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.
Town of Bristol
Neutral Data Center Policies
Rhode Island’s listed rules do not set meaningful requirements or incentives for building or operating physical data centers; the cited order addresses how state agencies handle data instead.
Rating and summary from Rhode Island statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Town of Bristol.
pending · Town of BristolPending Bristol data-center zoning amendment; consolidated record for the referral and successive drafts.Town of Bristol, Rhode Island Proposed Data Center Zoning Amendment — Special Use Permit in Manufacturing District
What this means
The revised proposal creates a path to build a data center through a special-use permit in the M (Manufacturing) district, subject to a buffer from nearby homes. Other districts would remain unavailable without a zoning change, so this is a small benefit, not broad permission.
People behind it
- Councilman Aaron Ley
Introduced the data-center issue and co-sponsored referral to the Planning Board.
- Councilman Tony Teixeira
Co-sponsored the data-center land-use referral.
- Bristol Town Council
Referred data-center land use to the Planning Board for a definition and zoning recommendations.
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- Amy H. Goins
Assistant Town Solicitor who drafted the proposed amendment and related memorandum.
- Diane M. Williamson
Community Development Director who reviewed the amendment and recommended forwarding it to the Council.
- Bristol Town Solicitor’s Office
Drafted the proposed zoning amendment and revised the proposal.
- Bristol Planning Board
Reviewed the data-center zoning amendment and considered recommending a moratorium.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements5
The initial proposed ordinance would prohibit data centers in every zoning district by listing the use as “N” throughout the zoning use table. prohibit AI Data Centers in all zoning districts
The revised proposal would allow data centers only by special use permit in the M (Manufacturing) zoning district, creating an additional discretionary permitting requirement. allowed by special use permit in the M (Manufacturing) zoning district
A data center seeking approval in the M district would have to meet a buffer requirement from adjacent residential zones or structures used for residential purposes. include a buffer from adjacent residential zones or structures used for residential purposes
A proposed data center outside the M district would require a zoning amendment from the Town Council rather than ordinary site approval. seek a zoning amendment from the Town Council
A data center in the M district that does not satisfy the special-use-permit requirements would need to obtain zoning-board variance relief. relief could be available through a variance application
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions3
Data centers would be allowed by special use permit in the M (Manufacturing) zoning district, subject to the applicable special-use standards, including a buffer from adjacent residential zones or residential structures.
An applicant could seek a zoning amendment from the Town Council to establish a data center in a zoning district other than M.
For a proposed data center in the M district that does not meet the special-use-permit requirements, the applicant could seek relief through a variance application; approval would not be automatic.
Sources
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