Gilbert Delays New Data Center Regulations to December
The council deferred land development code amendments to account for changes in smaller data center technology.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Data Centers
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The Gilbert Town Council voted 6-1 on October 20, 2026, to delay the adoption of new land development code amendments regarding data center regulations. The council opted to postpone the final decision to allow staff more time to refine requirements for smaller facilities.
Why it matters
The delay reflects an ongoing tension between urban planning and the rapid evolution of digital infrastructure. Staff requested additional time to reconcile current zoning rules with the changing technical specifications of modern, smaller-footprint data centers.
The 6-1 council vote signals a pause in codifying new land development rules, which currently remain in draft status pending further staff review. The primary objective is to adapt regulations to account for the evolving physical requirements of modern, smaller data centers.
The players
Gilbert Town Council
The local governing body responsible for setting land development and zoning policies within the city.
Kenny Buckland
A member of the Gilbert Town Council who cast the single dissenting vote against delaying the regulations.
The details
The council deferred the proposed amendments to address emerging gaps in their current regulatory framework. Staff identified that existing code does not adequately account for the distinct operational and architectural footprints of smaller data center facilities, necessitating a revision of the current land development code to better align with current industry hardware trends.
Timeline
October 20, 2026: Gilbert Town Council voted to delay data center regulations.
December 15, 2026: The council is scheduled to reconsider the land development code amendments.
The Tech Race
This regulatory pause places Gilbert in a cycle of iterative policy development as municipal leaders attempt to keep pace with changing data center hardware designs. The city now aims to align its land development code with current facility benchmarks by mid-December.
Residents and developers must wait until at least mid-December for finalized rules governing facility siting and design in the city. The extension provides a window for municipal staff to adjust code that could influence how future smaller-scale tech infrastructure is integrated into local zoning.
The takeaway
The move underscores the difficulty local governments face in creating static zoning laws for highly dynamic technological assets. Stakeholders should monitor the December 15 meeting for the final language of the code amendments.
What happens next
The Gilbert Town Council will formally reconsider the proposed land development code amendments at their next scheduled meeting on December 15, 2026.
Further reading
For broader trends on infrastructure requirements, visit /tech/data-centers/.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Your Valley.
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