HB 2516 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; in comprehensive plan, providing for comprehensive plan element for commercial data centers; and, in zoning, providing for zoning, commercial data centers and agricultural land protections and for zoning, commercial data centers, approval procedure and minimum standards.

This bill directs Pennsylvania municipalities to update their planning and zoning laws to specifically regulate large commercial data centers, which are defined as facilities with a peak power demand of 25 megawatts or more. It requires local comprehensive plans to identify suitable sites near existing infrastructure while explicitly protecting prime agricultural land and areas under conservation easements from such development. Additionally, the legislation establishes minimum standards for any data center zoning, including mandatory setbacks of 2,500 feet from residential areas and 300 feet from public roads, along with rules for noise, lighting, water usage, and site restoration. Local governments retain the authority to adopt stricter regulations but must follow these baseline requirements if they choose to permit these facilities.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced May 13, 2026 Last action May 13, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
1
Key actions
0
Committee
1
May 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Local Government
lower
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors