York County, SC Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Crypto Mining Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Zoning classification
- Treated as a "data center" use
- Crypto mining status
- Expressly included in definition
- Maximum building height
- 80 feet
- Extra setback per foot over district max
- 2 ft side + 2 ft rear per foot
- Allowed districts
- Only specific commercial/industrial districts
Summary
York County regulates cryptocurrency mining as a data center use. It is confined to specific commercial and industrial zoning districts, and a data center building is capped at 80 feet unless the developer adds two extra feet of side and rear setback for every extra foot of height.
DATA CENTER. A facility containing one or more large-scale computer systems, located within a building or group of buildings, used for data storage and processing for off-site users. Key components of a data center include routers, switches, firewalls, storage systems, servers, and application-delivery controllers. Typical supporting equipment includes back-up batteries and/or power generators, cooling units, fire suppression systems, and enhanced security features. This definition includes cryptocurrency mining operations.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-49: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 3925, passed 6-16-25).
Full Breakdown
1301's defined terms fold cryptocurrency mining directly into the "data center" land use. " That means a crypto mining operation is reviewed and permitted exactly like any other data center. 271-2's Use Table lists "Data Centers" as a permitted use only in specific commercial and industrial zoning districts, not across the whole county, so a mining operation cannot simply locate on any commercially zoned lot. " In practice, a mining facility that wants to build taller than the base district's height limit, up to the 80-foot data center cap, must push its side and rear walls back two extra feet for every foot gained, which limits how tightly a large mining warehouse can be packed onto a commercial or industrial lot near other buildings.
Violations & Fines
Operating a data center or crypto mining facility outside a district where the use is listed as permitted, or exceeding the 80-foot height cap without the required additional setbacks, is a zoning violation under § 155.1236. The Zoning Administrator enforces the use table and setback standards, and a continuing violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 per day under § 155.9999.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does York County treat cryptocurrency mining as a separate land use?
How tall can a crypto mining data center be built in York County?
Can a crypto mining facility locate on any commercially zoned lot in York County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in York County
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