The Data Center Download

Pausing. Supervisors voted 7-1-1 on Sept. 15 to draft a 12-month pause on final votes for data center and substation applications. Final vote Oct. 20. The county is also weighing whether it can revoke 2025 grandfathering for 17 pending applications.

Tightened. Supervisors voted unanimously Sept. 22 to shrink the by-right data center zone from about 9,700 acres to roughly 3,600. After a 90-day grace period, most new data centers need a special use permit and public hearings.

Closed to new projects. The Board of Supervisors indicated in August that it won't approve any more data center projects.

Restricted. Henrico ended by-right approvals for data centers in June 2025, so new projects need county approval through public hearings. The county is steering its industrial land toward pharmaceutical and advanced manufacturing.

Newly open. City Council voted unanimously in May to allow data centers on sites over 150 acres, at least 500 feet from homes and outside industrial parks. The data center equipment tax rose to $1.20 per $100 on July 1.

By right. Data centers are allowed on the county's industrial-zoned land, so the $3 billion Project Hercules campus needs no rezoning or public hearing.

New rules coming. Gov. Spanberger presented a slate of data center regulation proposals Sept. 18. A state law requires data centers to report water use starting in 2027.