Fresno, CA Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Zoning & Siting (2026)
Key Facts
- Dedicated ordinance
- None
- Districts
- IL, IH industrial
- Permit level
- By-right (P)
- Use classification
- Communication facility / industrial
- Code
- Development Code Table 15-1302
Summary
The City of Fresno has no data-center ordinance and no "data center" use category. Data centers site in the IL Light Industrial and IH Heavy Industrial districts, permitted by right as a Communication Facility or industrial use under Development Code Table 15-1302.
The IL district is intended to provide areas, as identified by the General Plan, for a diverse range of light industrial uses, including limited manufacturing and processing, research and development, fabrication, utility equipment and service yards, wholesaling, warehousing, and distribution activities.
Full Breakdown
Fresno is a charter city governed by its own Citywide Development Code (Municipal Code Chapter 15), not the County ordinance. The code names no "data center" use. Under Section 15-1302.C the Director assigns an undefined use to the substantially-similar classification. A server building fits "Communication Facilities - Facilities within Buildings" (telephone switching centers), permitted by right in the IL Light Industrial and IH Heavy Industrial districts, or an industrial use such as Limited or General Industrial, also permitted by right in both. No Conditional Use Permit is required for those classifications. Discretionary building approvals trigger CEQA review. Fresno has adopted no data-center ordinance and no moratorium.
Violations & Fines
Building or operating a data center outside an industrial district, or without a required permit, violates the Citywide Development Code and is enforced by Planning and Code Enforcement through stop-work orders and abatement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can data centers be built in the City of Fresno?
Does the City of Fresno require a special permit for a data center?
Has the City of Fresno banned or paused data centers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno
California rules heatmap·Compare Fresno to another location·View the California data centers & crypto mining overview
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Data Center Zoning & Siting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fresno County handle data center zoning & siting.