Pennsylvania HB 2151: An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for data center ordinance assistance.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2778, 3030 PRINTER'S NO. 3174
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2151
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY DONAHUE, MULLINS, WAXMAN, PROKOPIAK, GIRAL,
WEBSTER, RIVERA, MAYES, BOROWSKI, SANCHEZ, MALAGARI, CEPEDA-
FREYTIZ, BOYD, STEELE, FRANKEL, SCOTT, CERRATO, FREEMAN,
KOSIEROWSKI, SAMUELSON, McNEILL, MUNROE, KHAN, N. NELSON,
T. DAVIS, RUSNOCK, MADSEN AND GREEN, JANUARY 20, 2026
AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 13, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, providing for data center ordinance
assistance.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 63
DATA CENTER ORDINANCE ASSISTANCE
Sec.
6301. Definitions.
6302. Model zoning ordinance for data centers.
§ 6301. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
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"Authority." As defined in section 5602 (relating to
definitions).
"Center for Local Government Services." The Governor's
Center for Local Government Services located within the
Department of Community and Economic Development.
"County." A county of the second class through eighth class.
"Data center." A facility or group of facilities, including
ancillary uses or associated structures located on the same
tract or parcel of land, that are predominantly used to house
working servers or similar data storage systems and that have an
uninterruptible energy supply or generator backup power, or
both, cooling systems, towers and other temperature control
infrastructure.
"Department." The Department of Environmental Protection of
the Commonwealth.
"Municipality." A city of the second class A or third class,
borough, incorporated town, township of the first or second
class, county, home rule municipality or a similar general
purpose unit of government that is created by the General
Assembly.
"Public notice." Notice of the publication of the model
zoning ordinance under section 6302 (relating to model zoning
ordinance for data centers) and each annual update under section
6302(e), including the beginning and ending date of the public
comment period under section 6302(f).
§ 6302. Model zoning ordinance for data centers.
(a) Development and publication.--No later than six NINE
months after the effective date of this subsection, the Center
for Local Government Services LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION shall
develop and publish a model zoning ordinance to assist a
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municipality in regulating a data center and mitigating
community impacts within the boundaries of the municipality. The
model zoning ordinance shall include options that a municipality
may apply by zoning district.
(b) Content.--The model zoning ordinance shall include
provisions relating to all of the following:
(1) Dimensional standards, including height and size
limits.
(2) Placement standards for data centers by zoning
district based on compatible uses, including setback
distances from residential zoning districts.
(3) Landscape buffers, unless existing vegetation is
sufficient.
(4) Mechanical screening, fencing or other visual
screening methods for data centers adjacent to residential
areas.
(5) Documentation of water and sewage system use and the
means of receiving electric supply service.
(6) A requirement to conduct a water feasibility study,
if applicable, demonstrating that proposed water withdrawals
and discharges will not adversely affect the quantity or
quality of groundwater supplies or surface waters.
(7) Documentation of permits for a data center's water
supply.
(8) Certification from the applicable electric utility
that a data center's electric service will be provided and
that the necessary electric capacity is available.
(9) Noise and vibration limits.
(10) Requirements for emergency response planning.
(11) Aesthetics and parking.
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(12) COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENTS THAT PROMOTE LOCAL
WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION IN THE SITE PREPARATION AND
CONSTRUCTION OF DATA CENTERS, INCLUDING THE USE OF REGISTERED
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND SKILLED CONSTRUCTION LABOR.
(c) Technical assistance.--Upon request, the Center for
Local Government Services LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION shall
assist a municipality in identifying policy goals and objectives
during considerations to adopt, amend or repeal zoning ordinance
provisions relating to data center developments.
(d) Stakeholder input.--To inform the practicability of the
model zoning ordinance and its implementation, the Center for
Local Gov