What are Data Centres? | Parkland County

Data centres are an emerging industrial land use that house computer systems and their components, including servers, storage systems, and telecommunications equipment. These facilities manage, store, and process the vast amounts of data that underpin our modern life and economy. Whether it’s streaming a movie, conducting an online meeting, posting on social media, or completing a credit card transaction, the operations are supported by data centres.

Data centres resemble an ordinary industrial facility from the outside; however, they are highly specialized inside, featuring robust cooling systems, extensive security measures, and cutting-edge infrastructure.

How are data centres regulated?

Due to their complexity, every data centre built in Alberta must comply with a layered framework of Federal, Provincial, and Municipal regulations. Each body and set of regulations cover a wide range of considerations, including land use, environmental impact, building safety codes, power infrastructure, and occupational health and safety.

Who approves what?

Data centes are subject to a range of Federal, Provincial, and Municipal regulations. Because no single organization regulates every aspect of a data centre, approvals may be required from multiple authorities depending on the scope of a project.

JURISDICTION	WHO APPROVES WHAT?
Government of Canada	Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and other Privacy Regulations: Sets the ground rules for how private-sector organizations collect, use, and disclose personal information in the course of for-profit, commercial activities across Canada.
Government of Alberta	Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC): Regulates the utilities sector, natural gas and electricity markets to protect social, economic and environmental interests of Alberta. Approval from the AUC is required to develop and operate a power generation facility. The AUC has their own rules on noise control requirements, permissible sound levels, and requirements for power plants. Alberta Energy Regulator (AER): Responsible for regulating the development of energy resources in Alberta including the life cycle of oil, oil sands, natural gas, and coal projects. The AER has exclusive jurisdiction over energy-related infrastructure such as wells and pipelines, meaning these projects do not require municipal approval. Aboriginal Consultation Office: Consultation is a process intended to understand and consider the potential adverse impacts of anticipated Crown decision on First Nations and Métis settlements, with a view to substantially address them. The applicant must consult with First Nations and Métis settlements that are affected. Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO): AESO operates and provides electricity throughout the province. AESO plans for transmission solutions to ensure customers can access the grid. Major projects require approval to secure access to the electric grid and system. Other Relevant Legislation (Dependent on Scope of Project): Alberta's Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and Alberta OHS Code Alberta's Transportation and Economic Corridors (ATEC) Alberta's Building Code and Fire Safety Code The Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Areas (AEPA)
Parkland County	Land Use (Statutory Plans): Statutory plans (like the municipal development plan and area structure plans) are long-range plans that establish a vision for future County growth. They set this future direction by identifying where specific land uses are planned to be located including residential, industrial, and recreational development, as well as the transportation and utility infrastructure required to support growth - all future development must align with statutory plans. Zoning (Land Use Bylaw): Regulates development within the County with a goal of ensuring that neighbouring land uses are compatible. Zoning ensures that local development aligns with the County's vision for land use, as set out in statutory plans. Development: Development permits help ensure that buildings and activities on a property are suitable for the land use district, specific parcel, and are compatible with neighbouring properties. A development permit is written approval from Parkland County that a development aligns with the regulations in the Land Use Bylaw. Development permits focus on matters like intensity of land use, building height, site coverage, setbacks from property lines, proximity to environmentally sensitive areas, impacts to neighbours (and mitigation measures), landscaping, lighting, and parking requirements. For industrial style uses, development permits may outline requirements that the development must include mitigation measures for any nuisances (noise, light, environmental impacts, etc.) that the activity may generate.

State-of-the-art security systems and comprehensive emergency response protocols are implemented to safeguard nearby residents and businesses. Strict adherence to Federal privacy regulations, such as the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), ensures the highest standards of data security.

Learn more about data centre development in Canada

The Government of Canada has laid out Responsible Data Centre Development Principles:

Data centres must create lasting local benefits
Data centres must no shift electricity costs to Canadians
Data centres must minimize water use and environmental impacts
Data centres must be transparent about local impacts
Data centres must bring strategic value to Canada

Provincially, data centres must receive Alberta Electrical System Operator (AESO) approvals to ensure these projects do not strain the power grid. Data centres must also get approval from the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to develop and operate a power generation facility. Specific rules set out noise control requirements and permissible sound levels as well as application requirements for power plants.

In addition to the above approvals, depending on the scope of the data centre, they may also require approval from several other key Provincial authorities.

Learn more about data centre development in Alberta

The Provincial Government has an AI Data Centre Strategy designed to create "the path to securing the province's position as the most attractive place to build artificial intelligence (AI) data centres in North America" with three pillars:

Power capacity;
Sustainable cooling; and
Economic growth.

The Alberta Government has answers to questions around data centre development in the province:

Will my power bill go up?

Is Alberta's grid ready?

How do data centres use water?

What about the environment?

Who benefits, and who carries the risk?

Is Alberta selling out to big tech?

What if the AI boom stalls?

Indigenous communities and these projects

By the numbers

Where does Parkland County come in?

Municipalities play a critical role in regulating land use for data centres. Through statutory plans, the County sets the long-range vision for growth and development in Parkland County and regulates specific uses in the Land Use Bylaw.

Development permits reviewed and approved by the County focus on matters like intensity of land use, building height, site coverage, setbacks from property lines, proximity to environmentally sensitive areas, impacts to neighbours (and mitigation measures), landscaping, lighting, and parking requirements.

For industrial style uses (like data centres), development permits may outline requirements that the development must include mitigation measures for any nuisances that the activity may generate, including:

Noise;
Light;
Environmental impacts; and
Any other nuisances.

In reviewing an application for a data centre facility, impacts on adjacent and surrounding uses and mitigation measures to eliminate or minimize these impacts must be considered by the County.

Learn more about Government Roles and Responsibilities

What to share your views with other levels of government?

Residents who wish to share feedback on matters of Provincial or Federal jurisdiction can contact their Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) or Member of Parliament (MP).

Connect with Your MLA or MP

Learn more about proposed developments in Parkland County:

Boreal Technology Hub Application

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding process, application content or regulations related to data centre development in Parkland County, please contact Planning and Development Services by phone at 780-968-8888 or by email at datacentres@parklandcounty.com.