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.
City of Stow
Anti-Data Center Policies
Stow’s enacted ordinance imposes a 75-foot buffer from residential areas, water-efficiency rules, and limits on backup generators; the city may also deny or require changes based on projected impacts. The description calls it a proposal despite labeling it enacted.
current law · City of StowWould add data centers as an Automotive/Industrial principal use in Stow and establish standards intended to protect surrounding land uses, infrastructure capacity, and resources.City of Stow proposed data-center siting ordinance
What this means
I score this -3 because the proposal adds substantial requirements for data center development and operation, including a 75-foot buffer from residential areas, water-efficiency rules, and limits on backup generators. The City could also deny or require changes if projected impacts are too high, creating meaningful extra costs and approval hurdles.
People behind it
- Planning Director
Requested the amendments establishing regulations for data center development.
- Planning Commission
Recommended approval of the amendments.
- Young
Introduced Ordinance No. 2026-118.
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- Stow City Council
Reviewed the Planning Commission's recommendations and enacted the ordinance.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements17
Data centers receive a “C” designation in the principal-use table, making them subject to conditional approval rather than unrestricted permitted-use approval. Data Center 1104.04(d)(7) C
A data-center building must be set back at least 75 feet from any property line abutting or adjacent to a residential use or residential zoning district. Minimum 75 feet
As part of site-plan approval, applicants must demonstrate sufficient utility capacity without negative effects on surrounding areas or the power grid and coordinate with utility providers regarding service delivery, upgrades, and long-term capacity. Availability of sufficient utility capacity
Applicants must document efforts to obtain renewable or carbon-free electricity, including through power-purchase agreements, on-site generation, or other verified sources. Efforts to procure renewable energy
Electrical substations, transformers, and switchgear are allowed only as accessory data-center uses; they must meet the applicable principal-building setbacks and screening requirements under Section 1106.03. All accessory utility structures and equipment
Applicants must disclose estimated daily and annual water consumption, use water-efficient cooling systems, and use non-potable or recycled water sources. Estimated daily water usage
Industrial wastewater, cooling-system blowdown, and chemical runoff may not be discharged to the municipal stormwater system or natural waterways unless pretreated to meet applicable state and federal water-quality standards. Discharge of industrial wastewater
The City may require additional water-system review, capacity analysis, and impact studies, including baseline sampling or studies of municipal and private water sources. The City reserves the right to require additional review
Noise from mechanical equipment, cooling systems, and backup generators is limited to 65 dBA at a non-residential property line and 55 dBA at a property line adjoining a residential district. shall not exceed 65 dBA
The City may require a qualified professional noise study during site-plan review or when there is reason to believe a violation has occurred. submission of a noise study
Emergency generators may be used only for true emergencies, such as grid outages or public-safety needs, and for routine maintenance and testing. True emergency use
Fossil-fuel generators may not be used for peak-shaving, demand-response, or merchant-power-generation programs. using fossil fuel generators is prohibited
New data centers may not install diesel backup generators unless the applicant demonstrates that no feasible alternative exists; battery storage, non-fossil fuel cells, and renewable-backed microgrids are preferred. shall not install diesel-fueled backup generators
Applicants must submit a qualified-professional air-quality impact assessment covering criteria pollutants including PM2.5, simultaneous generator emissions, and effects on nearby residences and sensitive receptors such as schools, parks, and healthcare facilities. Applicants shall submit an air quality impact assessment
Applicants must evaluate and, where feasible, implement waste-heat recovery for uses such as district heating, industrial processes, or heating adjacent buildings. evaluate and, where feasible, implement waste heat recovery systems
The City may deny, condition, or require modification of a data-center application if projected impacts exceed acceptable thresholds for air emissions, water use or quality, waste heat or thermal discharge, noise, or infrastructure capacity. The City may deny, condition, or require modification
Data centers are assigned a minimum parking requirement of one parking space per 1,000 square feet. Data Center 1/1,000 sq ft
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions3
Data centers are added to the principal-use table as a conditional use in the I (industrial) district, creating an explicit zoning path for development: Data Center 1104.04(d)(7) C.
Electrical substations, transformers, and switchgear are expressly permitted as accessory uses to a data center, subject to the applicable building-setback and screening requirements: the following shall be permitted as accessory uses to a data center.
The ordinance establishes a specific parking standard of one parking space per 1,000 square feet for data centers, providing a defined requirement for site planning: Data Center 1/1,000 sq ft.
Sources
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