Sangamon County, IL Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Zoning & Siting (2026)
Key Facts
- Max height
- 100 feet
- Perimeter setback
- 150 feet minimum
- Residential setback
- 750 ft (if ≤25 ft tall)
- Approval needed
- Conditional Permitted Use
Summary
Data centers need a Conditional Permitted Use petition and must meet a 100-foot height cap, a 150-foot perimeter setback, and up to 750 feet of separation from nearby homes.
A. Height. Shall not exceed one hundred (100) feet including any roof-mounted equipment or antennas.
B. Setbacks.
1. Perimeter Setback: The front, side, and rear yard setbacks shall be a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) feet from the property lines which form the outside perimeter of a Data Center Project Area.
2. Residential Structure Setback: Data Centers of twenty-five (25) feet or less in height shall be setback seven hundred fifty (750) feet from the Data Center project property line to a residential structure. Data Centers greater than twenty-five (25) feet in height shall be setback from residential structures thirty (30) times the height of the Data Center. However, suppose the developer of the facility can obtain and record with the Sangamon County Recorder a written, signed, and notarized statement from the owner of the property containing said structure waiving this setback. In that case, the minimum setback from said structure shall be reduced to two hundred (200) feet.
C. Fencing. A fence of at least six (6) feet in height shall enclose and secure the Data Center and must comply with Chapter 17.44.
Full Breakdown
Sangamon County's Data Center chapter, adopted in 2025, caps building height at 100 feet including rooftop equipment and requires a minimum 150-foot setback from the site's own perimeter property lines. Separately, a facility must sit back 750 feet from any residential structure if 25 feet tall or less, or 30 times its height if taller: reducible to 200 feet only if the county records a notarized waiver from the affected homeowner. Beyond these numeric standards, a developer must obtain approval through a Conditional Permitted Use petition to the county, submitting a detailed site plan, utility letters, and County Engineer sign-off on road access before a building permit can issue.
Violations & Fines
Siting or building a data center without an approved Conditional Permitted Use petition, or outside the height/setback standards, is a zoning violation enforceable by the Building and Zoning Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far must a data center be from a house in Sangamon County?
What approval does a data center need before it can be built?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sangamon County
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