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Virginia: local moratoria and siting rules

Data center, battery storage, solar and wind siting activity in Virginia's 322 counties, towns and cities.

We monitor 234 of 322 Virginia governments (73%). Coverage by state

All Virginia moratoria: table, map and FAQ Browse by county

Pending votes and hearings

No upcoming items detected in the 234 Virginia governments we currently monitor. That does not mean none are scheduled.

Recent activity (last 60 days)

On the agenda (before the vote) Zoning amendment Battery storage (BESS)Solar

Prince George County, VA

Planning Commission ·
“o Permits battery energy storage systems as an accessory use in any zoning district on a parcel that is subject to an approved special exception for a solar facility.”
Source document, p. 6 (opens in a new tab) Packet
On the agenda (before the vote) Siting ordinance Solar

Halifax County, VA

Planning Commission ·
“(c) Compliance with regulations governing electric energy supply. Large scale and energy facilities connected to the utility grid must comply with permitting requirements of the state corporation commission or the…”
Source document, p. 37 (opens in a new tab) Agenda
Public hearing Zoning amendment Solar

Halifax County, VA

Planning Commission ·
“…BRYANT CLAIBORNE- ED #8 ron.brade@co.halifax.va.us WAYNE SMITH - TIEBREAKER RESOLUTION TO AMEND CHAPTER 53, ZONING, FOR THE ADOPTION OF ARTICLE V.11., SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES, AND ASSOCIATED AMENDMENTS WHEREAS, the…”
Source document, p. 11 (opens in a new tab) Agenda +1 related mention
On the agenda (before the vote) Zoning amendment Solar

Halifax County, VA

Planning Commission ·
“…BRYANT CLAIBORNE- ED #8 ron.brade@co.halifax.va.us WAYNE SMITH - TIEBREAKER RESOLUTION TO AMEND CHAPTER 53, ZONING, FOR THE ADOPTION OF ARTICLE V.11., SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES, AND ASSOCIATED AMENDMENTS WHEREAS, the…”
Source document, p. 11 (opens in a new tab) Agenda
On the agenda (before the vote) Siting ordinance Solar

Halifax County, VA

Planning Commission ·
“SUGGESTED BOARD MOTIONS Motion to Approve I move to approve the proposed amendments to the Halifax County Solar Energy Facilities Ordinance, as presented.”
Source document, p. 10 (opens in a new tab) Agenda +1 related mention
Public hearing Siting ordinance Solar

Halifax County, VA

Planning Commission ·
“The purpose of this public hearing is to receive public comments regarding proposed amendments to the Halifax County Solar Energy Facilities Ordinance.”
Source document, p. 9 (opens in a new tab) Agenda
On the agenda (before the vote) Zoning amendment Solar

Halifax County, VA

Planning Commission ·
“A, 2006, BY AMENDING AND REENACTING APPLICABLE PROVISIONS GOVERNING SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES TO COMPLY WITH VIRGINIA LAW AND TO UPDATE THE COUNTY'S POLICIES AND REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE SITING AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR…”
Source document, p. 4 (opens in a new tab) Agenda
On the agenda (before the vote) Zoning amendment Battery storage (BESS)Solar

Mathews County, VA

Board of Supervisors ·
“…Bay and have the county in compliance with new state laws concerning solar and battery storage provided the ordinance’s existing Conditional Use criteria is consistently applied.”
Source document, p. 81 (opens in a new tab) Packet
On the agenda (before the vote) Zoning amendment Data centers

Buckingham County, VA

Board of Supervisors meeting ·
“A technology overlay district opens the door to industrial and data center development along that same stretch by right without individual review.”
Source document, p. 37 (opens in a new tab) Packet
Public hearing Zoning amendment Data centers

Buckingham County, VA

Board of Supervisors meeting ·
“A data center or industrial use that fits within the technology overlay district doesn't need a special use permit or a public hearing because the county already approved that category of use for that land by right.”
Source document, p. 29 (opens in a new tab) Packet
On the agenda (before the vote) Zoning amendment Data centers

Buckingham County, VA

Board of Supervisors meeting ·
“…a technology overlay district that would expand by right industrial and data center development, I'd like to look at where the rest of Virginia is heading because it's the opposite direction.”
Source document, p. 22 (opens in a new tab) Packet
Public hearing Siting ordinance Solar

