Lexington zoning proposal would bar data centers in areas zoned for agriculture, tourism and single-family homes

Lexington is considering proposed changes to its zoning codes that would substantially limit where data centers could operate in the city. WKYT reported on June 26, 2026, that the amendment would prohibit data centers from operating in areas zoned for agriculture, tourism-related uses, and single-family detached housing.

Under the proposal described by WKYT, the restriction would apply to parts of Lexington that are designated for lower-density residential development and land uses tied to agricultural activity and tourism. In those districts, zoning rules typically prioritize neighborhood-scale uses and limit industrial or high-intensity development, which is part of the reason data centers, as a specialized technology facility, have become a focal point for local land-use debates.

The proposal would change how the city regulates data-center siting by treating the use as incompatible with these categories of zoning. WKYT’s report said the amendment would prohibit any data center from operating in the relevant zoning areas, rather than allowing them only under specific conditions or approvals within those districts.

Zoning limitations of this kind can affect property owners and developers by constraining where a planned project could be built, potentially requiring a shift to a different district that allows the use. If the prohibition is adopted as described, data-center operators would have to identify alternate locations in Lexington that fall outside the restricted zoning classifications.

For residents, the practical effect of such rules is tied to how those neighborhoods are designated. Areas zoned for single-family detached housing are typically intended to preserve residential character, while agricultural and tourism zoning are generally designed to support their respective land uses. The proposed change would, in effect, separate data-center operations from these designated areas.

WKYT’s reporting does not, in the information provided here, specify the scope of the citywide amendment beyond the prohibition in those particular zoning categories, nor does it include details on timing, vote counts, or the schedule for any public process. If the proposal advances, the next public steps would be the city’s formal review process for zoning text and map-related amendments, which commonly includes public comment and final adoption by the appropriate municipal body.