The City of El Cajon names data centers directly. Its Municipal Code lists "Data storage facilities and server rooms, including internet service provider" as a permitted-by-right use in the M manufacturing zone, needing only a ministerial building permit - no conditional use permit and no discretionary review.
El Cajon's zoning code, Title 17, gives data centers their own line in Table 17.150.170, the Manufacturing Zone Land Use Table: "Data storage facilities and server rooms, including internet service provider," marked "P" - permitted use. A data center in the M zone needs only a ministerial building permit, with no conditional use permit and no discretionary CEQA review. The C-M heavy-commercial/light-manufacturing zone is the city's other industrial district. This differs sharply from unincorporated San Diego County, which classes a large data center as Major Impact Services and Utilities requiring a discretionary Major Use Permit. El Cajon has adopted no data-center moratorium.
Operating a data storage facility outside the M or C-M zones, or without the required building permit, is a zoning violation enforced by Community Development through code enforcement, stop-work orders, and abatement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
El Cajon, CA
El Cajon prohibits amplified sound reproduction that disturbs the peace, quiet, or comfort of neighboring residents or businesses. Horn, bell, or mechanical ...
El Cajon, CA
El Cajon addresses barking dogs through general noise provisions and animal control. Animals must be kept so as not to create offensive noise affecting surro...
El Cajon, CA
El Cajon prohibits leaf blower operation between 7 PM and 7 AM within residential zones or 500 feet of them. CA AB 1346 banned the sale of new gas-powered bl...
El Cajon, CA
Industrial and commercial noise in El Cajon is regulated by the zoning performance standards in ECMC Chapter 17.200. Sound levels from any operation or land ...
El Cajon, CA
El Cajon prohibits construction, maintenance, and repair work between 7 PM and 7 AM within residential zones or 500 feet of them. Leaf blowers, mowers, and p...
El Cajon, CA
El Cajon requires paved driveways and off-street parking per ECMC Section 17.245. Off-street parking may not be within 10 feet of a public street, except aut...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in San Diego County.
See how other cities in San Diego County handle data center zoning & siting.
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