the current moratorium on data center developments is set to end.

The players

Aurora Planning and Zoning Commission

The city's planning commission that voted to recommend the stricter data center regulations.

Aurora City Council

The city's governing body that will make the final decision on adopting the proposed data center regulations.

John Curley

Aurora's Chief Development Services Officer, who presented the proposed regulations to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Alison Lindburg

Aurora's Director of Sustainability, who discussed the proposed regulations with the City Council's Rules, Administration and Procedures Committee.

Shweta Baid

Alderman for Aurora's 10th Ward, which contains all of the city's existing data centers, and who recommended strengthening the proposed requirements.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The proposed data center regulations will next go before the Aurora City Council's Committee of the Whole on March 18, 2026, before a final vote by the full City Council on March 24, 2026.

The takeaway

Aurora's new data center regulations aim to give the city more control over these developments and address residents' concerns about their environmental and community impact, particularly around noise levels. The rules still need to be approved by the City Council, but represent a stricter approach compared to the initial proposal from city staff.