Prince William County, VA Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District Reform (DPA2026-00006)

Prince William County's Board of County Supervisors directed staff on June 9, 2026 to resume work on a comprehensive plan and zoning text amendment (DPA2026-00006) that would substantially reduce and redefine the Data Center Opportunity Zone Overlay District (DCOZOD) created in 2016. The amendment would end by-right data center development in the county by requiring applicants to qualify through one of five county-defined eligibility pathways. Projects already built, under construction, or with site plans past the quality-control threshold would be grandfathered. A Planning Commission public hearing is expected in fall 2026 with full Board action anticipated late 2026 or early 2027.

Technical detail

DPA2026-00006 (Comprehensive Plan Amendment + Zoning Text Amendment). Supervisor Gordy (Brentsville District) issued a resolution on June 9, 2026 directing staff to restart work with adjusted language designed to avoid creating widespread nonconforming uses for existing data center properties. The proposed amendment would limit the DCOZOD to parcels meeting one or more of five county-defined eligibility pathways; projects with approved site plans above the quality-control threshold remain in the overlay (grandfathered). Staff is targeting a fall 2026 Planning Commission public hearing and a late 2026 / early 2027 Board of County Supervisors vote. The DCOZOD was originally created in 2016 to attract data center investment to the Route 28 Tech Corridor and surrounding areas; the 2026 reform effort follows community pushback over density, grid strain, and water consumption.

Who is protected: Prince William County, VA residents

Who must comply: Data center developers seeking new approvals in Prince William County, VA

Key facts

More AI rules in Prince William County, VA

• PW Digital Gateway Litigation · Blocked / in litigation

Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere

• SB 484 (FL Data Center Costs) · In effect
• Maine Data Center Moratorium (vetoed) · Vetoed
• VA Data Center Siting Bill (Vetoed) · Vetoed
• VA Data Center Tax Exemption · In effect
• VA Data Center Cost-Allocation Law · In effect
• Texas SB 6 (Data Center Grid Law) · In effect