San Angelo writes data centers into its zoning code and makes them a conditional use only
San Angelo created Section 430 of its zoning ordinance, the first full land use rulebook for data centers in West Texas. New data centers are allowed as a principal use only by Conditional Use, and only in Light Manufacturing and Heavy Manufacturing districts. Each one comes back to a public hearing. The code caps buildings at 75 feet. It bars ground mounted equipment near residentially zoned property and limits noise to 55 dBa at the property line day and night. It also requires a sound modeling study before final site plan approval and a post development sound study after occupancy. The definition it adopted excludes cryptocurrency mining. The ordinance was introduced on May 5th, 2026 and passed on May 19th, 2026.
How to take part
Because data centers are a Conditional Use, every future application goes to a noticed hearing under Section 208. Neighbors get another bite each time rather than one vote on the whole category. The adopted ordinance and the city's data center page carry the standards a resident would measure a site plan against.
Where
1 county. In San Angelo.
Timeline
- hearing
Planning Commission public hearing and recommendation for approval
- hearing
City Council special meeting for public input on the data center project and regulations
- hearing
Introduced with public hearing
- ordered
Finally passed by City Council, reported 6 to 0
- effective
Ordinance effective date
- Today
How this decision moved
One dated line per check, oldest first. A line that says nothing changed means somebody looked and it had not.
- 2026-08-19
Checked and unchanged. The land use regulations approved May 19th are still the governing action listed, and the city's page carries nothing from July or August.
- 2026-08-22
Checked and unchanged. The zoning ordinance still amends Chapter 12 on planning and development to create a specific use standard for data centers, and the city's record carries no later amendment to it.
- 2026-08-26
Checked and unchanged. Data centers are still written into the zoning code as a conditional use and the ordinance text is unchanged.
- 2026-08-29
Checked and unchanged. Data centers are still a defined use in the zoning code and still a conditional use rather than a permitted one. The council has not amended the definition since adopting it.
- 2026-09-02
The zoning change stands and data centers are still a conditional use in the city's code.
- 2026-09-05
San Angelo still carries data centers in its zoning code as a conditional use and nothing else.
- 2026-09-08
San Angelo still defines data centers in its zoning code and still allows them only as a conditional use.
- 2026-09-09
San Angelo still defines a data center in its zoning code and still makes one a conditional use.
- 2026-09-12
San Angelo still defines a data center in its zoning code and still allows one only as a conditional use.
- 2026-09-13
Data centers are still a conditional use in San Angelo's zoning code, and the ordinance that made them one is still the version the city publishes.
- 2026-09-16
Data centers are still a conditional use in the San Angelo code and still nowhere permitted by right. The zoning text is unchanged.
- 2026-09-19
A data center is still a conditional use in the city's zoning code rather than a permitted one, so each one still goes before the commission.
- 2026-09-24
Whether a data center is still a conditional use only in San Angelo's zoning code is unconfirmed this run. The city's own copy of the ordinance could not be read again.
- 2026-09-26
San Angelo's zoning code still treats a data center as a conditional use only, in the ordinance the city posts.
- 2026-09-29
San Angelo's zoning code still allows a data center only as a conditional use.
The evidence
Every fact above rests on one of these. The words are the source's own.
New data centers shall be permitted as a principal use by Conditional Use (CU) only, in accordance with procedures set forth in Section 208.Ordinance amending Chapter 12 Planning and Development, Exhibit A, Sec. 430 Data Center Primary source, official · sanangelo.gov
An application for a CU may be made within ML (Light Manufacturing) and MH (Heavy Manufacturing) Districts.Ordinance amending Chapter 12 Planning and Development, Exhibit A, Sec. 430 Data Center Primary source, official · sanangelo.gov
Maximum Height: 75 feet, measured at the top of the building plate (roof deck).Ordinance amending Chapter 12 Planning and Development, Exhibit A, Sec. 430 Data Center Primary source, official · sanangelo.gov
Any noise that emanates from all activity associated with any data center is limited to a maximum sound level of 55 dBa during the daytime and 55 dBa at nighttime.Ordinance amending Chapter 12 Planning and Development, Exhibit A, Sec. 430 Data Center Primary source, official · sanangelo.gov
A data center shall not include cryptocurrency mining.Ordinance amending Chapter 12 Planning and Development, Exhibit A, Sec. 430 Data Center Primary source, official · sanangelo.gov
INTRODUCED with public hearing the 5th day of May 2026, and finally PASSED this 19th day of May, 2026.Ordinance amending Chapter 12 Planning and Development, City of San Angelo Primary source, official · sanangelo.gov
Approved 6-0 at the May 19, 2026 City Council meeting.Data Center Information, City of San Angelo Primary source, official · sanangelo.gov
Questions about this decision
Answered from the record itself. Every answer is assembled from stored fields, so an answer the record has no basis for is left out rather than guessed.
What is this decision?
San Angelo created Section 430 of its zoning ordinance, the first full land use rulebook for data centers in West Texas. New data centers are allowed as a principal use only by Conditional Use, and only in Light Manufacturing and Heavy Manufacturing districts. Each one comes back to a public hearing. The code caps buildings at 75 feet. It bars ground mounted equipment near residentially zoned property and limits noise to 55 dBa at the property line day and night. It also requires a sound modeling study before final site plan approval and a post development sound study after occupancy. The definition it adopted excludes cryptocurrency mining. The ordinance was introduced on May 5th, 2026 and passed on May 19th, 2026.
Who decides it?
City of San Angelo City Council decides. The record names the deciding body for every entry it carries.
Can the public take part?
Because data centers are a Conditional Use, every future application goes to a noticed hearing under Section 208. Neighbors get another bite each time rather than one vote on the whole category. The adopted ordinance and the city's data center page carry the standards a resident would measure a site plan against.
Where in Texas does it apply?
It covers Tom Green County in the San Angelo, TX area.
Has it been decided?
It has been decided. The dates on the item page carry when.
What happens next?
No future date is on the record. The last dated step on it was effective on May 19th.
When did it start?
The earliest date on its record is April 20th, 2026.
What kind of decision is it?
It is filed under data centers.
What sources back it?
Two sources back it. Two of them are primary.
Is it on the ERCOT grid?
Yes. It sits inside the ERCOT interconnection.
When was it last checked?
Every fact on it was last verified against its source on September 29th, 2026.
Cite this
Texas AI Docket, San Angelo writes data centers into its zoning code and makes them a conditional use only. Tracked since April 20th, 2026. Last verified September 29th, 2026. https://texasaidocket.com/item/tx-2026-0066/. Reuse permitted under CC BY 4.0 with attribution. The same entry is in the docket JSON as item tx-2026-0066.
Beat
Filed under Data centers, with every other decision on that beat.