Building a new data center in Atlanta just became more difficult

It is about to get harder to build a new data center in Atlanta.

The City Council on Monday unanimously approved an ordinance that requires all new data center proposals to obtain a special-use permit before proceeding, adding another layer of government approval and scrutiny on the fast-growing sector. The legislation also prohibits new computer server farms in a handful of neighborhoods, including Little Five Points and the East Atlanta Village.

The Atlanta action is among a growing protest movement against the huge complexes, which help power our digital lives but often consume vast amounts of power and water. Critics say data centers in dense urban areas also take up land that could be used for housing.

The new restrictions build upon Atlanta’s data center ban within a half-mile of