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Regbase

The Data Center Divide

Washington County

Mixed Data Center Policies

Virginia offers conditional tax breaks and optional local tax benefits for qualifying data centers, while requiring large new facilities to assess noise and certain generators to meet emission limits for applications from July 2026. Separate water reporting by covered suppliers is upcoming.

Rating and summary from Virginia statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Washington County.

Specific to Washington County only.

pending · County measure: Unincorporated areas; whether incorporated towns are excluded is unclear.
Would require data centers to obtain a special permit and meet detailed requirements for impacts such as noise, water use, traffic, emergency response, and eventual site cleanup.Virginia Draft Data Center Ordinance (Washington County, 2026)

What this means

If enacted, the measure would allow new data centers only in industrial zones and only after special-exception approval, with extensive studies, operating rules, and financial guarantees. These requirements would make building and expanding substantially harder and costlier, though existing lawful centers could continue.

People behind it

  • Public hearing scheduled October 26, 2026.

  • Public hearing scheduled November 10, 2026; adoption not verified.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1

  • Would bar data centers in all other zoning districts, require a Water Supply and Wastewater Capacity Analysis, and trigger decommissioning on cessation of operations for 12 consecutive months. Proposed, not binding.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions1

  • Proposed approval route in M1/M2 through Special Exception Permit. Existing lawful operations may continue. Not binding unless adopted.

Sources

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