Roanoke and nearby Botetourt County face intense debate over data centers. While there are smaller private colocation sites like MFX Northern Virginia, the region is fighting new megaprojects due to high water and electricity usage.
The Roanoke City Council did not vote to completely ban data centers, but they did vote unanimously on July 6, 2026, to heavily restrict where and how they can be built.
Added bonus, fewer vape shops.
The city council voted unanimously to restrict vaping and tobacco stores from opening Roanoke. Vape and tobacco establishments are prohibited from opening within 2,000 feet of school, religious institution, childcare center, public park, or an existing vape and tobacco establishment.
The data center zoning changes were approved by the city council. The changes include data centers projects to be permitted by special exception in IPUD and data processing facility permitted in INPUD and IPUD
(IPUD most commonly stands for Industrial Planned Unit Development. It is a specific type of zoning category used by city planners to design and build planned industrial parks. Local governments, like the Roanoke City Council in Virginia, use this designation to oversee large-scale commercial and data center projects while protecting nearby neighborhoods)