The Tucson City Council voted 6-1 on August 5, 2026, to adopt new regulations for large-scale data centers. What the ordinance actually doesThe ordinance does not permit qualifying data centers by right anywhere in Tucson. The code defines a large-scale data center as a facility exceeding 25,000 square feet or using more than 20 megawatts of energy. That is a strong local standard, although available official material does not establish that it is the single strictest data center ordinance in Arizona. For operators, the Tucson framework means a slower and more public development process with no guarantee of final approval.