Suffolk prohibits data centers, but the ban won’t last forever
Suffolk City Council unanimously approved a prohibition on data centers and will stop accepting applications while planning staff develop new regulations. The temporary ban has no specified end date, and the ordinance also adds a formal data center definition to the city’s zoning rules.
Suffolk City Council unanimously approved a temporary prohibition on data centers and related development, preventing new applications in the city. Council member John Rector said the pause will give planning staff time to consult with residents and other localities before data centers are reauthorized under terms acceptable to Suffolk. Officials did not specify how long the ban will last.
The ordinance also established a formal definition of a data center in Suffolk’s zoning rules. Mayor Michael Duman and Planning and Community Development Director Kevin Wyne said the clarification was needed because existing warehouse classifications could potentially allow data center applications. The action follows similar temporary pauses in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach and broader opposition citing air quality, groundwater and noise concerns.