Data Center Zoning Rules

At a glance

What: BL2026-1391 adds data center land uses, definitions and conditions to the Zoning Code (Title 17, Proposal 2026Z-012TX-001). BL2026-1392 is the companion ordinance on building material restrictions.
Where it stands: Passed third reading July 21, 2026, as amended: BL2026-1391 by 36 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain, and BL2026-1392 by 35 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.
Sponsor: Council Member Horton.
Context: The Mayor's message of July 7 said the zoning code did not distinguish a server room from a hundred-megawatt campus, and that this bill would give Nashville its first data-center-specific standards. He added that it might not arrive in time to apply to the property next to the Nashville Zoo. See also Data Center Moratorium.

Detail

Mayor's message (July 7, 2026)

Mayor O'Connell urged passage of both the zoning bill and the moratorium "as substituted," said he supports the framework and thanked the Planning Commission for strengthening it, and said departments working under Executive Order 59 would identify further impacts. In the same message he said a late-filed bill from his administration would let Metro acquire the property next to the zoo; see Metro Warehouse Parcel Acquisition.

Second reading and public hearing (July 7, 2026)

Horton requested the public hearing; several citizens spoke in favor and none against is recorded.
Horton moved passage on second reading and offered a substitute bill, adopted by voice vote.
On the motion to pass as substituted, Benedict called the previous question (voice vote), and the bill passed second reading as substituted by voice vote.
BL2026-1392 (building materials): same public hearing; Horton offered Amendment No. 1, adopted by voice vote, and the bill passed second reading as amended by voice vote.

Third reading (July 21, 2026)

The Planning and Zoning Committee approved BL2026-1391 with amendments. Horton moved third reading, and nine amendments were adopted, each by voice vote:

Amendment A, offered by Horton (Proposed Amendment 1).
Amendment B, offered by Toombs (Proposed Amendment 15).
Amendment C, offered by Porterfield (Proposed Amendment 6).
Amendment D, offered by Johnston (Proposed Amendment 5).
Amendment E, a late-filed amendment offered by Huffman after the rules were suspended without objection.
Amendment F, offered by Gamble (Proposed Amendment 10).
Amendments G, H and I, offered by Capp (Proposed Amendments 11, 12 and 13).

Benedict then called the previous question (voice vote). BL2026-1391 passed as amended: Yes (36) Suara, Porterfield, Evans-Segall, Allen, Hill, Kimbrough, Toombs, Gamble, Cortese, Parker, Capp, Benedict, Harrell, Eslick, Evans, Bradford, Huffman, Welsch, Vo, Cash, Kupin, Horton, Taylor, Druffel, Gadd, Preptit, Johnston, Nash, Benton, Ellis, Sepulveda, Rutherford, Styles, Lee, Ewing and Spain; No (0); Abstain (0).

BL2026-1392 was approved by the Planning and Zoning Committee. Horton moved third reading: Yes (35), the same members as on BL2026-1391 except that Parker is not listed; No (0); Abstain (0). The minutes do not say why Parker is missing from that vote.

The minutes do not set out the text of the amendments or what the standards require.

First reading (June 2, 2026)

Horton moved first reading of BL2026-1391 (data center uses, definitions and conditions) and of BL2026-1392 (building-material restrictions). Both were approved by voice vote, with Styles voting no and Eslick and Lee abstaining on each. Both were referred to the Planning Commission.
The same night a data center moratorium was proposed as a late bill but was not introduced; see Data Center Moratorium.

Sources

Metropolitan Council minutes, June 2, 2026: https://nashville.legistar1.com/nashville/meetings/2026/6/2192_M_Metropolitan_Council_26-06-02_Meeting_Minutes.pdf
Metropolitan Council minutes, July 21, 2026: https://nashville.legistar1.com/nashville/meetings/2026/7/2196_M_Metropolitan_Council_26-07-21_Meeting_Minutes.pdf
Metropolitan Council minutes, July 7, 2026: https://nashville.legistar1.com/nashville/meetings/2026/7/2195_M_Metropolitan_Council_26-07-07_Meeting_Minutes.pdf