Loudoun County, VA Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Zoning & Siting (2026)
Key Facts
- Approval
- Special Exception (since March 2025)
- Structure Setback
- 200 ft from residential
- Parking Setback
- 100 ft from residential
- Buffer
- Type C on 6-ft berm
- Governing Code
- Zoning Ordinance § 4.06.02
Summary
Data centers in Loudoun County require Special Exception approval countywide since March 2025, ending by-right development. In industrial districts, structures must sit at least 200 feet from residential property lines and parking 100 feet, behind a Type C buffer on a six-foot earthen berm.
a. Minimum Parking Setback. Parking must be setback at least 100 feet from the common property line; b. Minimum Setback for Structures. Structures must be setback at least 200 feet from the common property line;
Full Breakdown
Section 4.06.02 of the 2023 Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance governs data center siting. On March 18, 2025, the Board of Supervisors eliminated by-right data center development, a use previously allowed by-right in five of the county's zoning districts, and now requires Special Exception approval. Where a data center is adjacent to residential development, parking must be set back at least 100 feet and structures at least 200 feet from the common property line, buildings within 400 feet must provide a 15-foot step-back above the second story, and a Buffer Type C is required on a minimum six-foot earthen berm. Ground-mounted mechanical equipment is barred from front yards and must be fully screened.
Violations & Fines
Building a data center without Special Exception approval, or inside the 200-foot residential setback, blocks Site Plan approval and draws Loudoun County zoning enforcement, including stop-work orders and Circuit Court injunctions until the site conforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you build a data center by-right in Loudoun County?
How far must a data center sit from homes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Loudoun County
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