Fort Worth council seeks pause on new data centers after zoning vote

Fort Worth council members are signaling they want more time before the City considers proposed data-center zoning and related policy amendments—after the Fort Worth Zoning Commission voted 7–4 on July 8, 2026 to recommend denying the draft regulations.

That Zoning Commission action is not the final decision. City Council is scheduled to take action on Aug. 11, 2026 on zoning amendments plus related updates to noise, water/wastewater policy, and economic development incentives.

What the Zoning Commission did on July 8

After more than two hours of public feedback and discussion, NBC 5 reports the Zoning Commission voted 7–4 to recommend denying an ordinance that would regulate where data centers can operate and establish standards for future data-center development.

The zoning docket tied to the proposal is ZC-26-087, a text amendment that would (1) restrict data centers to industrial districts and add “Data Centers” development standards and (2) reclassify and prohibit “Crypto Currency Mining” in non-residential districts, as outlined in the City’s neighborhood notification document.

Why council members are raising a temporary pause idea

After the Zoning Commission vote, NBC 5 reports five council members said they will ask the full council to consider a temporary moratorium on new data center development so staff can revise and re-check the proposed regulations.

But it’s important to separate council members’ request from the staff position. The City’s published data-center policy page says staff is not recommending a moratorium, arguing that a pause would add procedural steps and could delay adoption of the proposed regulations by two to three months.

In other words: this is a political and procedural question that City Council will weigh on Aug. 11, not a guaranteed pause.

The proposed standards residents should know (as listed by the City)

The City’s data-center policy page lays out the proposed approach residents would have seen under the draft regulations:

• Setbacks and buffering: a 250-foot building setback from residential districts, plus a 50-foot landscape bufferyard and screening fence along residential.
• Standby generators: standby generators would not be allowed within 300 feet of residential and would need to be fully screened.
• Rooftop cooling noise: rooftop cooling equipment would need to be behind an acoustic barrier sized at 1.5 times the height of the equipment.
• Outdoor lighting: outdoor lighting rules would be extended to apply for residential use (not just the district standards).

The City’s page also summarizes proposed changes tied to noise and water/wastewater:

• Noise: within 250 feet of residential, data centers would have to conduct a 72-hour pre-development ambient noise study measured at the property line. Maximum sound levels would be limited to 5 dBA above pre-development ambient noise, with mitigation at the owner/operator expense. The proposal would also restrict standby generator testing to weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (with emergency operations exempt for TCEQ-regulated activities).
• Water/wastewater: the proposal includes requiring closed-loop cooling systems and wastewater pretreatment permits as a Non-Significant Industrial User (NSIU), with permit conditions that may include monitoring, reporting, and emergency notification procedures.

ZC-26-087: what to watch for next

Because ZC-26-087 connects the proposed zoning text amendment to both the July 8 Zoning Commission hearing and the Aug. 11 City Council consideration, residents who live near industrial corridors—or property owners tracking data-center growth—should focus on what staff changes (if any) after the vote.

On the Aug. 11 agenda packet, look for updates that directly address the concerns that drove the debate—especially rules affecting noise, generators, setbacks/buffers, and water/wastewater conditions.

Sources

• City of Fort Worth — Data Centers (official policy/timeline page)
• NBC 5 Dallas–Fort Worth (resident-facing reporting on the July 8 vote and council response)