North Carolina local moratoria on data centers, battery storage, solar and wind

Every local moratorium we know of in North Carolina, by county, township, town, city and village: 73 records, of which 57 are in force or recently adopted and 9 are pending or proposed. Upcoming votes are listed below.

Data last changed (02:41 UTC) · page regenerated daily, last on

57
in force or recently adopted
3
upcoming hearings and votes (120 days)
73
moratoria on record
70
governments with a record

Map

Alamance County: In forceAlexander County: no moratorium knownAlleghany County: no moratorium knownAnson County: no moratorium knownAshe County: no moratorium knownAvery County: no moratorium knownBeaufort County: Vote or hearing pendingBertie County: no moratorium knownBladen County: no moratorium knownBrunswick County: no moratorium knownBuncombe County: EndedBurke County: no moratorium knownCabarrus County: no moratorium knownCaldwell County: no moratorium knownCamden County: In forceCarteret County: no moratorium knownCaswell County: no moratorium knownCatawba County: no moratorium knownChatham County: In forceCherokee County: EndedChowan County: no moratorium knownClay County: no moratorium knownCleveland County: no moratorium knownColumbus County: no moratorium knownCraven County: no moratorium knownCumberland County: In forceCurrituck County: no moratorium knownDare County: no moratorium knownDavidson County: no moratorium knownDavie County: In forceDuplin County: no moratorium knownDurham County: In forceEdgecombe County: In forceForsyth County: no moratorium knownFranklin County: no moratorium knownGaston County: no moratorium knownGates County: In forceGraham County: no moratorium knownGranville County: no moratorium knownGreene County: no moratorium knownGuilford County: Vote or hearing pendingHalifax County: Vote or hearing pendingHarnett County: In forceHaywood County: no moratorium knownHenderson County: EndedHertford County: no moratorium knownHoke County: no moratorium knownHyde County: no moratorium knownIredell County: no moratorium knownJackson County: In forceJohnston County: no moratorium knownJones County: no moratorium knownLee County: no moratorium knownLenoir County: no moratorium knownLincoln County: no moratorium knownMacon County: no moratorium knownMadison County: EndedMartin County: no moratorium knownMcDowell County: In forceMecklenburg County: no moratorium knownMitchell County: no moratorium knownMontgomery County: Proposed; no vote outcome seenMoore County: no moratorium knownNash County: In forceNew Hanover County: no moratorium knownNorthampton County: In forceOnslow County: no moratorium knownOrange County: In forcePamlico County: no moratorium knownPasquotank County: In forcePender County: no moratorium knownPerquimans County: no moratorium knownPerson County: no moratorium knownPitt County: no moratorium knownPolk County: no moratorium knownRandolph County: no moratorium knownRichmond County: no moratorium knownRobeson County: no moratorium knownRockingham County: no moratorium knownRowan County: In forceRutherford County: no moratorium knownSampson County: no moratorium knownScotland County: no moratorium knownStanly County: no moratorium knownStokes County: no moratorium knownSurry County: In forceSwain County: In forceTransylvania County: no moratorium knownTyrrell County: no moratorium knownUnion County: no moratorium knownVance County: In forceWake County: no moratorium knownWarren County: In forceWashington County: no moratorium knownWatauga County: In forceWayne County: no moratorium knownWilkes County: no moratorium knownWilson County: no moratorium knownYadkin County: In forceYancey County: no moratorium knownTown of Apex, Wake County: In forceTown of Bailey, Nash County: In forceTown of Boone, Watauga County: In forceTown of Butner, Granville County: Vote or hearing pendingTown of Canton, Haywood County: In forceTown of Cary, Wake County: In forceTown of Clyde, Haywood County: In forceTown of Denton, Davidson County: Vote or hearing pendingTown of Elizabethtown, Bladen County: Vote or hearing pendingTown of Farmville, Pitt County: In forceTown of Franklin, Macon County: In forceTown of Garner, Wake County: In forceTown of Highlands, Macon County: In forceTown of Hildebran, Burke County: In forceTown of Hillsborough, Orange County: In forceTown of Holly Springs, Wake County: In forceTown of Hot Springs, Madison County: In forceTown of Mayodan, Rockingham County: EndedTown of Nashville, Nash County: In forceTown of Newport, Carteret County: In forceTown of Spring Hope, Nash County: In forceTown of Waxhaw, Union County: In forceTown of Wendell, Wake County: In forceTown of Whitakers, Edgecombe County: In forceTown of Woodfin, Buncombe County: In forceCity of Asheville, Buncombe County: In forceCity of Boiling Spring Lakes, Brunswick County: In forceCity of Brevard, Transylvania County: EndedCity of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County: In forceCity of Durham, Durham County: In forceCity of Greensboro, Guilford County: In forceCity of Hendersonville, Henderson County: In forceCity of Kings Mountain, Gaston County: Vote or hearing pendingCity of Lincolnton, Lincoln County: In forceCity of Mount Airy, Surry County: In forceCity of Raleigh, Wake County: Vote or hearing pendingCity of Southport, Brunswick County: In forceCity of Statesville, Iredell County: In forceCity of Whiteville, Columbus County: In forceCity of Wilson, Wilson County: In force
  • Moratorium in force or adopted
  • Vote pending or proposed
  • Ended
  • None known

