Tehama County, CA Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Zoning & Siting (2026)
Key Facts
- Dedicated Ordinance
- None; industrial zoning
- Allowed Zones
- M-1 Light, M-2 General Industrial
- Data Center Status
- Unlisted; classified as industrial use
- Environmental Review
- CEQA if discretionary
- Site Coverage
- Max 75% of site
Summary
Tehama County has no dedicated data-center ordinance. In the unincorporated county a server facility is an industrial use, allowed in the M-1 Light Industrial and M-2 General Industrial zones under Title 17, subject to a use permit and CEQA review. Red Bluff and Corning set their own zoning.
Examples of uses include light to heavy manufacturing, fabrication, storage and warehousing, processing of goods and resources, energy facilities, equipment sales and storage yards, business and office parks and other such uses which because of their operations, may create noise, light or glare, dust or odor which are not compatible with residential or service and retail commercial uses.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Rural Tehama County does not name data centers in its zoning code (Title 17). Its only industrial designation, General Industrial, is carried out through the M-1 Light Industrial and M-2 General Industrial districts, which permit manufacturing, warehousing, energy facilities, and business or office parks. Because a data center is unlisted, the Planning Department classifies it as a similar industrial use, allowed by right in M-1 or M-2 or, for larger power-intensive campuses, through a use permit heard by the Planning Commission. Discretionary approvals trigger CEQA and a General Plan acoustical analysis. General Industrial development may not cover more than 75% of the site and must buffer adjacent homes. These rules govern unincorporated land only.
Violations & Fines
Building a data center on land not zoned M-1 or M-2, or without a required use permit or CEQA clearance, is a zoning violation. The county can withhold building permits and issue stop-work orders until the parcel conforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can a data center be built in unincorporated Tehama County?
Does Tehama County have data center rules, and how can I weigh in?
Do these county rules apply inside Red Bluff or Corning?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tehama County
California rules heatmap·Compare Tehama County to another location·View the California data centers & crypto mining overview
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