There is an ongoing boom in the construction of very large data centers in several states, including PA, and also a booming backlash. Locally, residents in Clinton Township are overwhelmingly against a proposed data center.

According to PA state law, all municipalities must provide a zone for any kind of potential development; no use may be excluded, not even “undesirable industries.” In order to have some control over potential data center development, municipalities are moving to update their zoning ordinances to serve the interests of their residents in regard to data center development. You can have influence at your local level by learning about zoning for data centers. The Data Center Ordinance Guide, prepared by Chester and Montgomery Counties, is a great place to start:

April 2026
Data Center Ordinance Guide Version 1.0
Prepared By Chester County and Montgomery County Planning Commissions

From the INTRODUCTION

“Like the electric grid and roadway networks that form the more traditional parts of our critical infrastructure, data centers are becoming a component of modern-day infrastructure that drives our increasingly digitally-oriented lives and economy. Local municipalities are beginning to understand the potential environmental and community impacts of this use and recognize a need to provide regulations specific to large data centers.

These facilities require substantial and continuous electrical power, fiber connectivity, specialized cooling systems, and often significant land area. As this use was not contemplated in many existing zoning and land development regulations, municipalities should proactively evaluate and establish clear standards. The purpose of this data center ordinance guide is to define large-scale data centers as a unique land use and to provide a regulatory framework that protects public health, safety, and welfare while offering predictability for property owners, residents, and developers. This ordinance guide provides information about the key topics related to data center development and recommendations for performance standards that can help ensure that any data centers provide the most community benefit with the least impact.”

Download the Data Center Ordinance Guide as a pdf.
Download other zoning ordinances of interest as pdf’s.