The Cochise County Board of Supervisors approved Ordinance 26-09 on Apr. 9, establishing a regulatory framework for the development and operation of data centers in the county.
The ordinance is significant because it creates clear standards for how future data center proposals will be reviewed and managed, addressing community concerns about water use, infrastructure, and rural character. It defines data centers in county code for the first time and requires that all such facilities obtain Special Use Authorization within designated zoning districts. The ordinance also sets detailed requirements related to water usage, site design, infrastructure capacity, and long-term management.
Board Chairman Frank Antenori said, “This is a living, breathing document. We’re going to be strengthening it over the next year. We’re getting good suggestions. As we go through this process we’ll be having work sessions, which are open to the public. We are being proactive, so we have time to add things into this, with input from both sides.”
According to county officials, the new rules do not approve or promote any specific project but ensure that any future proposals will be evaluated through a structured and transparent process based on measurable standards rather than speculation. The ordinance was developed as data centers have rapidly expanded across Arizona without local standards in place.
County staff reported significant public input during development of the regulations. Many residents voiced concerns about potential impacts on water resources and power demand; however, there was broad support for setting up guidelines to ensure careful evaluation of any future projects.
While addressing emerging industries like data centers with these new regulations aligns with goals outlined in the Cochise County Comprehensive Plan 2045—such as requiring adequate infrastructure and water availability—the county continues to face challenges in other areas like education performance: 70% of students in grades 3 through 8 failed mathematics on state assessments during the 2022-23 school year; 76% of high schoolers did not pass mathematics on their ACT exams; 62.4% failed English among younger students; while 65% failed English at the high school level according to state education reports.
There has been some improvement: 27% of high schoolers passed mathematics on their ACTs during the following (2023-24) school year; similarly,28.5% of students in grades three through eight passed mathematics on their AASA exams.
Currently there are no active applications for new data centers in Cochise County. With Ordinance 26-09 now adopted, officials say they are prepared to evaluate any future proposals using a predictable process that prioritizes public health and responsible land use.
