The Data Center Divide
A policy snapshot ahead of the 2026 midterms. Mapping data center incentives, restrictions, and bans through legislation, regulations, and executive actions across all 50 states and 1,462 local jurisdictions.
Jersey City
Anti-Data Center Policies
Jersey City bars new standalone data centers as a main use in its Industrial District, but existing centers are unaffected. This is not a citywide ban.
current law · City of Jersey CityRemoves “cyber hotels” and data centers as principal permitted uses in Jersey City’s Industrial District, distinguishing standalone facilities from shared or colocated technology infrastructure, while defining data centers and clarifying that they are not warehousing.Jersey City Ordinance 26-057 (2026)
What this means
The measure removes data centers as a permitted main use in Jersey City’s Industrial District, making new standalone facilities there significantly harder to build. It does not affect existing centers and is limited to that district, so it is not a citywide ban on building or operating data centers.
People behind it
- Mayor James Solomon
Explicitly identified as introducing Ordinance 26-057 jointly with the Jersey City Council.
- Jersey City Municipal Council
Introduced the ordinance and approved its first reading unanimously; the ordinance states that the Council as a whole offered and moved its adoption.
- Jersey City Planning Board
Held the public hearing and formally recommended that the Municipal Council adopt the amendments.
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- Jersey City Division of City Planning
Prepared and proposed the Land Development Ordinance amendment for removing cyber hotel/data center use from the Industrial District.
- Tanya Marione
Identified as the project manager and the Planning Division official who presented the proposed amendments.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements2
Removes cyber hotels/data centers from the list of permitted principal uses in Jersey City's Industrial District, preventing new data centers from being built there as the primary use. The restriction applies to standalone principal facilities and does not affect existing data centers or shared/colocated facilities in existing office buildings.
Defines a data center and expressly states that a data center or cyber hotel is not warehousing, preventing applicants from qualifying a data center under the Industrial District's separate warehousing, wholesaling, and distribution use.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions2
Existing data centers are not affected by the ordinance, so the approximately five facilities already operating in Jersey City may continue operating.
The restriction applies to data centers as a principal use in the Industrial District, not to all locations or arrangements. The measure preserves the possibility of data-center operations in other districts and in shared or colocated facilities, including data centers located within existing office buildings.
Sources
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