Sumner County, TN Data Centers & Crypto Mining: Data Center Zoning & Siting (2026)
Key Facts
- By-right district
- Heavy Industrial (HI) only
- Special exception needed
- Light Industrial (LI) district
- Prohibited districts
- All 10 other districts, incl. residential
- Crypto mining
- Classified with data centers, same rule
- Hearing deadline
- 60 days after application filed
- Max penalty
- $50 per day, separate offense
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Sumner County only
Summary
Sumner County's Zoning Resolution classifies data centers as 'Data Processing Facilities' and confines them to industrial land: the Appendix B use table permits them outright only in the Heavy Industrial (HI) district, allows them by special exception in Light Industrial (LI), and bars them from all ten remaining districts, including every residential and commercial zone in the unincorporated county.
Includes a building, dedicated space within a building, or group of structures used to house a large group of computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and data processing systems, to be used for the remote storage, processing, or distribution of large amounts of data. Such facilities include computationally-intensive applications such as blockchain technology and cryptocurrency mining, but do not include facilities incidental or accessory to another primary use. Such facilities may also include air handlers, power generators, water cooling and storage facilities, utility substations, and other associated utility infrastructure to support operations. May also be referred to as a "Data Center".
Full Breakdown
' Appendix B's Land Use Activity Table then locks that classification to Sumner County's two industrial districts: it is marked 'P' (permitted by right) in Heavy Industrial (HI) and 'SE' (special exception) in Light Industrial (LI); every other district, including AR, RP, RR, SR, MHC, OP, IN, CN, CS and CG, carries an 'N' for not permitted. A developer proposing a data center in the LI district must file a written special exception application with the Planning Department; under Section 1411, the Board of Zoning Appeals must hold a hearing within 60 days of filing and reach a final decision within 90 days, and any approval requires a site plan and can carry conditions, restrictions or an expiration date.
Before construction can start in either district, the applicant still needs a zoning compliance form from the Planning Director and a building permit from the Director of Building Codes under Section 1408. This zoning resolution governs only Sumner County's unincorporated planning area under Section 103; a data center proposed inside Gallatin, Hendersonville, Portland or White House falls under that city's own zoning code, not the county's Appendix B table.
Violations & Fines
Building or operating a Data Processing Facility outside the HI/LI districts, or without the required special exception or building permit, is a misdemeanor under Section 1413.D, carrying a fine of up to $50 per offense, with every day the unpermitted use continues counted as a separate offense. The Director of Building & Codes enforces the resolution and investigates complaints describing an active violation no more than 30 days old, per Section 1413.B.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where in Sumner County can a data center be built?
Does Sumner County treat cryptocurrency mining separately from data centers?
How long does the special exception process take in the LI district?
Does this rule apply inside Gallatin or Hendersonville?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sumner County
Compare Sumner County to another location·View the Tennessee data centers & crypto mining overview
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