Mesa tightens data center zoning rules to balance growth, community concerns

Article originally posted on Phoenix Business Journal on July 16, 2025

Over the past six years, Mesa has seen an influx of data centers — totaling about 15 million square feet of built, approved and proposed projects.

Mesa City Council has decided to be more calculated with its future data center developments by moving forward last week with an effort to set uniform standards for data centers.

Council unanimously adopted its amendments to a key zoning ordinance on July 8 and continues the recent trend of Valley municipalities shifting policy directives regarding the infrastructure needed to allow for data centers, which have been built at a breakneck clip across the region in the past decade. The changes are set to take effect Aug. 8, 30 days after they were adopted.

Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman told the Business Journal that the city is “not anti-data center” and rather, the adopted amendments are a way of maintaining a balanced approach.

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