Arkansas Data Center Rules

Arkansas municipalities regulate data center siting and development through local rules shaped by state limits on outright bans.

Fort Smith’s measures include additional planning and board review, property setbacks, screening, and utility-capacity disclosures; Fayetteville’s rules address industrial zoning, conditional approval, resource and emissions documentation, and operating impacts. These approaches reflect local concerns about water and electricity demand, noise, pollution, and infrastructure capacity. Together, they show how cities can impose conditions on data center projects without adopting a prohibited local ban.