Los Angeles County has imposed an immediate ban on the development of large-scale artificial intelligence data centers in unincorporated areas, a move officials said will remain in place while they work to formalize the restriction through zoning changes.
County Regional Planning Director Amy Bodek issued the temporary guidance in a memo Sept. 18, saying the county will seek to codify the prohibition in its zoning code. The action follows an April motion by Supervisor Hilda Solis, who represents the county’s First District and said she acted in response to concerns raised by San Gabriel Valley residents.
Solis said she plans to bring a zoning amendment to the Board of Supervisors after recommendations from the planning and public health departments. She said concerns about the impact of data centers on communities have become national, and pointed to reports she said underscore the need for a ban.
The decision comes after strong opposition from residents in Monterey Park, where a proposed 218,400-square-foot data center on a 15.8-acre site drew complaints about possible air, soil and water pollution. The city adopted a 45-day moratorium, extended it, and then voters overwhelmingly approved Measure NDC in June, which permanently banned data centers in the city.
