Land Use Committee
September 14, 2026

9/2/2026
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RiversideCA.gov
Land Use MeetingSeptember 14, 2026PROHIBITION OF DATA CENTERS AS A LAND USE IN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDEWard 1 Office RiversideCA.gov2
The rapid growth of cloud computing and AI has increased demand for data centers, which can place significant demands on electricity, water, land, and infrastructure while generating relatively limited employment. The proposed ordinance would explicitly prohibit data centers as a land use in Riverside to ensure future development aligns with the City’s long-term planning goals and provides meaningful community benefit.Background 9/2/2026
2 RiversideCA.gov3
•Protection of Land & Community Resources:Riverside has limited commercialand industrial land. Large data centers can occupy substantial sites whilecreating relatively few permanent jobs, potentially displacing businesses thatprovide greater economic and employment benefits.•Infrastructure & Environmental Impacts:Data centers require significantelectricity, cooling, and potentially water resources. Backup generators andmechanical equipment may also raise concerns related to air quality, noise, fuelstorage, and neighborhood compatibility.•Economic Development:Riverside should prioritize its limited land for businessesand institutions that create meaningful employment, strengthen the tax base,and provide long-term community benefits.Discussion RiversideCA.gov4
•Proactive Long-Term Planning:Land-use decisions shape infrastructure and development for decades. A proactive prohibition establishes a clear policy before development pressures increase and provides certainty for property owners, developers, and the community. •Closing Loopholes:Facilities would be classified based on their primary operations, with associated and accessory uses also addressed to prevent data centers from being established under alternative land-use classifications.Discussion 9/2/2026
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•Introduce an ordinance amending the Riverside Municipal Code and applicable provisions of the City’s development regulations to prohibit data centers as an allowable land use within the City of Riverside;•Direct the City Manager, Community & Economic Development Department, and City Attorney’s Office to take all necessary steps to prepare and implement the proposed ordinance, including identifying and updating applicable zoning, land-use, and development regulations to ensure that data centers are not established as a permitted, conditionally permitted, or otherwise allowable use within the City; and•Direct staff to bring the proposed ordinance and associated amendments before the Planning Commission for consideration, followed by the City Council for final approval.RECOMMENDATIONS