This winter, we’re highlighting how localities in the Shenandoah Valley are responding to data center pressures in unique ways, crafting ordinances and policies that reflect their individual land use goals and community vision. An overview of ordinances and proposals in each county is available below.
County Policy Updates
County Perspectives
As data center interest expands across the Shenandoah Valley, county community development staff and planners are on the front lines of managing its pace and impact. We spoke with local officials in Frederick, Shenandoah, Rockingham, Augusta, Warren, and Page counties to learn how they’re responding to this surge – balancing economic opportunity with infrastructure readiness, land use goals, and community priorities – and the following summarizes some of what they learned.
Augusta County
“Augusta County is currently in the process of developing a new, dedicated ordinance for data center development to move beyond its existing regulation, which permits data centers by-right in General Industrial districts. The goal of the ordinance is to establish clear and rigorous standards for development and operations, including requirements for buffers, sound testing, and water usage. It is still in the preliminary drafting stage and has not yet been presented to the Board of Supervisors.
“In its current draft, the ordinance will function as an overlay, allowing data center development only in carefully selected areas, while preserving the county’s limited resources and rural character. Staff are identifying potential sites best suited for this use based on proximity to existing transmission lines, public water infrastructure, and residentially zoned areas. Development will be limited to the county’s designated growth areas outlined in the comprehensive plan, specifically Urban Service Areas and Community Development Areas.”
Frederick County
“Frederick County aims to respond to the surge in data center development with a careful and rigorous land use approach. The county ordinance adopted in April 2024 removed the by-right allowance for data centers, ensuring every project must now undergo a rigorous public approval process (conditional use or rezoning) and be subject to conditions to mitigate impacts. The ordinance includes larger setbacks than other industrial uses, noise studies and limitations (including generator testing), and the provision of water estimates. Specifically, the county plans to prohibit the use of groundwater via private wells and require the implementation of water-conserving technologies as part of a conditional use permit or rezoning application.
“The county acknowledges a major challenge of accommodating data centers is that most appropriate power infrastructure is located in rural areas, creating a major concern for communities committed to preserving rural lands.”
Page County
“Page County Planning and Community Development Department’s current policy stance is that a data center is neither defined nor specifically allowed as a use in the county’s zoning ordinance. Consequently, uses not explicitly permitted are prohibited, meaning the county does not have an adopted data center ordinance, and zoning staff will not accept zoning applications for a data center.
“Page County zoning and planning staff are proactively educating themselves on specific regulations and recommendations for data center development, anticipating that higher Northern Virginia property costs may redirect developers to more affordable rural sites. Should the county decide to create regulations, power and water capacity would likely be among the many factors considered.”
Rockingham County
“Rockingham County’s data center ordinance and policy, approved in September 2025 after extensive staff development, aims to address identified concerns related to visual impacts, water use, power consumption, and noise from data center projects. Rather than designate specific areas or properties for data centers, the county’s ordinance relies on the special use permit process to evaluate each proposal individually, guided by the comprehensive plan and its priorities. The adopted policy encourages developers to use sustainable technologies, including closed-loop cooling systems, and to install new power lines underground.
“This approach allows the Board of Supervisors to manage development while providing opportunity for community input during the special use permit and public hearing process.”
Shenandoah County
“Shenandoah County is adopting a measured, research-informed, and community-sensitive approach to data center development. Rather than actively recruiting facilities, it is prioritizing land preservation and infrastructure compatibility by first assessing the benefits and trade-offs, engaging with state and utility partners, and reviewing case studies from counties like Culpeper and Loudoun.
“Future proposals will likely be assessed using a multi-criteria framework that prioritizes power and water capacity, favoring closed-loop or recycled cooling systems. This evaluation will also demand noise and emissions modeling and compliance checks, while ensuring overall land use compatibility with the Shenandoah 2045 Comprehensive Plan’s emphasis on rural preservation and infrastructure alignment.
“The county’s future role is seen as a ‘gatekeeper’, selectively pursuing high-benefit, low-impact projects and serving as a model for balancing rural values with modern infrastructure demands.”
Warren County
“Warren County’s long-term identity is rooted in its agricultural, natural resources, and rural character. Its land use policies are shaped by a vision where future industrial growth must complement, not redefine, this existing character. Should a data center inquiry arise, the county would approach it with measured thought and consideration. Since data centers are not a listed use in the zoning ordinance, a developer would first need to seek a zoning ordinance amendment to allow data center development. This evaluation process would always factor in the feasibility of use which includes power and water capacity and alignment with community priorities. This process provides the county a path to potentially deem a use ‘incompatible’ if existing infrastructure is inadequate. While the county anticipates strong regional demand for data centers, Warren County’s role is to not position itself as an attractive destination for this development given its limited water resources, infrastructure challenges, and topographical restraints.”