![More Lancaster County municipalities adding rules regulating data centers [update]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com%2Flancasteronline.com%2Fcontent%2Ftncms%2Fassets%2Fv3%2Feditorial%2F8%2Fcf%2F8cffaef8-b56b-453b-b731-967f7ac22843%2F6a56f1e93baa8.image.jpg%3Fcrop%3D1662%252C873%252C0%252C187%26resize%3D1200%252C630%26order%3Dcrop%252Cresize&w=3840&q=75)
More Lancaster County municipalities adding rules regulating data centers [update]
Lancaster County municipalities are increasingly adopting new local regulations for data centers to address environmental impacts. Lancaster City Council recently passed its first rules, joining several other townships that have enacted or are proposing similar ordinances. These rules aim to control aspects like noise, water usage, air quality, and require public hearings.
The movement to establish local regulations for data centers in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, has intensified, with seven municipalities having now adopted specific rules to govern the environmental impacts of these facilities. Lancaster City Council recently passed its inaugural set of data center regulations on July 14, 2026, limiting them to suburban manufacturing zones with a zoning hearing requirement. These city rules largely mirror a community benefits agreement associated with the planned Lancaster AI Hub data centers.
Many of the county's 19 municipalities that have discussed data center regulations are doing so proactively, even without current proposals, to ensure protections are in place. These ordinances leverage Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to restrict data centers to certain areas and regulate issues such as noise levels, water usage, and air quality. Penn State Adjunct Professor of Law Michael Helbing emphasized zoning as a powerful tool, while environmental nonprofit PennFuture warned against outright bans, which could lead to developer lawsuits and loss of local control.
Individual townships like Ephrata, Manor, Penn, Pequea, Rapho, and West Hempfield have adopted rules with various restrictions including noise limits, water usage caps, setback requirements, and mandates for closed-loop cooling systems. Other municipalities such as Columbia Borough, Drumore Township, East Cocalico Township, East Drumore Township, Manheim Borough, West Donegal Township, Colerain Township, East Hempfield Township, East Lampeter Township, Little Britain Township, Manheim Township, and West Lampeter Township are in various stages of drafting, reviewing, or considering similar ordinances, with some expecting final votes or public hearings in the coming months.