Minnehaha County Weighs Data Center Rules | Sioux Falls News

Sioux Falls News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 25, 2026 · 1m

Minnehaha County is racing to draft smart, community-minded rules for data centers before they’re forced into a reactive zoning scramble—aiming to classify them as conditional uses in commercial zones to control lighting, power, water, and noise while defining what counts as a hyperscale facility. Residents are split: some fear disruption to local life, others see the proposals as a solid foundation—and want stronger rules plus a citizens’ advisory board to ensure voices are heard. Meanwhile, Lincoln County and Sioux Falls are considering a one-year pause on new data centers, sparking a wider…