Bakersfield has no dedicated data center ordinance. A data center is an industrial use sited in the M-1, M-2, or M-3 manufacturing zones under Municipal Code Title 17. Because servers are not a named use, an unlisted use needs a conditional use permit and CEQA review.
Bakersfield regulates data centers through its general Zoning Ordinance (Title 17), not a data-center chapter. A computing or server facility is not a named use, so the Planning Division treats it as an analogous industrial use in the M-1 Light Manufacturing (Ch. 17.28), M-2 General Manufacturing (Ch. 17.30), or M-3 Heavy Industrial (Ch. 17.31) zone. In the M-1 zone, listed uses are permitted only if they emit no fumes, odor, dust, smoke, gas, noise, or vibration detrimentally impacting neighbors (Section 17.28.020.B). Any use not expressly listed needs a conditional use permit under Section 17.64.020.B, a discretionary Planning Commission approval triggering CEQA. Unlike Kern County's Director plot plan review, Bakersfield routes unlisted industrial uses through the Planning Commission.
Building or expanding a data center outside an industrial zone, or without a required conditional use permit and CEQA clearance, is an unlawful use — the Community Development Department can deny building permits until the project conforms.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield Municipal Code Chapter 9.22 prohibits any loud, unnecessary noise that disturbs the peace or quiet of any neighborhood, or that causes discomfort...
Bakersfield, CA
Aircraft noise over Bakersfield, including operations at Meadows Field (BFL) and Bakersfield Municipal Airport (L45), is governed almost entirely by federal ...
Bakersfield, CA
Industrial noise in Bakersfield is strictly regulated under BMC Chapter 9.22, which sets zone-based exterior decibel limits and prohibits industrial properti...
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield does not ban gas-powered leaf blowers citywide, but their use is constrained by the Bakersfield Municipal Code noise chapter and San Joaquin Vall...
Bakersfield, CA
Amplified music in Bakersfield is regulated under Bakersfield Municipal Code Chapter 9.22, which makes it unlawful to play a radio, stereo, musical instrumen...
Bakersfield, CA
Bakersfield Municipal Code Chapter 9.22 sets numeric decibel limits that vary by the zoning of the receiving property and the time of day. Typical limits are...
See how Bakersfield's data center zoning & siting rules stack up against other locations.
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