Data Center Ordinance

PSR PA's  Data Center Model Ordinance is a comprehensive framework designed to help Pennsylvania municipalities responsibly plan for and regulate hyperscale data center development. Recognizing the unique demands these facilities place on local infrastructure, natural resources, and public health, the ordinance establishes clear standards for site selection, permitting, environmental performance, and ongoing operations while preserving local decision-making authority.

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The ordinance addresses key issues including zoning and land use compatibility, noise, vibration, lighting, air emissions, water use, emergency preparedness, backup power generation, waste stream management, public reporting, and community engagement. It is designed to ensure that any proposed data center operates in a manner that protects public health, minimizes environmental impacts, safeguards residential quality of life, and fairly accounts for the costs imposed on municipal infrastructure and services.

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Grounded in Pennsylvania municipal authority and existing land use law, this model ordinance provides communities with a legally defensible, adaptable tool to evaluate data center proposals, establish enforceable operating standards, and promote responsible development that balances economic opportunity with the health, safety, and welfare of residents. This particular ordinance is drafted for Townships but can also be edited for Boroughs and Cities, too.