The City of Savannah is inviting residents, businesses, and neighborhood groups to complete a data center ordinance survey to share input on the future of data centers in Savannah. 

The City is considering an amendment to the zoning ordinance that would define data centers as a land use and institute development standards tailored to Savannah. City officials are working with the Chatham County - Savannah Metropolitan Planning (MPC) Commission and Chatham County to draft a document to present to City Council for review and recommended for adoption in January 2027. Public feedback will help inform the proposed zoning ordinance. 

Comments are now being accepted through Nov. 20, at savannahga.gov/datacenters. A direct link to the survey may be found here. 

Data centers, physical facilities, rooms, or buildings that house IT infrastructure: computer systems, servers, storage arrays, and networking hardware to store, process, and distribute digital information, have existed since the 1940s. Locally, they are critical infrastructure powering hospitals, utilities, emergency services, and government resources. Additionally, schools and local businesses utilize them for records keeping and electronic mail.  

With the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI), newer and larger data centers are being built at a rapid pace, particularly across Georgia, demanding exponentially more resources than older facilities.  

“Savannah must be prepared to understand what our infrastructure can and cannot accommodate, where the line exists between community benefit and community harm, and what is best for each of our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Van R. Johnson, II. “The decisions we make now will have a lasting impact on Savannah’s future, our public safety, environmental health, quality of life, and ability to remain an economically thriving community for all.” 

Addressed in proposed ordinance: 

• Public review: Required public notice and engagement, which may include special use permit process  
• Definitions: Minor, major, adapted reuse data centers, with modified rules for small, low-impact facilities  
• Location and neighborhood protection: Required distances from homes, schools, parks, places of worship, hospitals, and other sensitive areas, along with noise/buffer regulations 
• Power: Electricity usage and limits on use of generators 
• Water: Water usage, water-conserving cooling technology, stormwater management, and wastewater discharge, subject to appropriate regulations 
• Oversight: Application requirements, development agreement items, ongoing reporting, and plan for safe closure of facility 
• Emergency response: Savannah Fire Department review/approval of life safety systems, fire protection, hazard mitigation, and emergency response plans 
• Decommissioning: Plans for equipment removal and management of hazardous materials 
• Appearance: Appropriate building height, landscaping, buffers, according to design standards
• Community benefit: Major data centers could be required to contribute through infrastructure upgrades, reinvestment or other commitments

Public Involvement: 

• Complete survey and for FAQ, please visit: savannahga.gov/datacenters  
• A draft ordinance will be posted in November for review and comment   
• Attend a public hearing - Hearings before the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) and Savannah City Council will be announced as scheduled 
• City officials are meeting with local business owners, residents, and stakeholders to address questions before finalization of ordinance  

To learn more or to take the survey, visit savannahga.gov/datacenters.