Imperial County's zoning code names data centers directly: allowed by right in the M-1, M-2, and M-3 industrial zones, while an open-air "data center yard" needs a conditional use permit. A 2026 moratorium currently freezes all approvals. These rules cover unincorporated land only.
Under Title 9, Division 5 of the county Land Use Ordinance, a "Data center (within enclosed building)" is a permitted use in the M-1 Light Industrial zone (Sec. 90515.01), and "Data centers" are permitted in M-2 Medium Industrial (Sec. 90516.01) and, through M-2's list, in M-3 Heavy Industrial. An open-air "Data center yard" requires a conditional use permit in M-1 (Sec. 90515.02). Industrial buildings may reach 80 feet or six stories, with a 10-foot front setback and no required side or rear yard. Large projects trigger CEQA review and Imperial Irrigation District coordination for power. Since June 2026, however, a county moratorium bars any data center approval countywide. Cities such as El Centro zone their own land.
Building or operating a data center outside an M-1, M-2, or M-3 zone, without required permits, or running an open-air data center yard without a conditional use permit is a zoning violation, drawing permit denial and code enforcement abatement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
imperial-county-ca
California's SB 1383 requires organic-waste diversion countywide. In the Imperial Valley the program is run by the Imperial Valley Resource Management Agency...
imperial-county-ca
Imperial County's landscape ordinance (Title 9 Division 3) repeatedly states that ornamental rock, gravel, artificial turf, or other artificial-cover areas d...
imperial-county-ca
Imperial County's landscape ordinance (Title 9 Division 3) requires plants suited to the region, grouped by water need and irrigated separately, with a 30-in...
imperial-county-ca
Imperial County's Title 9 Land Use Ordinance contains no ordinance prohibiting or specifically permitting residential rainwater harvesting. California law br...
imperial-county-ca
Title 9 Division 18 makes it a misdemeanor to let land in unincorporated Imperial County become overgrown and infested with weeds and other vegetation. Weeds...
imperial-county-ca
Unincorporated Imperial County does not have a heritage-tree or general tree-removal permit ordinance for private property. Homeowners may generally remove t...
See how Imperial County's data center zoning & siting rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.