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Lynn, MA Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Zoning & Siting (2026)

Significant Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

By-right districts: Industrial Light (IL) and Industrial Heavy (IH)
Special-permit districts: R4, B1, B2, BC, M1, M2, RD, RT
Not allowed: Civic, R1, R2, R3, Medical Village
Permit lapse: 3 years if construction not substantially begun
Section: Zoning Ordinance §§ 3.B, 12.C.2.j.i

Summary

Lynn zones data centers as an 'Indoor telecommunications' use, and the Table of Use Regulations allows it by right only in the Industrial Light and Industrial Heavy districts. Everywhere else it can be sited, the R4 residential district and the B1, B2, BC, M1, M2, RD and RT districts, a data center needs a special permit from the City Council.

Commercial CIV R1 R2 R3 R4 B1 B2 BC M1 M2 MV RD RT IL IH ... Indoor telecommunications X X X X SP SP SP SP SP SP X SP SP P P ... j. Indoor telecommunications: Facilities primarily used for indoor telecommunication purposes, including: i. Data Center: A facility used for information storage and processing services and housing computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.

Full Breakdown

i of the Zoning Ordinance defines a Data Center as 'a facility used for information storage and processing services and housing computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems,' grouped with Telecommunications Buildings, Server Farms and Telephone Central Buildings under the broader 'Indoor telecommunications' use category. a lets the use proceed by right subject to restrictions set elsewhere in the Ordinance. 7.

Violations & Fines

Operating a data center use in a district marked 'X,' or without the required special permit in an 'SP' district, is a zoning violation the Building Commissioner enforces under Section 11.A. A special permit that lapses under Section 11.D.8 because construction has not substantially begun within three years of the grant, absent good cause, forces the operator back through the special permit process before continuing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can a data center locate by right in Lynn?

Only in the Industrial Light (IL) and Industrial Heavy (IH) districts. The Table of Use Regulations in Section 3.B of the Zoning Ordinance marks Indoor telecommunications, the use category covering data centers, as permitted by right ('P') only in those two districts.

Does a Lynn data center need a special permit in other districts?

Yes, in the R4, B1, B2, BC, M1, M2, RD and RT districts, where the Table of Use Regulations marks Indoor telecommunications 'SP.' The City Council must grant a special permit under Section 3.B.3.b before the use can operate there.

How does Lynn's zoning ordinance define a data center?

Section 12.C.2.j.i defines a Data Center as 'a facility used for information storage and processing services and housing computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems,' one of four uses grouped under the Indoor telecommunications category.

Sources & Official References

[1]City of Lynn Zoning Ordinance (v2025-12-09 as adopted)

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