Rockbridge County, VA

Planning Commission ·
“…30, Article III, Section 30-12, to clarify the applicability of the Solar Ordinance to ground mounted facilities of one megawatt or more, in coordination with the threshold set forth by House Bill 711.”
Source document, p. 30 (opens in a new tab) Agenda
On the agenda (before the vote) Zoning amendment Solar

Cumberland County, VA

Board of Supervisors ·
“…– TBD Cumberland Road Summit Ridge Energy Behind 1650 Site 1 – 3MW AC Solar Project (SRE)/Rowlette (Site 1 and Cumberland Road – Site 2 – 2 MW AC Solar Project Site 2) TBD Cumberland Road Residential Erosion and…”
Source document, p. 34 (opens in a new tab) Agenda
On the agenda (before the vote) Zoning amendment Data centers

Franklin County, VA

Planning Commission ·
“Mr. Peters asked if it was worth discussing amending the Zoning Ordinance to allow data centers by special use permit instead of by right.”
Source document, p. 11 (opens in a new tab) Agenda
On the agenda (before the vote) Zoning amendment Data centers

Franklin County, VA

Planning Commission ·
“Mr. Peters asked if it was worth discussing amending the Zoning Ordinance to allow data centers by special use permit instead of by right.”
Source document, p. 11 (opens in a new tab) Agenda
On the agenda (before the vote) Siting ordinance Solar

Prince George County, VA

Planning Commission ·
“Mr. Miles explained that A-1, R-A, B-1, M-1 and M-2 Zoning Districts would allow for utility scale solar facility by Special Exception.”
Source document, p. 14 (opens in a new tab) Minutes +1 related mention
On the agenda (before the vote) Zoning amendment SolarWind

Prince George County, VA

Planning Commission ·
“Mr. Simmons asked what the current status was on Solar Ordinance Amendment for solar power station facilities in the County as he indicated that there are solar facilities being built in other parts of Virginia.”
Source document, p. 3 (opens in a new tab) Minutes
On the agenda (before the vote) Zoning amendment SolarWind

Prince George County, VA

Planning Commission ·
“Mr. Simmons asked what the current status was on Solar Ordinance Amendment for solar power station facilities in the County as he indicated that there are solar facilities being built in other parts of Virginia.”
Source document, p. 3 (opens in a new tab) Minutes
On the agenda (before the vote) Zoning amendment Solar

James City County, VA

Policy Committee ·
“Risinger noted that staff had included solar energy facilities that generated less than one megawatt as a specially permitted use within the mentioned districts and would also include solar energy facilities regardless…”
Source document, p. 5 (opens in a new tab) Packet
On the agenda (before the vote) Zoning amendment Data centers

James City County, VA

Policy Committee ·
“On a voice vote, the vote to recommend approval of Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance Regarding Data Center Siting: Site Assessment to the Planning Commission.”
Source document, p. 4 (opens in a new tab) Packet

Enacted moratoria on record

From the Moratorium Nation inventory by Michael J. Bommarito, licensed CC BY 4.0; we link each record to our jurisdiction page. We use it to measure our own lead time. 6 records for Virginia.

EnactedJurisdictionUsesLegal basis (as recorded)
2026-09-16 Loudoun County Data centers Board of Supervisors action taken September 16, 2026 enacting a temporary pause on Board consideration of certain legislative (Special Exception)...
2026-08-18 City of Virginia Beach Data centers Resolution adopted by Virginia Beach City Council on August 18, 2026, pausing the issuance of permits related to any new data center for 12 months or until...
2026-07-21 City of Chesapeake Data centers Resolution 26-R-042, adopted by Chesapeake City Council 9-0 on July 21, 2026
2026-07-06 Town of Front Royal Data centers Resolution Establishing a Temporary Ninety (90) Day Moratorium on the Acceptance of Data Center Land Use Applications, adopted 6-0 by Front Royal Town...
2025-09-17 Fluvanna County Data centers Board motion approving a moratorium on new data center applications; related resolution of intention and ZTA 25:10
— City of Suffolk Data centers UDO Text Amendment OTA2026-008, recommended by the Planning Commission on 2026-09-15