Counties link to their county pages; shaded townships, cities and villages link to their records. County-wide moratoria shade the whole county. Boundaries: Census TIGER/Line 2025.

Upcoming votes and hearings

  1. On the agenda (before the vote) Moratorium Data centers

    Town of Butner, NC

    Town Council · (upcoming) · Granville County
    “The process is intended to provide reliable information to the Town Council, Planning Board, staff, and community before consideration of potential Data Center text amendments to the Town’s Land Development Ordinance.”
    Source document, p. 3 (opens in a new tab) Agenda +6 related mentions
  2. Hearing notice Siting ordinance Solar

    Jones County, NC

    Governing body not stated · (upcoming)
    “ments to the Manufactured Home Park Ordinance, consider changes and amendments to the Ordinance Regulating the Construction, Operation and Maintenance of Solar Energy Facilities, and to consider a new Ordinance…”
  3. Hearing notice Moratorium Solar

    Town of Denton, NC

    Governing body not stated · (upcoming) · Davidson County
    “ng, the Board will consider an ordinance to impose a moratorium on development approvals for solar farms, including the acceptance, processing, and approval of applications for solar farms in the town limits of Denton…”

All known local moratoria in North Carolina

DateGovernmentCountyUsesStatusDetails and source
City of Kings Mountain Gaston County Data centers Pending
Hearing notice, Feb 23, 2027
Hearing notice for a proposed data center moratorium — City Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes, Feb 23, 2027. Source document (opens in a new tab) (Siting Radar)
Town of Denton Davidson County Solar Pending
Hearing notice, Oct 5, 2026
Hearing notice for a proposed solar moratorium — Oct 5, 2026. Source document (opens in a new tab) (Siting Radar)
Town of Butner Granville County Data centers Pending
On the agenda (before the vote), Oct 1, 2026
Drafting of a data center moratorium — Town Council, Oct 1, 2026. Source document (opens in a new tab) (Siting Radar)
Montgomery County — Data centers Proposed
On the agenda (before the vote), Sep 15, 2026
Vote scheduled on a proposed data center moratorium — Board of Commissioners, Sep 15, 2026. Source document (opens in a new tab) (Siting Radar)
Vance County — Data centers In force
Active
Vance County 60-day data center moratorium (number not located), N.C.G.S. 160D-107; the legal notice advertised 60 days, so a 6-month motion was... (Moratorium Nation)
City of Statesville Iredell County Data centers In force
Active
City of Statesville data center moratorium ordinance (number not located), N.C.G.S. 160D-107 (Moratorium Nation)
City of Southport Brunswick County Data centers In force
Active
City of Southport data center moratorium ordinance, N.C.G.S. 160D-107 (ordinance number not located); recommended by the Planning Board (Moratorium Nation)
Nash County — Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Nash County temporary development moratorium ordinance on data centers, data processing facilities, cryptocurrency mining and similar high-impact... (Moratorium Nation)
City of Lincolnton Lincoln County Data centers In force
Active
Lincolnton City Council motion/ordinance adopting a moratorium on data center applications (2026-09-03) (Moratorium Nation)
City of Hendersonville Henderson County Data centers In force
Active; runs to Sep 3, 2027
Ordinance #O-26-29, Ordinance Imposing a Temporary Moratorium on Data Centers, N.C.G.S. 160D-107 (Moratorium Nation)
2026-09 Town of Newport Carteret County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Town of Newport moratorium on data centers, data processing facilities, cryptocurrency mining operations and associated uses in town limits and... (Moratorium Nation)
McDowell County — Data centers In force
Active
McDowell County data center moratorium (number not located), N.C.G.S. 160D-107 (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Cary Wake County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Ordinance Establishing a Temporary 18-month Moratorium on the Acceptance, Processing, and Approval of Development Applications for Data Centers,... (Moratorium Nation)
City of Whiteville Columbus County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
City of Whiteville moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency mining (ordinance number not located) (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Hildebran Burke County Data centers In force
