How Long Beach Handles Data Centers & Crypto Mining: A Practical Guide
Long Beach maintains 185 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with data centers & crypto mining. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Long Beach falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Data Center Zoning & Siting
Long Beach's Table 15-5 permitted-use table lists 'Data center' as a 'Y' use, 'Yes, the use is permitted', in both Neo-Industrial zones, NI-1 and NI-2, under LBMC § 22.15.030. No conditional use permit or administrative use permit applies to the use classification itself; siting is confined to those two zones citywide.
Key details: Governing table: Table 15-5, LBMC § 22.15.030. Zones allowed: NI-1 and NI-2 only. Permit type: Y: no CUP or AUP required. Follow-on standards: Chapter 22.41 NI development standards apply. Glare cap in NI zones: 0.5 foot-candles onto neighboring property.
Title 22 has no penalty section of its own for NI-zone standards; § 22.10.010 directs that where Title 22 is silent, Title 21 rules apply, including § 21.10.080's 'Penalty for violation.' That section makes any zoning-regulation violation a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine, up to six months' imprisonment, or both, with each day after a notice of violation counted as a separate offense, enforced by the Department of Planning and Building and prosecuted by the City Prosecutor.
The rules around data center zoning & siting in Long Beach lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.
Data Center Noise Limits
Long Beach caps exterior noise at the receiving property line under Municipal Code Chapter 8.80. Table A in Section 8.80.160 sets 50 dBA day and 45 dBA night at homes, 60/55 in commercial areas, and 65 to 70 dBA in industrial districts. A data center's cooling and generators must comply.
Key details: Code: LBMC Sec. 8.80.150 / Table A. Home limit: 50 day / 45 night dBA. Commercial limit: 60 day / 55 night dBA. Industrial limit: 65-70 dBA any time. Measured at: Receiving property line.
Noise over the Section 8.80.150 limits is a Chapter 8.80 violation enforced by the City's Noise Control Officer through citations, and it can breach the noise conditions placed on a data center's Conditional Use Permit.
The Bottom Line
Long Beach's data centers & crypto mining rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Long Beach is broadly strict or permissive.
This guide is based on Long Beach's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.