Legal/ordinance - Stop Bad Data Centers

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September 13, 2026

Saline Township Legal Data Center Consent Judgment

This consent judgment is a formal legal resolution that determines how a data center project can proceed within Saline Township after a dispute, most likely over zoning or land use. It establishes binding rules for the developer, including conditions on construction, operations, and compliance with local regulations. Rather than stopping the project outright, it allows…

Government & Policy, Legal & Procedural, Legal & Zoning, Monitoring Tools, Noise, Site Location, Taxes, Waste

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August 27, 2026

Controversial Oldham County Data Center Project Dropped After Backlash

Community Organizing, Financial Analysis

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August 16, 2026

“Exclusionary Zoning” a Michigan attorney on how to zone out data centers

Many news articles misstate what Michigan's Zoning Enabling Act says about "exclusionary zoning." The statute (MCL 125.3207) allows municipalities to prohibit a land use without demonstrated local need or an appropriate site. Attorney Ellis Boal's paper argues Michigan communities can lawfully exclude data centers from zoning districts that don't permit them.

Legal & Zoning

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July 26, 2026

Example Ordinance: Franklin County, Pennsylvania Board of Commissioners (Ordinance No. 2026-02) sets binding zoning standards specifically for data centers.

This is an example of an ordinance that Franklin County, Pennsylvania, is using, and it should be a reference for people that are looking for ordinances.

Environmental Justice, Government & Policy, Legal & Zoning, Noise, Ordinance, Water Quality & Quantity

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July 8, 2026

Example Ordinances

This site includes ordinances related to nuisances from several townships related to data centers and other industrial sites. These can be used as examples for communities seeking to create their own ordinances and adapted to each community’s particular needs and circumstances.

Ordinance

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June 19, 2026

Data Center Moratorium Township, Cumberland, PA

This sample moratorium ordinance is a proactive legal tool that allows local governments to temporarily halt data center development while they assess potential impacts and create appropriate regulations. It frames data centers as high-impact industrial uses that can affect water supplies, energy systems, natural resources, and community character, and argues that existing zoning laws are…

Legal & Zoning, Ordinance

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March 16, 2026

Model Ordinance for Regulating Data Centers at the Local Level (PA)

This is a model zoning ordinance titled “Protective Data Center Model Ordinance (March 2026)” designed for municipalities—specifically in Pennsylvania—to regulate data center development. It provides template legal language that local governments can adopt or adapt to control where and how data centers are built and operated, with a strong emphasis on protecting public health, safety,…

Ordinance

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September 4, 2025

A Brief Explainer for Citizens Attending Local Meetings: Cumberland County, PA

This document is a plain-language guide to municipal government in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, focused on data center zoning. Breaks down how townships approve development through by-right or conditional use permits, examines proposed ordinances in Hampden and the 1.35-gigawatt project in Middlesex Township and details steps residents take to influence decisions at public meetings.

Campaign Strategy, Legal & Procedural, Legal & Zoning, Ordinance, Site Location

Resource Type: Legal/ordinance