Active
Town of Hildebran data center moratorium (number not located); adopted after the town's March 2026 permanent data center zoning regulations (Moratorium Nation)
Durham County — Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active; runs to May 18, 2027
Ordinance imposing a temporary moratorium on the permitting of large-scale data centers, data processing facilities, cryptocurrency mining... (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Highlands Macon County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Town of Highlands temporary moratorium ordinance on data centers, cryptocurrency mining and other high-intensity computing facilities (number not located) (Moratorium Nation)
Warren County — Data centers In force
Active
Ordinance imposing a 12-month moratorium on development approvals for data centers and related high-impact facilities (number not located) (Moratorium Nation)
Jackson County — Data centers In force
Active
Jackson County data center moratorium ordinance (number not located), N.C.G.S. 160D-107; bars zoning, development, building and demolition... (Moratorium Nation)
City of Greensboro Guilford County Data centers In force
Active
City Council moratorium ordinance pausing acceptance, processing and approval of development applications for data centers, data storage and... (Moratorium Nation)
Yadkin County — Data centers In force
Active
Yadkin County data center moratorium ordinance, N.C.G.S. 160D-107 (ordinance number not located) (Moratorium Nation)
Alamance County — Data centers In force
Active
Ordinance Imposing a Temporary Moratorium on Development Approvals for data centers in unincorporated Alamance County, N.C.G.S. 160D-107... (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Waxhaw Union County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Ordinance ORD2026014, An Ordinance Imposing a Temporary Moratorium on the acceptance, processing and approval of development applications for data... (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Nashville Nash County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Ordinance 2026-23, temporary moratorium on data centers, data processing facilities, cryptocurrency mining operations and similar uses, N.C.G.S. 160D-107 (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Farmville Pitt County Data centers In force
Active
Town of Farmville data center moratorium ordinance (number not located), N.C.G.S. 160D-107 (Moratorium Nation)
Edgecombe County — Data centers In force
Active
Edgecombe County two-year moratorium on accepting, processing and approving development applications and permits for data centers and related uses... (Moratorium Nation)
Camden County — Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Camden County moratorium ordinance on development related to data centers, data processing facilities and cryptocurrency mining (number not located) (Moratorium Nation)
Pasquotank County — Solar In force
Active
Pasquotank County solar farm moratorium (instrument number not located) (Moratorium Nation)
City of Mount Airy Surry County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Extended; runs to Dec 13, 2026
Ordinance No. 2027-002 (initial 60-day moratorium, adopted 2026-07-16); extended by Ordinance No. 2027-008 (ninety-day extension, public hearing... (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Hot Springs Madison County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Town Board moratorium pausing special use applications for data centers, cryptocurrency mining facilities, server farms and high-density digital... (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Franklin Macon County Data centers In force
Active
Ordinance No. 2026-002 (Moratorium Nation)
Davie County — Data centers In force
Active; runs to Jul 5, 2027
Ordinance Imposing a One-Year Moratorium on the Development of Data Centers in Davie County ('Temporary Data Center Moratorium'; unnumbered),... (Moratorium Nation)
City of Asheville Buncombe County Data centers In force
Active
City Council moratorium ordinance applying to new development, uses, or changes of use within NAICS 518210 or functionally equivalent facilities;... (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Holly Springs Wake County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active; runs to Jun 16, 2027
Ordinance 26-19 (up to 12-month moratorium on acceptance, processing and approval of development applications for data centers, cryptocurrency... (Moratorium Nation)
