| Zoning District(s) | Setbacks/Buffering | Noise Level at boundary | Min Lot Size | Max coverage | Max building height | |
| Food & Water Watch Example Ordinance | Industrial – Conditional | 2,500 feet from residential boundary1,500 feet from boundary of an Agricultural, Rural, Conservation or Commercial boundary1,000 feet of any stream, wetland, or floodplain | 45 dBA or 60 dBC at the property line adjoining any residential zone at nighttime hoursNot to exceed 40 dBA at other times. | |||
| Cumberland County Planning Commission Recommendations | “The way data centers are permitted, by right, conditional use, or special exception should be related to municipal land use policies.”* | Recommends using existing commercial/industrial zoning setbacks, increasing when taller structures adjoin residential uses.Suggests 100 ft buffer yard from residential areas | 57-67 decibels at the property line, not applicable during a power outageBecause data centers are 24/7 operations, regulating noise by time of day is not recommended | 3 acres or existing min lot size for commercial or industrial uses | 60-80% | 80 – 100 ft |
| Middlesex Twp Data Center Overlay (Enacted) | Overlay District – Permitted | 35 ft yard setbacksParking lots must be 50 ft from residential boundaryStructures must be 100 ft from residential boundary | No specified noise restrictionsIf abutting residential, mechanical equipment must be shielded by an “acoustical barrier.” | 25 acres | 70% | 75 ft |
| North Middleton Twp Amendment (Enacted) | Industrial (I) – ConditionalCommercial/Light Industrial (C/LI) – Conditional | 100 ft when abutting residentialOtherwise, 75 ft in front; 50 side and rear | Must not exceed pre-development noise levels by greater than 10 dB(A)max 55 dB(A) during daytime hours and 45 dB(A) during nighttime/weekend hours at the property line | 1 acre** | I: 70%** C/LI: 60%** |
I: 65 ft** C/LI: 50 ft** |
| Hampden Twp Draft (Denied) | Industrial General (IG) – PermittedOffice-Park (OP) – Conditional | 100 ft buffer yard when abutting residentialShould be separated by occupied residential buildings by 200 ft | Daytime: 67 dB(A)Nighttime/weekend: 57 dB(A) from the property line | OP: 50 acres Min lot size not required in Industrial |
OP: 60%** IG: 80%** |
OP: 100 ft max, 50 ft at building line** IG: 35 ft, but may be increased proportional to yard size** |
| Southampton Twp (Enacted) | Overlay District – Conditional | 50 ft front; 150 ft side/rear | No specified noise restrictionsIf abutting residential, mechanical equipment must be shielded by an “acoustical barrier.” | 3 acres | 65% | 35 ft |
* Cumberland County’s whitepaper suggests the following guidance about districts for data centers, but ultimately states that the municipality should make this decision based on their existing land-use policies:
** Not defined in the data center section of the ordinance; drawn from zoning district’s ordinance language
