Board of Commissioners, October 27, 2026
Approved: Restrict data centers to HI district (Section 134-192 use chart), 5-0
What happened
On October 27, 2026, Cobb County approved Restrict data centers to HI district (Section 134-192 use chart) (5-0).
The Cobb County Board of Commissioners adopted its 2026 zoning code amendments, including new data center standards in Section 134-37(36), on a 3-2 vote with Commissioners Burrell and Allen opposed.
- Jurisdiction
- Cobb County, GA
- Governing body
- Final authority
- Date
- October 27, 2026
- Decisions
- 16 zoning decisions
- Outcome
- Approved, 5-0
Free sample: decision 1 of 16
Data center standards (Section 134-37 subsection 36)
The Board adopted data center regulations as written in draft two. The standards include non-evaporative cooling equal to or better than closed loop, a new air pollution section for generators, a SLUP requirement for facilities above 30,000 sq ft or 3 MW, and a requirement that operators pay 100% of required infrastructure costs. Staff noted the existing data center moratorium expires in February or upon code adoption. Vote 3-2, with Burrell and Allen opposed.
The other decisions are listed below. Available full write-ups and conditions are included with Pro.
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Key Decisions (16)
Data center standards (Section 134-37 subsection 36)
Restrict data centers to HI district (Section 134-192 use chart)
Exclude data centers from business incentives (Section 2-170)
Chapter 2 administration, including the housing incentive program
Section 134-1 definitions (family, single-family dwelling, ADU)
Purpose-built student housing standards (134-37 subsection 34)
Accessory dwelling unit standards (134-37 subsection 35)
Gas station distance requirements (134-266) tabled
Single-family district sections 134-193 through 199
Chapter 6 alcohol amendments (2,500-ft package store separation)
Chapter 78 vapor product retailer licensing
Chapters 50, 54, 66, 10, 83, 106, 118 code amendments
Land purchase at 45 Concord Road
Highland Rivers Crisis Center renovation GMP
Stryker Construction build-out at 3830 Southcott Drive
DOT drainage and resurfacing contracts
Full write-ups and conditions for all 16 decisions in Pro.
Development Activity (1)
RaceTrac store at Cobb Parkway and Acworth Due West/Acres Mill Road
Commercial
Market Signals (4)
Infrastructure
Data centers are now confined to HI zoning by SLUP…
Housing Demand
ADUs are now allowed by SLUP and the housing incentive…
Commercial Demand
Proposed fuel station separation rules were tabled after RaceTrac and…
Housing Demand
The student housing density cap was cut to 50 units…
Who spoke
32 distinct speakers; 10 identified names.
All speaker roles: 4 Unknown, 6 Staff, 16 Public, 1 Chair, 4 Commissioner, 1 Attorney.
Identified name roles: 5 Staff, 1 Chair, 3 Commissioner, 1 Attorney.
Speaker sample: Jessica Gwynn, Staff.
9 more identified names in Pro: 1 Chair, 3 Commissioner, 1 Attorney, 4 Staff.
Full speaker roster in Pro
Meeting audio
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Audio in Pro
Zoning terms (16)
264 recorded timestamps
- public hearing (14 timestamps)
- historic preservation (3 timestamps)
- zoning (47 timestamps)
- adu (93 timestamps)
- land use (11 timestamps)
- commercial (5 timestamps)
Decision moments (16)
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16 recorded decisions, 1 conditions across 1 decisions. Available full write-ups are included with Pro for Cobb County.
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