Cumberland County — Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active; runs to Dec 15, 2026
Board of Commissioners moratorium on data center site-plan review and zoning and building permits; instrument number not located in reviewed sources (Moratorium Nation)
City of Charlotte Mecklenburg County Data centers In force
Active; runs to Nov 5, 2026
Ordinance Imposing a Temporary Moratorium on Acceptance, Processing, and Approval of Applications for New Telecommunications and Data Storage... (Moratorium Nation)
City of Boiling Spring Lakes Brunswick County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Ordinance (temporary moratorium on data centers, data processing facilities, cryptocurrency mining operations, and associated uses); incidental... (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Whitakers Edgecombe County Data centers In force
Active
Town of Whitakers data center moratorium (instrument not located) (Moratorium Nation)
Surry County — Data centers In force
Extended; runs to Jul 20, 2028
Ordinance Imposing a Temporary Moratorium on Development Approvals for Data Centers and Related High-Impact Facilities in All Areas Subject to... (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Hillsborough Orange County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Extended; runs to May 27, 2027
Ordinance 20260527-5.A (initial 60-day term, adopted 2026-05-27); extended by Ordinance #20260622-5.A, adopted 3-0 on 2026-06-22 after a public... (Moratorium Nation)
City of Wilson Wilson County Data centers, Crypto mining, Battery storage (BESS) In force
Active; runs to May 21, 2027
City Council moratorium ordinance; ordinance number not located in reviewed sources (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Woodfin Buncombe County Data centers In force
Active
Ordinance 2026-04 (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Garner Wake County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Ordinance No. (2026) 5383, An Ordinance Instituting a Temporary Moratorium on the Permitting and Issuance of Development Approvals for Data... (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Bailey Nash County Data centers In force
Active
Board of Commissioners moratorium on accepting, processing, or approving data center applications in the town and its extraterritorial... (Moratorium Nation)
Pasquotank County — Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Board of Commissioners moratorium ordinance; N.C.G.S. 160D-107 (implied) (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Mayodan Rockingham County Data centers, Crypto mining, Solar Ended
Replaced by permanent rules
Ordinance Establishing a Temporary Moratorium on Development Approvals for Data Centers and Other High-Impact Facilities, and Ordinance... (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Spring Hope Nash County Data centers In force
Active
Resolution 2026-01, imposing a one-year pause on data centers within the town and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (Moratorium Nation)
Northampton County — Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Board of Commissioners moratorium ordinance covering unincorporated areas; ordinance/resolution number not located in reviewed sources; N.C.G.S.... (Moratorium Nation)
Harnett County — Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active; runs to May 4, 2027
Ordinance 2026-17, An Ordinance of the County of Harnett Imposing a Temporary Moratorium on Development Approvals for Data Centers (covers data... (Moratorium Nation)
City of Durham Durham County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Extended; runs to May 3, 2027
Initial ordinance imposing a temporary moratorium on development approvals for data centers, cryptocurrency mining operations and any use... (Moratorium Nation)
Watauga County — Data centers In force
Active; runs to Apr 21, 2027
County data center moratorium proposed under N.C.G.S. 160D-107. [Evidence ceiling: Watauga County's BOC agendas/minutes archives at... (Moratorium Nation)
Swain County — Data centers In force
Active
County moratorium ordinance on permitting and development approvals for data centers and other high-impact facilities, agenda voting item V(a) for... (Moratorium Nation)
Orange County — Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Ordinance establishing one-year moratorium on large-scale data centers; N.C.G.S. 160D-107 (Moratorium Nation)
