Here are the Lehigh Valley communities that have, or are considering, data center ordinances
Many communities in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley are passing or considering new zoning ordinances to regulate data center development. These ordinances impose restrictions on location, size, environmental impact, and utility usage, often requiring special exceptions or conditional use permits. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission is actively reviewing these local regulations.
The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) reports that 23 out of 62 municipalities in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley have either passed or are currently developing zoning ordinances for data centers. These local governments are using their powers under the Municipalities Planning Code to establish limits on where data centers can be built, typically restricting them to industrial zones while requiring public hearings and votes for each proposal.
Specific examples of adopted and proposed ordinances across various townships highlight common restrictions. Many require comprehensive environmental impact studies addressing water, sewer, noise, and electricity usage. Setback requirements from residential areas, schools, and daycares are common, often ranging from 200 to 1,000 feet, along with robust landscaping and buffering mandates.
Several ordinances specify utility-related conditions, such as requirements for closed-loop cooling systems, connection to public water systems, and annual reports on water, sewer, electricity, and noise levels. Developers are often required to provide proof of available electrical capacity from utilities. The LVPC continues to review these amendments as communities seek to manage data center growth and its potential impacts.