Loudoun County supervisors are proposing to require public hearings and board votes for more than 20 pending data center applications that were previously exempt from new zoning rules, potentially changing the approval process as soon as September 1
Loudoun County, Virginia, could soon see a major change in how new data centers are approved, as two county supervisors plan to introduce legislation that would end the current fast-track process for more than 20 pending projects. The proposal would require these applications-previously exempted from stricter rules adopted in 2025-to undergo public hearings and receive a full Board of Supervisors vote.
Supervisors Juli Briskman (D-Algonkian) and Laura TeKrony (D-Little River) announced they will bring the measure to the board at its next meeting on September 1. If approved, the change would immediately revoke the so-called Data Center Grandfathering Resolution, which has allowed certain applications to bypass the new, more rigorous review process.
Pending Applications Face New Scrutiny
In March 2025, Loudoun County updated its comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance, ending by-right approval for data centers in most areas. Under the new rules, data centers are classified as a "special exception" use, meaning they require public hearings and a board vote rather than just administrative review. However, in a narrow 5-4 vote, the board allowed applications submitted before February 2025 to continue under the old process. According to reporting by Loudoun Now, about 22 applications covering roughly 10 million square feet of data center space still qualify for by-right development, with county staff identifying at least five more applications for nine additional buildings that could also be grandfathered in.
Briskman and TeKrony, who both voted against the original grandfathering measure, argue that the continued rapid growth of data centers has outpaced the county's ability to manage impacts on infrastructure, housing, and quality of life. They say residents have raised concerns about increased demand for electricity, higher utility costs, noise, air quality, and the effect on available land for housing and other economic development.
Data Center Growth and Community Impact
Loudoun County has more than doubled its data center footprint in the past five years, now hosting over 250 data centers and approximately 53 million square feet of development. While these facilities generate more than $1 billion in annual local tax revenue, officials say the growth has also created significant new demands on the county's electrical grid and contributed to other community challenges.
Supervisor TeKrony, who began her term in 2024, has not supported any data center applications to date and says the county must weigh the quality of life for residents as it considers future development. Meanwhile, some residents are also opposing a proposed 6.5-mile high-voltage transmission line intended to supply power to the area's expanding "data center alley."
What Happens Next
The proposed legislation will be introduced at the Board of Supervisors meeting on September 1. If the board votes to end the grandfathering resolution, all pending data center applications that were previously exempt would be required to go through the updated public review process. This would give residents a formal opportunity to comment on each project and require a full board vote for approval.
Under Loudoun County's zoning process, a "special exception" use requires public notice, a planning commission hearing, and a final decision by the Board of Supervisors. The move to end by-right approvals for pending data centers reflects growing concern about balancing economic benefits with community impacts as the county continues to attract large-scale technology infrastructure.