Rowan County — Data centers In force
Active
Adopted under N.C.G.S. 160D-107 following Legislative Hearing Notice issued April 6, 2026 by Clerk Sarah Pack; the Notice expressly limits the... (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Clyde Haywood County Data centers In force
Active
Town moratorium under N.C.G.S. 160D-107: "Town shall not accept, process or approve any application for zoning permits, conditional use permits,... (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Apex Wake County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Town-wide moratorium noticed under N.C.G.S. 160D-107 and 160D-601; covers acceptance, processing, and approval of development applications for... (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Wendell Wake County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active; runs to Dec 31, 2026
Town moratorium on acceptance/processing of development applications for data centers, data processing facilities, and cryptocurrency mining;... (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Boone Watauga County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Town ordinance banning development of data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations for one year, adopted after public hearing process under... (Moratorium Nation)
City of Brevard Transylvania County Data centers Ended
Replaced by permanent rules
City Council moratorium on data centers and similar high-intensity land uses adopted under N.C.G.S. 160D-107 (Brevard's land-use authority); March... (Moratorium Nation)
City of Kings Mountain Gaston County Data centers In force
Extended; runs to Aug 25, 2027
Ordinance 26-11, adopted 5-2 on motion by Councilmember Annie Thombs (seconded by Lemmond), enacting 182-day moratorium on permitting new data... (Moratorium Nation)
Town of Canton Haywood County Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active
Town moratorium ordinance ("A Proposed Moratorium Ordinance Regulation Data Centers, Cryptocurrency Mining Facilities, and Server Farms") taken up... (Moratorium Nation)
Chatham County — Data centers, Crypto mining In force
Active; runs to Feb 11, 2027
Ordinance 26-0061; N.C.G.S. 160D-107; hearing under N.C.G.S. 160D-601 (Moratorium Nation)
Gates County — Data centers In force
Active
Ordinance imposing temporary moratorium on development approvals for data centers and related high-impact facilities; N.C.G.S. 160D-107 (Moratorium Nation)
Cherokee County — Crypto mining, Data centers Ended
Expired
High-Impact Facility Moratorium adopted under N.C.G.S. 160D-107(a) and 160D-107(d); ordinance text recites Cherokee County Comprehensive Plan... (Moratorium Nation)
Madison County — Data centers, Crypto mining Ended
Expired
Madison County Limited Moratorium on Data Processing Facilities, adopted June 13, 2023 (per County Manager Rod Honeycutt press release, confirmed... (Moratorium Nation)
McDowell County — Crypto mining Ended
Replaced by permanent rules
January 8, 2024 Board minutes state the adopted cryptocurrency ordinance ended the moratorium. (Moratorium Nation)
Buncombe County — Crypto mining Ended
Replaced by permanent rules
Ordinance 23-05-05 and extension Ordinance 24-05-09; N.C.G.S. 160D-107 (Moratorium Nation)
Henderson County — Crypto mining Ended
Replaced by permanent rules
Board of Commissioners public hearing item 2023.62; temporary moratorium on cryptocurrency mining (Moratorium Nation)
— Town of Elizabethtown Bladen County Data centers Pending
Pending (not yet enacted)
Proposed Code of Ordinances amendment: temporary moratorium on development approvals for data centers under G.S. 160D-107 (draft ordinance posted... (Moratorium Nation)
— Halifax County — Data centers Pending
Pending (not yet enacted)
Proposed Halifax County data center moratorium, N.C.G.S. 160D-107; legislative hearing set for 2026-10-19 (Moratorium Nation)
— Guilford County — Data centers Pending
Pending (not yet enacted)
Proposed Guilford County temporary moratorium on data centers (up to 180 days), N.C.G.S. 160D-107 (Moratorium Nation)
— City of Raleigh Wake County Data centers Pending
Pending (not yet enacted)
Proposed City of Raleigh moratorium on new data centers of 10,000 sq ft or larger (draft by city attorney), N.C.G.S. 160D-107 (Moratorium Nation)
— Beaufort County — Data centers Pending
Pending (not yet enacted)
Proposed Beaufort County one-year moratorium on the acceptance, processing and approval of applications for data center developments (Moratorium Nation)

