Suffolk VA proposed citywide data center prohibition (2026)
Suffolk, VA — Planning Commission Unanimously Recommends Citywide Prohibition on Data Centers as a Principal Use; City Council Vote Set for Oct. 21, 2026
Suffolk, VA · City of Suffolk, Virginia — proposed UDO amendment prohibiting data centers as a principal use (Planning Commission 8-0, Sept. 15, 2026)
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- Developers proposing data centers as a principal use in Suffolk (if adopted)
- Enforced by
- City of Suffolk (City Council; Planning and Community Development; zoning administrator)
Suffolk, Virginia is close to banning standalone data centers citywide. On September 15, 2026 the Planning Commission voted 8-0 to recommend a zoning change that would prohibit data centers as a primary use in every zoning district, with no conditional-use or exception process. The change also adds a definition of data center and tightens warehouse definitions so a data center cannot be labeled a warehouse. Businesses such as hospitals that run servers to support their main operations would not be affected. City Council is scheduled to vote October 21, 2026.
Who is protected: Residents of the City of Suffolk, Virginia
Legal detail
Instrument: Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) text amendment. Origin: June 17, 2026 City Council directive to draft an ordinance prohibiting data centers in every zoning district (Suffolk News-Herald; WHRO June coverage headline). Planning Commission: 8-0 recommendation, Sept. 15, 2026. Definition: establishment primarily engaged in storing, managing, processing or transmitting digital data, housing computers, servers, network equipment and associated components; may include power and cooling infrastructure. Prohibition applies where the data center is the principal use; accessory server use (hospital, office) exempt. Warehouse/distribution definitions amended to block re-characterization. Per Planning Director Kevin Wyne, if approved data centers 'would not be permitted at all' and there would be no exception process; an applicant could appeal a zoning administrator's determination that a proposal meets the definition. Context: Gov. Spanberger signed EO 22 (Data Center Accountability Framework) three days after the vote. Council vote Oct. 21, 2026 (News-Herald); WHRO says 'October'. Not in force. Framing: News-Herald says the ban would block new standalone projects 'while the city considers long-term regulations'; WHRO headlines describe it as a temporary ban, though no sunset was reported.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Citation | City of Suffolk, Virginia — proposed UDO amendment prohibiting data centers as a principal use (Planning Commission 8-0, Sept. 15, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated in the located sources |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Suffolk planners back data center ban — Suffolk News-Herald (Sept. 30, 2026) |
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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