Newark, NJ Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Zoning & Siting (2026)

Section 41:2-2 of Title XLI, Newark's Zoning and Land Use Ordinance adopted November 1, 2023 by Ordinance No. 6PSF-E, defines DATA CENTER as a centralized repository for the storage, management and dissemination of data, noting that so-called collocation data centers let multiple businesses rent space to house servers in one location, and that a data center generally has environmental controls, redundant power and communications, and high security. Table 4-3 (Section 41:4-3), governing the Industrial, Airport and Port Area Districts, lists Data Center as permitted (P) with no conditional use review across every column: I-1, I-2, I-3, EWR, EWR-S and the PORT district.

The Warehousing and Distribution use category groups Data Center alongside Cannabis Distributor, Self Storage, Truck Terminal, and Truck, Tractor, Trailer and Heavy Vehicle Parking or Storage. Data Center does not appear in Table 4-1 (Residential Districts) or Table 4-4 (Other Districts), so it is not a permitted use in Newark's residential zones or the districts covered by that separate table. Once sited in an eligible zone, a data center must still satisfy Table 7-2's off-street parking standard of one space per 1,000 square feet of floor area, found at Section 41:7-2-6, and must comply with Chapter 41:5's bulk and design standards.

Because EWR and EWR-S correspond to Newark Liberty International Airport property, a data center sited there would still fall under Port Authority jurisdiction for airport operations even though it appears on Newark's own zoning table.