Virginia legislation · 2027 Regular Session
Virginia SB843: A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 22 of Title 15.2 a section numbered 15.2-2209.6, relating to data centers; state permitting; local approval; moratorium; sunset.
Status: In committee, October 9, 2026
Data centers; state permitting; local approval; moratorium; sunset. Prohibits a locality from granting final approval on or after July 1, 2027, of any application for a rezoning, special exception, special use permit, site plan, or plan of development for the siting of a data center. The bill also prohibits any agency of the Commonwealth from (i) issuing any permit, certificate, registration, license, or other form of approval in connection with the development or siting of a data center or (ii) authorizing the construction of any facilities designed to provide electric distribution service, interconnection, on-site electric generation, or related services for a data center on or after July 1, 2027. The bill sunsets on July 1, 2030.
What the bill says
To amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 22 of Title 15.2 a section numbered 15.2-2209.6, relating to data centers; state permitting; local approval; moratorium; sunset. ---------- Patrons--Perry and Roem ---------- Referred to Committee on Local Government ---------- 1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 22 of Title 15.2 a section numbered 15.2-2209.6 as moratorium. No locality shall grant final approval on or after July 1, 2027, of any application for a rezoning, special exception, special use permit, site plan, or plan of dev.
From the introduced text, October 9, 2026:
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 22 of Title 15.2 a section numbered 15.2-2209.6, relating to data centers; state permitting; local approval; moratorium; sunset. ---------- Patrons--Perry and Roem ---------- Referred to Committee on Local Government ---------- 1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 22 of Title 15.2 a section numbered 15.2-2209.6 as moratorium. No locality shall grant final approval on or after July 1, 2027, of any application for a rezoning, special exception, special use permit, site plan, or plan of development for the siting of a data center, as that term is defined in subdivision A 43 of § 58.1-3506. 2. That on or after July 1, 2027, no agency of the Commonwealth, including the Department of Environmental Quality and the State Corporation Commission, shall approve or otherwise grant any permit, certificate, registration, license, or other form of approval in connection with the development or siting of a data center, as that term is defined in subdivision A 43 of § 58.1-3506 of the Code of Virginia, or authorize the construction of any facilities designed to provide electric distribution service, interconnection, on-site electric generation, or related services for a data center. 3. That the provisions of this act shall expire July 1, …