Chester and Montgomery counties have released a Data Center Ordinance Guide to help municipalities develop local regulations for data centers, which have become a hotly debated topic due to concerns about environmental impact and power usage. The guide recommends that municipalities allow data centers of 100,000 square feet or more through a conditional use process — meaning they would be permitted only if specific zoning standards are met — a stance that is unlikely to satisfy those pushing for outright bans or moratoriums. The release is timely given ongoing data center discussions in the region, including a proposed ordinance in West Conshohocken and a withdrawn proposal for the former steel plant site in Conshohocken. The guide acknowledges that pending state and federal legislation could further shape how and where data centers operate, making the regulatory landscape very much a work in progress.
Source: MoreThanTheCurve; 4/1/2026