San Francisco is one of few cities with a dedicated data-center land-use rule. The Planning Code treats a data center as an "Internet Service Exchange" — allowed as an accessory use up to 25,000 sq ft, while larger facilities need Conditional Use Authorization, air-quality compliance, and annual energy reporting.
San Francisco regulates data centers under its Planning Code as an "Internet Service Exchange," a use in the Utility and Infrastructure category defined in Section 102. A facility over 25,000 gross square feet of floor area, or drawing more than two megawatts of back-up generation, is not accessory and requires Conditional Use Authorization from the Planning Commission under Section 303. Approval findings require screened rooftop equipment, back-up power meeting air-pollution controls, energy-efficient design, examined on-site generation, and binding annual reporting of energy use and diesel-generator hours. CEQA review applies, and the City has adopted no data-center moratorium. As a consolidated city and county, this page covers the whole jurisdiction — there is no separate San Francisco County to check.
Building or expanding an Internet Service Exchange above the 25,000-square-foot accessory threshold without Conditional Use Authorization blocks Planning Department approval; failing to file the required annual energy and diesel-generator reports breaches the conditions of approval.
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