San Antonio Mayor Proposes Eight Rules for New Data Centers

San Antonio data centers must stay 1,000 feet away from property lines under a new proposal. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones introduced the plan Tuesday to the City Council. The rule matches the setback requirement currently applied to detention centers.

The ordinance sets specific operational limits for the massive complexes. Daytime noise cannot exceed 63 decibels, the level of a normal conversation. Nighttime noise is capped at 56 decibels, comparable to the hum of a refrigerator. Developers must also replace any lost green space with double the original amount.

Ortiz Jones outlined additional conditions in her proposal. Data center operators must notify the city 45 days before submitting a formal application. Two public meetings are required after the application is filed. Backup generators must be enclosed and ventilated to contain sound and emissions.

The plan includes environmental and transparency measures. Facilities must monitor and report air quality according to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality standards. Developers must disclose whether they consent to public reporting of utility consumption. The city will also ask developers to detail the specific benefits the data center brings to the local community.

Data centers house thousands of computers and servers that store and process information for internet services and artificial intelligence systems. The City Council will vote on the proposed ordinance this Thursday, October 29.