Shenandoah County VA First Data Center Zoning Ordinance
Shenandoah County VA First Data Center Zoning Ordinance (Special Use Required, Adopted June 23, 2026)
Shenandoah County, VA · Shenandoah County, VA Board of Supervisors 6-0 vote, June 23, 2026, data center special use zoning ordinance
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- June 23, 2026
- Applies to
- Data-center developers and operators seeking permits, rezonings, or approvals in Shenandoah County, VA
- Enforced by
- Shenandoah County, VA government
On June 23, 2026, the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors voted 6-0 to adopt the county's first data-center zoning ordinance, following a 6-1 Planning Commission recommendation in early June 2026. The ordinance strikes by-right data center development in industrial districts and substitutes a special use permit process requiring a public hearing. County officials had noted during the process that a moratorium would not survive legal challenge under a 1978 AG opinion and 2001 Virginia Supreme Court precedent. Less than 1% of Shenandoah County is currently zoned industrial.
Who is protected: Shenandoah County, VA residents
Legal detail
Planning Commission 6-1 recommendation 2026-06 (early June). Board of Supervisors unanimous (6-0) adoption 2026-06-23. Substantive provision: removes by-right data-center use in industrial zoning; substitutes special-use permit process (public hearing required). <1% of Shenandoah County is currently zoned industrial. Moratorium route was rejected on legal grounds (1978 AG opinion + 2001 VA Supreme Court precedent).
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Shenandoah County, VA |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | June 23, 2026 |
| Citation | Shenandoah County, VA Board of Supervisors 6-0 vote, June 23, 2026, data center special use zoning ordinance |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Planners ponder data center regulations (Northern Virginia Daily) |
More AI rules in Shenandoah County, VA
- Shenandoah County VA · In effect
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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