Toms River Township officials have introduced an ordinance that would prohibit the establishment and operation of data centers, server farms and cryptocurrency mining facilities throughout the municipality, joining a growing number of New Jersey communities seeking to prevent the facilities from being built.
The ordinance would prohibit the facilities as permitted uses, accessory uses or conditional uses in every zoning district, planned development and redevelopment area in Toms River.
The proposed measure cites concerns about the substantial electricity and water demands associated with large-scale data centers, including potential impacts on the local electrical grid, utility costs for residents and the township’s water resources.
According to the ordinance, hyperscale data centers and server farms require continuous, high-capacity electrical power and extensive cooling systems. Their operations could place significant demands on municipal and regional utility infrastructure, potentially affecting grid reliability and contributing to higher costs for ratepayers.
The ordinance also raises concerns about excessive groundwater and surface water consumption, which officials say could threaten local aquifer systems and watershed recharge areas.
Under the proposed legislation, a data center would be defined as a facility primarily used to house, operate and maintain computer systems, servers, data storage components, network equipment and associated telecommunications infrastructure. The definition would also encompass supporting equipment such as climate-control systems, air conditioning units, backup diesel or gas generators and electrical substations.
The ordinance would prohibit municipal officials from issuing zoning permits, construction permits, site plan approvals, variances or redevelopment agreements for the establishment or operation of any facility covered by the measure.
If adopted, the ordinance would take effect immediately following final passage.
The ordinance is scheduled for a public hearing and potential final adoption on December 9 at 5 p.m. at the Toms River Municipal Building.
Toms River’s proposal comes amid a growing statewide movement to restrict data center development. Municipalities across New Jersey, including recently in neighboring Manchester, have increasingly turned to local zoning ordinances to prohibit the facilities, citing concerns about electricity consumption, water resources and the potential effects on surrounding communities.
The issue has drawn growing attention as the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence has fueled demand for large-scale computing infrastructure. While proponents point to the economic and technological benefits of data centers, opponents have raised concerns about their substantial resource requirements and potential impacts on residential utility customers.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill has also announced statewide initiatives aimed at addressing the impact of data centers on energy demand and local communities, although the state has not imposed a blanket prohibition on their development.
