Regulation of data centers in Lynchburg gets approval from council
Lynchburg City Council unanimously approved a new zoning ordinance for data centers. The new rules require conditional use permits for data centers in industrial and institutional districts, replacing the previous by-right allowance in commercial zones. This aims to better regulate future data center developments in the city.
The Lynchburg City Council has unanimously approved an amendment to the city's zoning ordinance, which will now require data centers to obtain conditional use permits in specific industrial and institutional districts. This new regulation replaces the previous system, which allowed data centers by right in commercial zones, with the aim of providing better oversight for future developments.
At-large Councilman Martin Misjuns expressed concern during the Tuesday vote, warning that the new regulations could potentially cause Lynchburg to lose out on tax revenue to neighboring counties where large data centers might be built with fewer restrictions.
A public hearing on the data center zoning ordinance was held on July 14, 2026, where residents like Kim Sinha spoke. The change reflects a growing trend among local governments to establish more stringent controls over data center construction and operation.