Data centers, data processing facilities, and cryptocurrency mining are prohibited in the AR, R-80, R-30, R-8, NB, and GB districts; they are allowed only in the Heavy Industrial district through Tier 2 Conditional Zoning and require a minimum 25-acre site. Table of Permitted Uses

A data center requires Tier 2 Conditional Zoning, which is a legislative zoning-map amendment established by the Board of Commissioners with site-specific conditions; the petitioner and Board must agree to written conditions before approval becomes effective. Conditional zoning districts Written consent

Applicants must conduct at least one neighborhood meeting, mail written notice to all property owners within 1,000 feet, and provide notice to the Planning Department at least 10 days before the meeting. The meeting must occur on a weekday between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., after the application is submitted and at least 10 days before Planning Board consideration; meeting documentation must accompany the application. Neighborhood meeting requirements

All structures and development associated with a data center must be set back at least 150 feet from every lot line. 150-foot setback

Mechanical equipment must be located at the rear of the property, and data centers may not exceed 35 feet in height. Mechanical equipment and height limits

A data center may not be located within 1,000 linear feet of an existing residence, church, school, hospital, daycare, park, group or family care home, or retirement or nursing home. 1,000-foot separation requirement

A data center may not be located within an existing Voluntary Agricultural District or Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District, or within one mile of the boundary of either district. Agricultural-district restriction

Data centers are prohibited within a Public Water Supply Watershed. Watershed restriction

Data center activities may not exceed 60 dBA at any adjacent property line or street right-of-way. Before issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy or Compliance, the applicant must submit a noise study prepared by a licensed acoustical engineer describing anticipated noise and mitigation measures. Noise limit and study requirement

All data center operations must be completely enclosed within a building. Enclosure requirement

A minimum 100-foot landscaping buffer is required around the site perimeter, installed outside the fence. The buffer must include specified quantities and minimum sizes of canopy trees, understory trees, and staggered evergreen trees; existing vegetation may receive one-for-one credit where allowed. Landscaping buffer standards

The facility must be enclosed by a six-foot-high chain-link fence, and lighting must comply with Article 6.8's outdoor site-lighting standards. Fence and lighting requirements

The Tier 2 Conditional Zoning application must include written verification from the applicable electrical service provider that adequate peak-load capacity exists, existing supply equipment can safely accommodate the facility, and the facility will not cause electrical interference or voltage fluctuations. Electrical-capacity verification

Every data center served by a public electricity provider must submit updated written verification addressing electrical capacity, equipment, and interference by January 31 each year. Failure to provide it may result in a stop-work order or another enforcement remedy. Annual verification requirement

Data centers, cryptocurrency-mining facilities, and data-processing facilities must continuously comply with all applicable state, federal, and local laws and approval conditions; violations are subject to the UDO's enforcement procedures, penalties, and remedies. Continuing compliance requirement

Solar photovoltaic panels generating 2 megawatts AC or more at a data center must meet all applicable state decommissioning requirements. Solar-panel decommissioning requirement

Data centers, data processing facilities, and cryptocurrency mining are expressly identified as a use category and may be established in the Heavy Industrial (HI) district through Tier 2 Conditional Zoning, subject to a minimum site area of 25 acres. The use is prohibited in the AR, R-80, R-30, R-8, NB, and GB districts. Table of Permitted Uses

The data-center use category expressly allows numerous supporting facilities as accessory uses, including administrative and security buildings, fiber-optic facilities, generators, electrical substations, utility lines, solar photovoltaic panels, cooling and wastewater-treatment facilities, water-holding facilities, pump stations, water towers, fire-suppression equipment, parking, and storage. Typical accessory uses

Accessory uses are generally permitted in any zoning district, subject to the Article 5 regulations, allowing qualifying support facilities to be established as accessory components rather than separate principal uses. Accessory uses are permitted in any zoning district

Public utility facilities such as electric substations, telephone exchange buildings, and water tanks or towers are not required to meet the underlying district's minimum lot-size standards. They also need not meet standard district building setbacks, although utility structures and required areas must generally be at least 20 feet from a dwelling or building and must comply with other stated limitations. Public utilities are not required to meet minimum lot standards

Solar panels may be accessory to commercial uses, including a data center, and may be roof-mounted, building-integrated, or ground-mounted. Ground-mounted systems or systems covering permanent parking or other hardscape are limited to the principal structure's area or one acre of panel area. Solar panels may be considered an accessory to residential and commercial uses

A data center that obtains an approved site-specific vesting plan or phased development plan may receive a vested right to undertake and complete the development and use of the property under the approved terms and conditions. The right to undertake and complete the development

A legally established data center that later fails to comply with changed dimensional or design requirements may qualify as a nonconforming structure, building, development, or use, subject to the UDO's nonconformity rules. Any legally existing building or development