Summit NJ AI Data Center Ban (proposed)
Summit, NJ Common Council — Proposed Ordinance Categorically Banning AI Data Center Facilities as a Prohibited Land Use (Code Ch. 35 Amendment)
Summit, NJ · City of Summit, N.J., Ordinance 26-3390 amending Code Ch. 35 'Prohibited Uses' (adopted June 16, 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- July 6, 2026
- Applies to
- Data center developers seeking land-use approvals in Summit
- Enforced by
- City of Summit Common Council / Department of Community Services (Zoning)
Summit, New Jersey's Common Council adopted Ordinance 26-3390 on June 16, 2026, categorically banning large AI data center facilities — those with 20 megawatts or more of peak power — as a prohibited land use in every zone of the city. The ban amends Chapter 35 of the city code and is one of the first U.S. examples of a permanent (non-moratorium) categorical zoning prohibition on AI data centers. Some residents and one council member argued the 20 MW threshold is too lax; the council directed staff to prepare a revised version (potentially without the threshold) for introduction July 7, 2026.
Who is protected: Summit residents and surrounding Union County communities
Legal detail
Adopted amendment to Summit Code Ch. 35 'Prohibited Uses' (Ordinance 26-3390, adopted June 16, 2026) adding AI data center facilities (≥20 MW peak power) as a citywide categorically prohibited use. Passed by majority vote, lone dissent Council Member Jamel Boyer. Per N.J. practice, a municipal ordinance takes effect ~20 days after adoption/publication (≈July 6, 2026). Council directed staff to incorporate modifications — including possible removal of the 20 MW automatic-classification threshold — into a revised ordinance slated for introduction July 7, 2026. Distinct in design from moratorium-style pauses — this is a permanent zoning prohibition, not a time-limited study pause.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Summit, NJ |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | June 16, 2026 |
| Citation | City of Summit, N.J., Ordinance 26-3390 amending Code Ch. 35 'Prohibited Uses' (adopted June 16, 2026) |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| Agency page | June 16 Council Meeting Highlights — City of Summit, NJ (official) |
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
See something wrong or out of date? Submit a correction. Every entry must carry a verifiable source.