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.
Culpeper County
Anti-Data Center Policies
Culpeper County requires public review and county approval for new data centers on industrial land outside the Culpeper Tech Zone, potentially adding costs and delays or blocking proposals. The rule excludes the Tech Zone and already-approved projects.
current law · County measure: County zoning amendment: industrially zoned land outside the Culpeper Tech Zone. The source also describes a proposed Town of Culpeper data-center overlay that would restrict development within the town.Verified descriptive title: Culpeper County zoning text amendment requiring a conditional use permit for new data centers outside the Culpeper Tech Zone.Culpeper County Zoning Text Amendment ZOA 2025-09-02 (2025)
What this means
New data centers on industrial land outside the Culpeper Tech Zone would need county approval and public review, adding potential costs and delays and allowing proposals to be denied (conditional permit requirement). The rule would not cover the Tech Zone or projects already approved, so it is a meaningful hurdle but not a broad stop on data center development (outside the Culpeper Tech Zone).
People behind it
- Culpeper County Board of Supervisors
Adopting body, according to PEC reporting
- Paul Bates
Moved referral from the Rules Committee to the full Board
- Gary Deal
Supported the proposed CUP requirement outside the Tech Zone
Show 2 more peopleShow fewer people
- Sam McLearen
County Administrator; briefed the committee
- Piedmont Environmental Council
Advocacy organization reporting adoption
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1
Requires a conditional use permit for all new data centers on industrial land outside the Tech Zone, where they were previously considered by-right on industrial zoning.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions1
The reported requirement is limited to industrially zoned land outside the Culpeper Tech Zone. Pre-adoption reporting says the Amazon project was fully vested with their zoning.
Sources
Data provided by Regbase · Cookie preferences · Report missing data