Moratorium records marked “Moratorium Nation” come from the Moratorium Nation inventory by Michael J. Bommarito, licensed CC BY 4.0; status follows that inventory, and we mark a record ended once its recorded end date has passed. Records marked “Siting Radar” are our own detections in public meeting documents: the status is the latest step we saw, with a link to the source. Not legal advice.

Download our North Carolina detections (CSV, our summaries only) · About the open data

Moratoria by month

Local moratoria enacted or adopted in North Carolina Last 24 months; pending and proposed items are not counted.
  • Moratorium Nation (enacted)
  • Siting Radar detections not in that inventory (adopted)
05101520Oct 2024: 0 (Moratorium Nation 0, Siting Radar 0)Oct ’24Nov 2024: 0 (Moratorium Nation 0, Siting Radar 0)Dec 2024: 0 (Moratorium Nation 0, Siting Radar 0)Jan 2025: 0 (Moratorium Nation 0, Siting Radar 0)Jan ’25Feb 2025: 0 (Moratorium Nation 0, Siting Radar 0)Mar 2025: 0 (Moratorium Nation 0, Siting Radar 0)Apr 2025: 0 (Moratorium Nation 0, Siting Radar 0)Apr ’25May 2025: 0 (Moratorium Nation 0, Siting Radar 0)Jun 2025: 0 (Moratorium Nation 0, Siting Radar 0)Jul 2025: 0 (Moratorium Nation 0, Siting Radar 0)Jul ’25Aug 2025: 0 (Moratorium Nation 0, Siting Radar 0)Sep 2025: 0 (Moratorium Nation 0, Siting Radar 0)Oct 2025: 0 (Moratorium Nation 0, Siting Radar 0)Oct ’25Nov 2025: 0 (Moratorium Nation 0, Siting Radar 0)Dec 2025: 1 (Moratorium Nation 1, Siting Radar 0)Jan 2026: 0 (Moratorium Nation 0, Siting Radar 0)Jan ’26Feb 2026: 3 (Moratorium Nation 3, Siting Radar 0)Mar 2026: 2 (Moratorium Nation 2, Siting Radar 0)Apr 2026: 7 (Moratorium Nation 7, Siting Radar 0)Apr ’26May 2026: 11 (Moratorium Nation 11, Siting Radar 0)Jun 2026: 7 (Moratorium Nation 7, Siting Radar 0)Jul 2026: 5 (Moratorium Nation 5, Siting Radar 0)Jul ’26Aug 2026: 16 (Moratorium Nation 16, Siting Radar 0)Sep 2026: 7 (Moratorium Nation 7, Siting Radar 0)Sep ’26
Show as a table
MonthMoratorium NationSiting RadarTotal
Sep 2026707
Aug 202616016
Jul 2026505
Jun 2026707
May 202611011
Apr 2026707
Mar 2026202
Feb 2026303
Jan 2026000
Dec 2025101
Nov 2025000
Oct 2025000
Sep 2025000
Aug 2025000
Jul 2025000
Jun 2025000
May 2025000
Apr 2025000
Mar 2025000
Feb 2025000
Jan 2025000
Dec 2024000
Nov 2024000
Oct 2024000

Who decides siting in North Carolina

General information about state law as checked on Sep 29, 2026, with sources. Not legal advice; thresholds, exemptions and pending legislation change.

