Summit Looks To Ban Data Centers Completely With New Proposed Policy

SUMMIT, NJ — Summit is considering a new zoning ordinance that would formally ban data centers from being built or operated anywhere in the city, marking a further step in how the municipality regulates the emerging type of development.

The proposal would add “data centers” to Summit’s list of prohibited land uses under Chapter 35 of the city’s Development Regulations. If approved, it would make the restriction explicit in the city code and prevent such facilities from being permitted under current zoning rules.

The ordinance is scheduled to be introduced for discussion at Tuesday night’s Common Council meeting. A public hearing is set for July 28, 2026, when residents will have an opportunity to comment before any final vote is taken.

This proposal follows earlier action by the council in June, when members advanced updates aimed at refining how data centers are defined and evaluated under city regulations. That earlier ordinance focused on setting criteria used to identify data center development, including infrastructure demands and power usage thresholds, along with other technical characteristics.

During those earlier discussions, officials examined how newer and smaller-scale projects might still meet definitions used in regulation, leading to continued revisions to the city’s approach.

The new proposal shifts away from refining definitions and instead places data centers directly into the category of uses that are not permitted in Summit.

Data centers are large facilities that house computer servers and digital infrastructure used for cloud computing, artificial intelligence systems, and large-scale data storage. They have increasingly become part of local zoning discussions in communities across the country due to concerns about energy demand, water usage, and long-term infrastructure impacts.

If adopted, the ordinance would make Summit’s position on data center development more direct by explicitly prohibiting them under the city’s zoning code.

Residents will have a chance to weigh in during the July 28 public hearing before the council considers whether to move the ordinance forward.