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The Data Center Divide

Upper Township

This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.

Strongly Anti-Data Center Policies

Upper Township’s enacted ordinance bars principal-use data centers in every zoning district, while allowing small server rooms that support a property’s main business.

current law · Upper Township
Prohibits data centers as expressly prohibited uses in every Upper Township zone and zoning district to address stated public-health, safety, welfare, noise, energy, water, land-use, environmental, and resource-conservation concerns, as well as limited local employment benefits attributed to large-scale data centers (Ordinance 015-2026).Upper Township Ordinance 015-2026 (2026)

What this means

The ordinance would prohibit data centers in every zoning district, effectively blocking new principal-use data centers in Upper Township (“Data Centers”). It would still allow small server rooms that support a property’s main business, but not full data-center operations (“Accessory Server Rooms”).

People behind it

  • Moved to introduce Ordinance No. 015-2026.

  • Seconded the motion to introduce Ordinance No. 015-2026.

  • Proposed, considered, and adopted the ordinance.

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  • Township Clerk who attested to the ordinance and administered its required notices and certification.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements5

  • Data centers are expressly prohibited in every zone and zoning district in Upper Township.

  • The prohibition applies broadly to any building or group of buildings, regardless of size, primarily used for computer servers or networking equipment, including AI generation, cloud computing, machine learning, cryptocurrency mining, colocation, digital storage, and data processing.

  • An accessory server room is allowed only in non-residential zoning districts and must directly support, and be used solely for, the principal use on the same property.

  • An accessory server room may not primarily provide cloud computing, colocation, digital hosting, AI processing, cryptocurrency mining, commercial data storage, or similar services to third parties.

  • An accessory server room is limited to the lesser of 10 percent of the building or structure’s gross floor area or 2,000 square feet.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions1

  • Accessory Server Rooms are permitted in all non-residential zoning districts, provided they directly support the principal on-site business, are not primarily used to provide cloud computing, colocation, digital hosting, AI processing, cryptocurrency mining, commercial data storage, or similar services to third parties, and occupy no more than 10% of the building’s gross floor area or 2,000 square feet, whichever is less.

Sources

current law · Township of Upper
Designates data centers as a non-permitted use in all zoning districts, citing potential adverse environmental impacts from electricity use and water consumption.Bass River Township Ordinance 2026-4

What this means

The measure would bar data centers in every zoning district, effectively preventing new facilities and expansions requiring zoning approval in Bass River Township (“non-permitted use in all zoning districts”). The township’s land-use board recommended it, citing data centers’ electricity use and water consumption as environmental concerns.

People behind it

  • Introduced Ordinance 2026-4 designating data centers as a non-permitted use in all zoning districts.

  • Reviewed Ordinance 2026-4 under N.J.S.A. 40:55D-26 and issued a favorable recommendation to the Township Commissioners.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements15

  • Bass River Township Ordinance 2026-4 designates data centers as a non-permitted use in all zoning districts, preventing their construction or operation anywhere in the township. non-permitted use in all zoning districts

  • Estell Manor City Ordinance 4-2026 defines data centers and prohibits them in all zoning districts. define and prohibit Data Centers in all Zoning Districts

  • Franklin Township Ordinance O-5-2026 prohibits data centers in all zoning districts. Prohibiting Data Centers in all Zoning Districts

  • Galloway Township Ordinance 2172-2026 establishes a six-month moratorium on data centers and amends the zoning definitions for data centers and computer centers. Six Month Moratorium on Data Centers

  • Little Egg Harbor Township Ordinance 2026-26 adds data centers to the township's prohibited uses. Prohibited Uses to Include Data Centers

  • Manchester Township Ordinance 26-48 removes data centers from the authorized redevelopment plan for Block 62, Lots 30 and 31.01, preventing data-center development under that plan. Remove Data Centers

  • Medford Township Ordinance 2026-15 designates data centers as a nonpermitted use in all zones. Data Centers as a Nonpermitted Use in all Zones

  • Monroe Township Ordinance O:20-2026 removes data centers from the Hexa Builders Redevelopment Plan. Eliminating Data Centers

  • Monroe Township Ordinance O:25-2026 prohibits data centers through a new zoning section, section 175-163.5. Data Centers - prohibiting data centers

  • New Hanover Township Ordinance 2026-04 designates data centers as a prohibited use in all zones. Designate Data Centers as a Prohibited Use in all Zones

  • North Hanover Township Ordinance 2026-09 designates data centers as a non-permitted use in all zones. Designating Data Centers as a Non-Permitted Use in all Zones

  • Shamong Township Ordinance 2026-3 designates data centers as a non-permitted use in all zones. Includes and Designates Data Centers as a Non-Permitted Use in all Zones

  • Stafford Township Ordinance 2026-22 adds data centers to the township's additional prohibited uses, along with cannabis uses. Additional Prohibited Uses - (cannabis & data centers)

  • Upper Township Ordinance 015-2026 prohibits data centers through an amendment to Chapter 20 zoning regulations. Data Center Prohibition

  • Winslow Township Ordinance O-2026-017 prohibits data centers specifically within the Pinelands Area. Prohibits Data Centers ... in the Pinelands Area

Sources

current law · Upper Township
Establishes a temporary six-month moratorium on data-center development while the Galloway Township Planning Board conducts further study, review, and makes recommendations, and amends Chapter 233 to define “data center” and “computer center.”Galloway Township Ordinance 2172-2026 (2026)

What this means

The proposed ordinance would pause data center development for six months while the Planning Board studies the issue, delaying new projects during that period (temporary six-month moratorium). It is not a permanent ban, but the pause is a major short-term barrier to building or expanding data centers.

