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Loudoun County weighs pause on new data center applications
The county says data centers account for 38% of its general fund revenue, and it generated $875M in tax revenue in 2024.
Loudoun County, a major U.S. data center hub, is considering a pause on new data center facility applications amid growing political pushback to the rapid expansion of the sector. According to Bisnow, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors directed county staff to bring the proposal to its Sept. 15 meeting along with a legal analysis from the county attorney.
The measure reflects backlash over digital infrastructure growth that has led other U.S. cities and counties to impose freezes or slow development. Developers could face delays if the pause moves forward, and Bisnow reports the idea is meant to influence industry behavior while the county reassesses zoning.
However, legality is a central concern. Bisnow notes that Virginia follows Dillon’s Rule, which generally limits localities to actions expressly permitted by the state, and Loudoun County’s own FAQ says the board does not have legal authority to implement a moratorium on new data center applications.
Still, Bisnow reports that at least three other Virginia jurisdictions have instituted pauses that appear to have navigated the legal hurdle, encouraging Loudoun to pursue a similar approach, potentially framed as a pause tied to zoning work. Loudoun officials say data centers totaled about 53 million square feet in 2025, up 100% from five years earlier, and at least 40 million square feet of additional projects are in the pipeline.