Allentown, PA Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Zoning & Siting (2026)
Key Facts
- Street setback
- 75 feet from public ROW
- Residential/civic/child care setback
- 200 feet
- All other lot lines
- 50-foot setback
- Large facility lot minimum (IG)
- 5 acres over 50,000 sf
- Large facility lot minimum (IM)
- 8 acres over 50,000 sf
- Perimeter buffer width
- 25 feet, landscaped
Summary
New data centers in Allentown must clear a stack of zoning setbacks before locating: 75 feet from any public street, 200 feet from residential, civic, or child care uses and from MX-N, GX-N, or N-zoned lots, and 50 feet from every other lot line, plus a 25-foot landscaped perimeter buffer and a five- to eight-acre minimum lot for larger facilities under § 660-38.H(2).
(2) Supplemental use regulations. Data center uses are subject to the following supplemental use regulations: (a) No new data center use or accessory data center use may be located within: [1] 75 feet of the right-of-way of a public street; [2] 200 feet of the lot line of any: [a] Use within the Residential use group: [b] Use within the Civic and Institutional use group (except cemetery, governmental use, transportation facilities or infrastructure and utilities); [c] Child care use category; or [d] Any MX-N-, GX-N-, or N-zoned lot. [3] 50 feet of any other lot line. (b) Data center uses with more than 50,000 square feet of indoor gross floor area require a minimum lot area of five acres in the IG zone and eight acres in the IM zone.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4995055; v49 updated 2026-06-26; through 06-26-2026).
Full Breakdown
H(2) of Allentown's zoning ordinance lays out the siting standards a data center, including a data center accessory use, must satisfy before the City will approve it. No new data center may sit within 75 feet of a public street right-of-way. A 200-foot buffer applies to the lot line of any use in the Residential use group, any Civic and Institutional use except a cemetery, government use, or transportation or utility infrastructure, any child care use, and any lot zoned MX-N, GX-N, or N. Every other lot line requires at least a 50-foot setback.
Facilities exceeding 50,000 square feet of indoor gross floor area also trigger a minimum lot size: five acres in the IG (Industrial General) zone and eight acres in the IM (Industrial Manufacturing) zone. H(2)(c) requires a landscaped perimeter buffer at least 25 feet wide, built with staggered rows of shade and evergreen trees and planting beds around the site, with native plants encouraged and comment invited from the Allentown Shade Tree Commission. H(2)(d) to require additional berms, landscaping, fencing, or setbacks beyond these minimums if needed to protect public health, safety, or neighboring uses, and an applicant must submit a narrative describing onsite operations, expected hours, vehicle trips, and stored materials as part of the review.
Together these standards steer new data centers toward large industrial-zoned parcels well removed from homes, schools, day cares, and mixed-use neighborhood centers, rather than allowing them to locate close to residential areas.
Violations & Fines
Building or operating a data center that violates the § 660-38.H(2) setbacks, lot area minimums, or required buffer is a zoning violation. The Zoning Officer can deny a certificate of occupancy, issue a stop-work order, or cite the property owner, and the Zoning Hearing Board may impose added conditions, such as extra berms, fencing, or setbacks, before allowing the use to proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a data center be from homes in Allentown?
What lot size does a large data center need in Allentown?
Does a data center need a landscaped buffer in Allentown?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Allentown
Compare Allentown to another location·View the Pennsylvania data centers & crypto mining overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.