Timing

Ends
six months after adoption

The measure establishes a temporary six-month moratorium on the development of data centers pending further study, review, and recommendation by the Galloway Township Planning Board. No extension condition is stated.

People behind it

  • Introduced and considered Ordinance 2172-2026 establishing a temporary six-month moratorium on data centers.

  • Identified as responsible for further study, review, and recommendation concerning the data-center moratorium.

  • Adopted and submitted Ordinance 2172-2026 for review.

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  • Reviewed Galloway Township's ordinance for consistency with the Comprehensive Management Plan.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1

  • Imposes a temporary six-month moratorium on the development of data centers while Galloway Township conducts further study and awaits review and recommendations from the Planning Board.

Sources

pending · Upper Township
Amends Plumsted Township’s Chapter 15 zoning provisions concerning data centers.Plumsted Township Ordinance 2026-19 (2026)

What this means

The listed local measures would make data-center development much harder in affected towns: several designate data centers as prohibited or non-permitted uses, and Galloway’s measure establishes a six-month moratorium. These are serious local barriers, but the page does not show a statewide ban; some measures’ detailed rules are also not provided. Examples include prohibitions in all zones and a six month moratorium.

Timing

Ends
six months after adoption

The Galloway Township measure establishes a six-month moratorium on data centers. The source does not specify the precise expiration date or whether the period runs from local adoption or Commission receipt.

People behind it

  • Administers the review of county and municipal master plans and ordinances for consistency with the Comprehensive Management Plan.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and/or submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinance for Commission review.

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  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinance for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinance for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinance for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and/or submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed redevelopment plan for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinance for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and/or submitted the listed ordinances and redevelopment plan for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and/or submitted the listed plans and ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed and submitted the listed ordinance for local adoption and Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinance for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinances and redevelopment plan for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed redevelopment plan for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and/or submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and/or submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed housing plan for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and/or submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed housing plan addendum for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and/or submitted the listed ordinances, redevelopment plan, and housing plan for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed and submitted the listed ordinance for local adoption and Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and/or submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed and submitted the listed ordinance for local adoption and Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and/or submitted the listed master plan and ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and/or submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinance for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinance for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed redevelopment plan for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinance for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed and submitted the listed ordinance for local adoption and Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinance for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and/or submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and submitted the listed ordinances for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed, adopted, and/or submitted the listed plans and ordinance for Commission review.

  • Local municipality that proposed and submitted the listed ordinance for local adoption and Commission review.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements15

  • Estell Manor defines data centers and prohibits them in all zoning districts.

  • Franklin Township prohibits data centers in all zoning districts.

  • Galloway Township establishes a six-month moratorium on data centers.

  • Jackson Township adopts land-use regulations specifically governing data centers.

  • Little Egg Harbor Township adds data centers to its list of prohibited uses.

  • Manchester Township amends a redevelopment plan to remove data centers from the redevelopment area.

  • Medford Township designates data centers as a nonpermitted use in all zones.

  • Monroe Township removes data centers from the Hexa Builders Redevelopment Plan.

  • Monroe Township prohibits data centers through a new zoning provision.

  • New Hanover Township designates data centers as a prohibited use in all zones.

  • North Hanover Township designates data centers as a non-permitted use in all zones.

  • Shamong Township designates data centers as a non-permitted use in all zones.

  • Stafford Township adds data centers to its additional prohibited uses.

  • Upper Township prohibits data centers through an amendment to its zoning chapter.

  • Winslow Township prohibits data centers in the Pinelands Area.

Sources

pending · Upper Township
Would amend New Hanover Township’s land-development regulations to prohibit data centers in all zoning districts, affecting proposed data-center uses throughout the township.New Jersey New Hanover Township Ordinance 2026-04 (2026)

What this means

If enacted, the ordinance would make data centers a prohibited use in all zones, effectively blocking new data center development in New Hanover Township. The township lists a final version of Ordinance 2026-04, so this is an outright ban within its scope.

People behind it

  • Proposed, introduced, and adopted Ordinance 2026-04 designating data centers as a prohibited use in all zones.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements5

  • Establishes a six-month moratorium on data centers in Galloway Township, temporarily preventing their approval or development during the moratorium period.

  • Prohibits data centers in all zoning districts in Estell Manor, Franklin Township, Medford Township, New Hanover Township, North Hanover Township, Shamong Township, Stafford Township, and Upper Township.

  • Prohibits data centers within the Pinelands Area of Winslow Township.

  • Removes data centers as an allowed use from the Hexa Builders Redevelopment Plan in Monroe Township.

  • Amends the Radix Road-related redevelopment provisions in Manchester Township to remove data centers from the redevelopment plan.

Sources

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