Primary-structure setbacks include seven hundred fifty feet from the specified river, school and residential boundaries, subject to the geographic qualifications in subsection (q)(1)(a). The redline changes the outside-Urban-Services-Area commercial-property setback from 200 to 100 feet; it is not a retained 200-foot requirement.

Specified accessory uses and substations cannot be within three hundred (300) feet of protected school and residential boundaries; primary structures also face the listed sensitive-use setbacks.

Requires a tree preservation plan, vegetated buffers, security fencing and mechanical-equipment screening.

Requires documentation from the electric provider; generator testing is limited to Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., excluding federal and state holidays.

Noise is limited to 55 dB(A), or 52 with a prominent tone, subject to construction/emergency exceptions; evaluations continue annually thereafter for a period of ten years.

Requires an Industrial Cooling Plan, Emergency Action Plan and Construction Mitigation Plan.

Projects with Board approval of a reclassification or conditional use permit, or site plan approval, on or before October 21, 2025, may continue existing and directly related future applications and development under the rules in effect when approved, provided they are diligently pursued and do not expire under County or state deadlines. “projects receiving reclassification or conditional use permit (CUP) approval”

The Board may modify required setbacks or buffers when approving a zoning reclassification, based on site-specific considerations such as a viewshed analysis or noise-propagation study showing the reduction is reasonable. “Required buffers and/or setbacks may be modified”

Generators may be used for backup or emergency purposes and for testing or commissioning; testing is limited to weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is prohibited on federal and state holidays. “generator use shall be limited to backup and emergency use only”

The ordinance’s noise limits do not apply to construction activities or emergency operations, including temporary use of emergency generators, when responding to sudden, reasonably unforeseen events beyond the operator’s control. “shall not apply to construction activities or operations during emergencies”

Mechanical equipment generally must be screened and enclosed, but enclosure is not required when the manufacturer’s specifications do not recommend it; the screening requirements also do not apply to solar panels. “unless enclosure is not recommended”

By-right approval for data centers is limited to the listed zoning districts: M-2 Industrial, Heavy, and the ICTP Integrated Corporate and Technology Park Overlay. Data and computer service centers are also permitted by right in B-2, REC, and M-1 districts. permitted by right

Primary structures must be set back at least 100 feet from property lines adjoining noncommercial or nonindustrial zoning inside the Urban Services Area, and at least 200 feet outside the Urban Services Area. set back at least one hundred (100) feet

A vegetated buffer at least 50 feet wide is required when a site abuts or is across a road from nonindustrial or noncommercial property. The buffer may be located within the required setback. a vegetated buffer

The Board of Supervisors may modify required setbacks or buffers only through approval of a rezoning or conditional use permit and based on site-specific considerations, such as a viewshed analysis or noise propagation study demonstrating that the reduction is reasonable. may be modified by the board of supervisors

Sites outside the Urban Services Area must maintain at least 30 percent open space. thirty percent (30%) open space

The site must have security fencing at least seven feet high, with an anti-climbing device and secured gates; the fencing must be installed inside any required buffer. security fencing at least seven (7) feet

All ground-mounted and roof-mounted mechanical equipment must use sound-mitigation measures, including sound-muffling materials. attenuated through sound mitigation measures

A site-specific series of sound-propagation studies is required. The studies must be prepared by an environmental-noise professional, address baseline and predicted post-development noise, and be submitted before final site-plan approval for each phase and with a conditional-use-permit application when a CUP is required. sound study shall be specific to the proposed site layout

Post-development noise must be evaluated within 90 days after occupancy for each project phase and annually for 10 years. If noise exceeds applicable maximum decibel levels, the County must pursue available legal compliance measures. within ninety (90) days after the issuance of the occupancy permit

Certain associated infrastructure or equipment may require additional approvals or conditional use permits, as applicable, including air handlers, water-cooling and storage facilities, utility substations and infrastructure, backup power generation, fire-suppression systems, and enhanced security systems. may require additional approvals or conditional use permits

Data and computer service centers are permitted by right in the B-2 Urban Commercial, REC Recreational Business Campus, M-1 Light Industrial, M-2 Heavy Industrial, and ICTP Integrated Corporate and Technology Park Overlay districts. In the M-2 and ICTP districts, data centers themselves are also permitted by right. The ordinance lists these permitted uses

The Board of Supervisors may modify otherwise required data-center setbacks and vegetated buffers during approval of a rezoning or conditional use permit when site-specific evidence, such as a viewshed analysis or noise study, shows that a reduction is reasonable. Required buffers and setbacks may be modified

Applications submitted before October 17, 2023, may continue through the applicable land-use review process, provided they are diligently pursued and have not expired under Stafford County Code deadlines. Applications submitted prior to October 17, 2023, are allowed to continue

Five specified projects are grandfathered under the later rules if they received Board approval for a rezoning or conditional use permit, or site-plan approval, on or before October 21, 2025. Those projects may continue with existing and future applications and development plans directly attributable to the approved project under the zoning regulations in effect when approval was granted. Grandfathered projects may continue with existing and future applications

Data centers are permitted by right only in the M-2 Heavy Industrial and ICTP (Integrated Corporate and Technology Park) zoning districts; they were removed as by-right uses from other districts, requiring applicable rezoning or other approval.

Data centers must be set back at least 100 feet from property lines adjoining noncommercial or nonindustrial zoning within the Urban Service Area, and at least 200 feet from those property lines outside the Urban Service Area.

A vegetated buffer of at least 50 feet is required next to nonindustrial or noncommercial property. The buffer may be located within the required setback.

The Board of Supervisors may reduce the required setbacks or buffers only based on site-specific analyses, such as viewshed or noise studies.

Sites outside the Urban Service Area must provide at least 30 percent open space.

Data centers must install security fencing at least seven feet high, with anti-climb features and security gates; fencing must be located inside the required buffers.

Mechanical equipment must include sound mitigation, and applicants must submit sound studies before final site-plan approval or approval of a conditional use permit.

After occupancy, data centers must undergo an initial noise evaluation within 90 days and annual noise evaluations for up to 10 years; enforcement action may be taken if applicable noise limits are exceeded.

Applications submitted before October 17, 2023, may continue under the regulations in effect when they were submitted until the applications expire under applicable County Code deadlines.

Under Ordinance O25-29(R), projects that received Board approval for a reclassification or conditional use permit, or site-plan approval, on or before October 21, 2025, are grandfathered under the zoning regulations in effect when the project was approved.

Data centers are permitted by right in the M-2 Heavy Industrial and ICTP Integrated Corporate and Technology Park Overlay districts, avoiding a discretionary approval process in those districts. permitted by right

Required vegetated buffers may be located within the required setback area, allowing the same land area to satisfy both requirements. buffer may be inside the setback area

The Board of Supervisors may reduce required setbacks and buffers based on site-specific analyses, such as viewshed or noise studies. may be reduced by the Board of Supervisors

Data center applications submitted before October 17, 2023, may continue under the prior review process until they expire under applicable County Code deadlines. applications submitted before October 17, 2023

Five specified projects that received Board reclassification or conditional-use-permit approval, or site-plan approval, on or before October 21, 2025, are grandfathered under the zoning regulations in effect when approved. Their existing and future applications and development plans directly attributable to the approved projects may continue under those earlier regulations. grandfathering for data center projects