HomeLegal DirectoryGroton Data Center Zoning Limit

In effect Moderate protection

Groton, CT Data Center Zoning Size Cap (Post-Moratorium)

Groton, CT · Groton, Conn., Zoning Regs § 5.1-6.F Data Center (adopted June 27, 2023; eff. July 14, 2023)

Groton's Planning and Zoning Commission adopted zoning regulations on June 27, 2023 that permanently limit data centers to no more than 12,500 square feet and prohibit water cooling systems — effectively barring hyperscale facilities that typically run 150,000 to 350,000 square feet. The regulations became effective July 14, 2023 (codified at Section 5.1-6.F of the Groton zoning code), making Groton one of the first US municipalities to cap data center size by right.

Technical detail

Groton Planning and Zoning Commission adopted conditional-use data center regulations effective July 14, 2023 (Town of Groton Zoning Regs § 5.1-6.F Data Center), limiting data center buildings to 12,500 sq ft and prohibiting water cooling systems; follows a prior moratorium. A developer appealed the regulations in July 2023 (The Day, July 28, 2023).

Who is protected: Groton residents

Who must comply: Data center developers in Groton

Key facts

JurisdictionGroton, CT
LevelCity / local
StatusIn effect
Protection strengthModerate protection
Effective date2023-07-14
Enacted2023-06-27
CitationGroton, Conn., Zoning Regs § 5.1-6.F Data Center (adopted June 27, 2023; eff. July 14, 2023)
Enforced byTown of Groton Planning and Zoning Commission
Topicsdata-center siting and energy
Last verified2026-06-15
Official sourceGroton, Connecticut announces year-long moratorium on large data centers — Data Center Dynamics ↗

Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere

See something wrong or out of date? Submit a correction — every entry must carry a verifiable official source.