St. Cloud Planning Commission Approves Data Center Rules
The proposed regulations establish new definitions and zoning requirements for future data center construction in the city.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Data Centers
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The St. Cloud Planning Commission has moved forward with an amendment aimed at regulating data center development. The proposal now advances to the St. Cloud City Council for a final public hearing and vote.
Why it matters
The measure serves as a proactive regulatory framework for the city, which currently lacks formal policies regarding data center construction. While some officials argued for a moratorium to further study community impacts, the commission ultimately opted for defined zoning standards.
The proposed rules define enterprise data centers as facilities using 50 megawatts or less at peak, containing 2,000 or fewer servers, and occupying a maximum of 10,000 square feet.
The players
St. Cloud Planning Commission
This six-member body is responsible for reviewing land use and development proposals within the city of St. Cloud.
St. Cloud City Council
This local government body holds final authority over municipal ordinances and will conduct the ultimate vote on the data center amendment.
The details
The amendment mandates that developers perform traffic studies, ground vibration assessments, and community impact studies for potential projects. Enterprise-scale data centers would be permitted in designated industrial and commercial districts without requiring additional public hearings.
Timeline
April 2026: Sartell passed data center restrictions.
September 2026: The St. Cloud Planning Commission delayed an initial vote on the measure.
September 21, 2026: The city of Rice initiated a 12-month data center moratorium.
October 13, 2026: The city recorded zero data center proposals.
November or December 2026: The St. Cloud City Council is expected to hold a public hearing on the amendment.
The Tech Race
St. Cloud is actively establishing a regulatory framework to govern infrastructure expansion, following the pattern set by the 12-month data center moratorium in Rice. This proactive approach distinguishes the city from neighbors that have opted to halt all development while evaluating long-term community impacts.
Residents can expect new oversight on future industrial developments, including mandatory traffic and vibration studies for prospective data centers. These measures are designed to mitigate potential local disruptions while providing developers with clear zoning guidelines.
The takeaway
Cities across the region are currently navigating how to balance the demands of digital infrastructure with local land-use concerns. Officials in St. Cloud have chosen a framework of defined zoning and impact assessments to manage future growth.
What happens next
The St. Cloud City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the amendment in either November or December 2026, followed by a final vote on the proposal.
Further reading
For more context on regional infrastructure policy, visit the Data Centers section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by St. Cloud Times.
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