James City County VA Data Center Ordinance & Policy
James City County VA Data Center Ordinance & Policy (Closed-Loop Cooling Required)
James City County, VA · Zoning ordinance updated September 2025 (closer to Sept 9 per WHRO 2025-09-10 report)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- September 9, 2025
- Applies to
- Data-center developers and operators seeking permits, rezonings, or approvals in James City County, VA
- Enforced by
- James City County, VA government
In September 2025, the James City County Board of Supervisors approved zoning ordinance updates and a companion policy for data centers. The ordinance formally defines data centers, reclassifies them as industrial uses, and removes them from M-1 and Mixed Use districts. A November 2025 companion policy discourages data centers from connecting to public water systems or using well water for cooling, requires closed-loop cooling systems, and imposes up to 100-ft buffers along public rights-of-way with at least 45% evergreen tree mix.
Who is protected: James City County, VA residents
Legal detail
Zoning ordinance updated September 2025 (closer to Sept 9 per WHRO 2025-09-10 report). Companion policy November 2025 mandates closed-loop cooling and water-source restrictions. 100-ft ROW buffer with ≥45% evergreen mix.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | James City County, VA |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Strength | Stronger |
| Enacted | September 9, 2025 |
| Citation | Zoning ordinance updated September 2025 (closer to Sept 9 per WHRO 2025-09-10 report) |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| Agency page | James City County is the latest Virginia county to regulate data centers (WHRO) |
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- Superior WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Dane County WI Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Manitowoc County WI Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026) · In effect
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