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Last Update: 09/21/2026 at 2:01 PM EST
North Carolina Data Center Moratoriums
Coverage from Hillsboro Oregon, Salisbury Post, and others
Cities and counties across North Carolina are adopting, considering, or revising temporary moratoriums and zoning rules for new data centers.
Officials are using the pauses to study electricity and water demand, infrastructure costs, noise, land use, environmental effects, and public engagement while existing or substantially advanced projects often remain exempt. The decisions signal a shift toward more deliberate local review as communities weigh economic development against utility capacity, household costs, and neighborhood impacts.
Looking Back
81 Day Timeline
Jun 8
Jun 22
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Aug 27
The Story So Far
No material change
The new member reiterates existing concerns about data-center scale, resource use, and siting restrictions without materially changing the Topic’s underlying state.
Previously
Cities and counties, particularly in North Carolina, are pausing new data center applications or revising local rules as officials assess electricity demand, water use, noise, infrastructure capacity, and community impacts. Charlotte’s 150-day moratorium has become a prominent example, while other jurisdictions have adopted or considered similar measures and Hillsboro, Oregon, has paused permits to amend its development code. The reviews may slow new projects, but previously approved or active facilities are often exempt because of existing permits, investments, or state-law limits.
History
08/24/2026
The story now extends beyond moratorium adoption to questions about how local review is conducted and whether approved projects can actually secure power. Charlotte faces transparency criticism, while a South Carolina example highlights utility availability as a practical constraint on development.
08/04/2026
The story now centers more explicitly on specific local actions in Charlotte and Hillsboro, showing that moratoriums are being actively adopted while officials study updated data-center standards. It also adds a concrete dispute in Stokes County and emphasizes that existing permits and expenditures can shield some projects from the new restrictions.
All Articles38 articles
Important
Hillsboro City Council approved a 120-day moratorium on July 27, 2026, to study rules for data centers and battery storage facilities in Hillsboro, Oregon.
8/3/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Rowan County, North Carolina adopted a one-year data-center moratorium on July 20 after residents raised water, noise, and power-demand concerns about a proposed Flexential campus.
7/26/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
ELS resubmitted the Project Delta hyperscale data center application to Stokes County, North Carolina after rezoning voiding and conditional approval amendments in 2026.
7/24/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Southport, North Carolina planning board recommended a 15-month moratorium and conditional zoning rules for data centers as zoning text and environmental requirements are drafted.
7/17/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Energy Storage Solutions withdrew a Kingsboro AI data center proposal in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, as officials considered a 24-month moratorium and set an August public hearing.
7/15/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Davie County commissioners approved a one-year moratorium on data center construction in North Carolina after residents raised land, water, and electricity cost concerns.
7/9/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Spartanburg County Council approved first reading of a one-year moratorium on new data center proposals to pause approvals until statewide rules are set.
6/22/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Charlotte approved a 150-day moratorium on new data center development to update ordinances for electricity and water needs as AI-driven projects expand across North Carolina.
6/11/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Hillsboro City Council adopted a 120-day moratorium on new data center permits in Hillsboro, Oregon, to revise land-use rules and assess local economic and environmental impacts.
8/2/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Mount Airy approved a 60-day and Davidson County a six-month data center moratorium in North Carolina, with additional public hearings planned to review local impacts.
7/17/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Charlotte City Council approved a 150-day moratorium on new data centers on June 8 while local zoning, water and power-load rules are developed.
6/29/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Charlotte City Council is considering data center policies before a November 5 moratorium expires, following a town hall on siting, water use, and infrastructure.
8/21/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Hillsboro City Council adopted a moratorium on new data center permits July 27 in Hillsboro, Oregon, after two companies filed applications and residents challenged expansion and tax incentives.
8/6/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Davie County commissioners approved a data center moratorium through July 5, 2027, as county and Mocksville officials assess zoning, infrastructure, and community impacts in North Carolina.
7/30/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Hillsboro City Council voted July 27, 2026, to impose a 120-day land use moratorium blocking new or expanded data center and BESS applications.
7/27/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Hillsboro, Oregon, adopted a four-month data center moratorium after a unanimous City Council vote, beginning a 120-day study of permanent land-use limits.
7/27/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Statesville City Council holds Aug 10, 2026 hearing in North Carolina to consider a 150-day moratorium on new data center applications while updating Unified Development Code zoning rules.
7/24/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Henderson City Council voted on Tuesday to reject a proposed 180 day data center application moratorium and instead develop revised development agreement standards.
7/22/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Caroline County commissioners in Maryland imposed an immediate one-year moratorium on new data center permits in unincorporated areas to enable regulation drafting and public review.
7/21/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Hillsboro, Oregon, City Council adopted a four-month moratorium on new data centers Monday while officials review land-use restrictions after public opposition and tax-break applications.
7/28/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Charlotte staff paused a data center focus group after criticism that recruitment and meetings lacked transparency, following a June 150-day moratorium on new data center developments.
7/10/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Newberry County Council in South Carolina confirmed a 12-month moratorium on new data center permits on Wednesday after residents opposed the prior land purchase ordinance.
7/16/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Charlotte City Council approved a 150-day data center moratorium in June as interim Mayor Robert Harrington oversees staff work on energy and water usage regulations.
7/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Stokes County, North Carolina planning officials recommended a six-month data center moratorium, potentially delaying Project Delta, pending commissioner approval at a Monday 6 p.m. meeting.
7/10/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Cumberland County imposed a June 15 moratorium on new data centers as Fayetteville scheduled an Aug. 10 public hearing on Unified Development Ordinance revisions in 2026.
7/5/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Asheville City Council approved a one-year moratorium on data center development on June 23 to study water, energy, and noise impacts within city limits.
6/24/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Charlotte City Council approved a 150-day moratorium on data centers after residents contested siting near Reedy Creek Nature Preserve and raised electricity and water concerns.
6/8/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Greensboro City Council and Randolph County commissioners advanced data center restrictions Monday night in Greensboro and Randolph County, North Carolina, including a proposed moratorium, public hearing, closed-loop cooling requirements, and noise studies.
8/4/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Statesville City Council will hear public input on August 10, 2026, in Statesville, North Carolina, before considering a 150-day pause on new data center applications.
7/28/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
North Carolina voters and congressional candidates debate temporary data center moratoriums as Donald Trump-backed electric-cost pledges and local concerns shape midterm politics.
7/23/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Interesting
North Carolina Connects spent $367,272 on advertising in North Carolina to promote data-center benefits as counties impose moratoriums and legislators consider new regulations by July 27.
7/22/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Hillsboro's Planning Commission heard resident testimony Wednesday on proposed data center restrictions after Digital Realty Trust sought a facility across from Liberty High School.
8/27/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Greensboro council members examined data center ordinances after a 5-4 vote against a moratorium during a work session on electricity demand, infrastructure needs, and water use.
7/22/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Henderson City Council in Nevada rejected a 180-day moratorium on new data center applications, planning code changes and a development agreement after public water, air, and noise concerns.
7/21/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Henderson City Council is expected to vote on a 180-day moratorium on new data center applications on July 21 amid public opposition across Southern Nevada.
7/20/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Charlotte City Council approved a 150-day data center construction moratorium on power, water, environmental, and land-use study grounds in Charlotte, North Carolina.
6/9/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Dimple Ajmera will convene a public data center forum Aug. 20 at Project 658 in Charlotte amid concerns about utility burdens and neighborhood equity.
8/18/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
PSL activists in Charlotte on July 1 urged North Carolina to ban new data centers and protect electricity customers after a 150-day local approvals moratorium.
7/14/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General