Lubbock’s first set of development rules for large-scale data centers goes to a public meeting this week. On Thursday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m., the Planning and Zoning Commission will consider recommending changes to the city’s Unified Development Code covering “Large-Scale Data Centers and Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution,” according to the commission’s posted agenda and packet.
The commission makes a recommendation. The City Council has the final say. The meeting is in the council chambers at Citizens Tower, 1314 Ave. K.
What the draft rules would require
The standards in the meeting packet treat data centers as a specific use, so each project would need its own approval. Here are the main pieces:
- Distance from neighbors: If any part of the property borders anything other than light or general industrial zoning, buildings must sit at least 300 feet from every property line. Any on-site power generation, transmission or distribution equipment must sit 500 feet from all property lines, whatever the neighboring zoning.
- Noise: No more than 57 decibels at the property lines, backed by a sound study and sound-absorbing barriers. Routine generator testing would be limited to Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The draft also sets a separate low-frequency noise limit, which it writes as 10 hertz.
- Screening and trees: Either a 6-foot berm around the whole property or a 7-foot solid fence of masonry, cedar, redwood, composite or vinyl. Projects would also plant at least four canopy trees for every 100 feet of perimeter.
- Water: Data centers would pay a water reservation fee “as established by the City.” The packet doesn’t list an amount.
- Growth limits: An expansion of more than 10% beyond the electrical load or water use in the original permit would need a brand-new specific use application.
- Cleanup plan: Projects with on-site power would file a decommissioning plan and a letter of credit, updated every year and submitted to the City Council. Removal would have to start within 90 days after the data center stops operating, and the land would be returned to level ground and vegetation.
- Site plans: Applicants would submit detailed plans, including a traffic impact analysis, lighting specifications and signage.
Stand-alone power plants would follow similar rules, plus two of their own: wind turbines would need a ducted or shrouded rotor, and gas turbines would need a closed-cycle process.
How we got here
Data centers have been one of the biggest local stories of 2026. The citizen group Save Lubbock petitioned for an 18-month pause on large data centers. On Sept. 22, the council let that ordinance die without a second and instead voted 5-2 to start the state-law process for a 90-day moratorium, KTTZ reported. Council members Tim Collins and Tim Green voted no.
That moratorium isn’t in effect yet. It needs two public hearings first. According to the city’s published notice, the first is set for Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 2 p.m. in the council chambers.
The state is moving too. KTTZ reported that Gov. Greg Abbott announced a pause on new data centers connecting to the state grid in August, pending an audit, and on Sept. 21 told the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to stop issuing new permits for them.
At an Oct. 1 work session, Assistant City Manager Erik Rejino and Planning Director Kristen Sager walked commissioners through an earlier version of the rules, the commission’s minutes show. During public comment that night, one resident opposed data centers anywhere in the city and asked for a mandatory water fee, a taller screening fence, more landscaping and weekday-only generator use. The current draft includes a water fee and limits routine generator testing to weekdays.
Also this week: a data center item at the council
The City Council meets Tuesday, Nov. 3, which is also Election Day. Its agenda includes an item adding the impact of large-scale data centers on utilities and infrastructure to the city’s legislative package, the list of issues the city takes to state lawmakers.
Other cases on Thursday’s agenda
- Zone Case 3564 (District 2): Frontier Land & Cattle Co. wants light industrial zoning on 84.9 acres south of East Erskine Street and northeast of Northeast Loop 289, with a permanent batch plant allowed on 12.6 of those acres. The city mailed 95 notices and had received no responses either way when the packet was prepared. Staff has no objection.
- Zone Case 3562 (District 5): commercial zoning for 3.21 acres on Milwaukee Avenue north of 104th Street.
- Zone Case 3563 (District 5): heavy commercial zoning for 4 acres on Alcove Avenue south of 76th Street.
How to weigh in
Anyone who wants to speak to the commission must fill out the sign-up form at the meeting by 6 p.m. The proposed standards are posted on the city’s data center page. For accommodations, call 806-775-2108 or email cityplanning@mylubbock.us at least 48 hours ahead.
We’ll add comment from the city’s planning department and from Save Lubbock when we have it, and we’ll report what the commission decides.
Sources
- City of Lubbock, Planning and Zoning Commission agenda and packet, Nov. 5, 2026 (includes the Oct. 1, 2026, commission minutes): https://www.mylubbock.us/DocumentCenter/View/11585/November-5-2026-PZC-Packet_Redacted-pdf
- City of Lubbock, Public input on data centers page: https://www.mylubbock.us/data-center
- KTTZ, Samantha Larned, 'Lubbock takes first step toward data center moratorium' (Sept. 23, 2026): https://radio.kttz.org/2026-09-23/lubbock-takes-first-step-toward-data-center-moratorium-questions-remain-with-approaching-legislative-session
- City of Lubbock public hearing notice (via NoticeRegistry, Oct. 11, 2026): https://www.noticeregistry.com/texas/notice/public-hearing-lubbock-963236
- City of Lubbock, City Council agenda, Nov. 3, 2026: https://www.mylubbock.us/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11032026-292
- Featured photo: Lubbock, Texas skyline by Quintin Soloviev via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0