  • Building an electric generating facility requires a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the North Carolina Utilities Commission (G.S. 62-110.1(a)).[1]
  • Non-utility clean-energy facilities under 2 MW, facilities mainly for the owner’s own use and some solar programs are exempt and file a report of proposed construction instead (G.S. 62-110.1(g)).[1][2]
  • Wind projects of 1 MW or more need a permit from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), which must deny it if local zoning or other required approvals are missing or if the project would significantly harm military missions (G.S. 143-215.115 to .121).[3][4]
  • Utility-scale solar (ground-mounted, 2 MW AC or more, selling to the grid) must register with DEQ and provide a sealed decommissioning plan and financial assurance; the requirements took effect Nov 1, 2025 (G.S. 130A-309.240).[5][6]
  • Counties and cities may adopt zoning regulations (G.S. 160D-702).[7]
  • We found no state siting permit for data centers or stand-alone battery storage, so they appear to go through local zoning only. (Not verified against the primary text.)[7][1]
  • SB 730, which would require sound site assessments for data centers of 100 MW or more near homes and schools, passed the House on Jun 3, 2026 but had not been enacted when we checked.[8]
  • Other siting bills (HB 729 farmland protection, SB 513 wind, HB 1189 data-center transparency) were still pending, not enacted.[9][10][11]
  1. N.C. Gen. Stat. 62-110.1 (as amended by S.L. 2025-78) (text retrieved Sep 29, 2026; checked Sep 29, 2026)
  2. NC Public Staff, Energy Division, “Builders and owners of renewable energy facilities” (undated page, retrieved Sep 29, 2026; checked Sep 29, 2026)
  3. N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 143, Article 21C (wind energy facilities) (text retrieved Sep 29, 2026; checked Sep 29, 2026)
  4. N.C. Gen. Stat. 143-215.120 (text retrieved Sep 29, 2026; checked Sep 29, 2026)
  5. N.C. Gen. Stat. 130A-309.240 (text retrieved Sep 29, 2026; checked Sep 29, 2026)
  6. NC DEQ, Utility-Scale Solar Project Decommissioning Program (page retrieved Sep 29, 2026; checked Sep 29, 2026)
  7. N.C. Gen. Stat. 160D-702 (as amended by S.L. 2025-94) (text retrieved Sep 29, 2026; checked Sep 29, 2026)
  8. NC General Assembly, Senate Bill 730 (2025–2026), bill status (status as of Jun 8, 2026; checked Sep 29, 2026)
  9. NC General Assembly, House Bill 729 (2025–2026), bill status (last action Apr 30, 2025; checked Sep 29, 2026)
  10. NC General Assembly, Senate Bill 513 (2025–2026), bill status (last action May 7, 2025; checked Sep 29, 2026)
  11. NC General Assembly, House Bill 1189 (2025–2026), bill status (last action May 5, 2026; checked Sep 29, 2026)

Recent siting-rule activity (last 90 days)

On the agenda (before the vote) Moratorium Solar

Town of Denton, NC

Governing body not stated · · Davidson County
“Public Hearing for Consideration of Moratorium Request on Solar Farms by the Town of Denton”
Source document, p. 1 (opens in a new tab) Other +2 related mentions
On the agenda (before the vote) Moratorium Data centers

City of Kings Mountain, NC

City Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes · · Gaston County
“A statement of the problems or conditions necessitating the moratorium and what courses of action, alternative to a moratorium, were considered by the local government and why those courses of action were not deemed…”
Source document, p. 10 (opens in a new tab) Agenda +2 related mentions
On the agenda (before the vote) Moratorium Crypto miningData centers

Nash County, NC

Nash County Planning Board ·
“The Board of Commissioners also voted to hold a public hearing on a proposed moratorium on the development of data centers, data processing facilities, and cryptocurrency mining for its upcoming September 8, 2026…”
On the agenda (before the vote) Moratorium Data centers

City of Southport, NC

Planning Board · · Brunswick County
“Chair Ashley stated that he preferred a separate motion directing the Planning Board to continue work on the proposed data center text amendment.”
Source document, p. 26 (opens in a new tab) Packet +18 related mentions
Adopted Moratorium Data centers

City of Mount Airy, NC

Board of Commissioners · · Surry County
“and WHEREAS, the Board has observed a recent increase in inquiries and potential applications for high-impact facilities, specifically data centers within the City of Mount Airy and unincorporated areas of Surry County;”
Source document, p. 24 (opens in a new tab) Agenda +7 related mentions
On the agenda (before the vote) Zoning amendment Data centers

Town of Indian Trail, NC

Planning and Zoning Board/Tree Board · · Union County
“The Conditional Zoning application submittal for a data center use requires the following in addition to any other requirements that apply in this ordinance.”
On the agenda (before the vote) Moratorium Data centers

Montgomery County, NC

Board of Commissioners ·
“…Sheriff Steve Tedder, Commissioner Misty Coffin Clerk to the Board AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS FOR LARGE-SCALE DATA CENTERS AND RELATED HIGH-IMPACT FACILITIES IN…”
Source document, p. 51 (opens in a new tab) Packet +2 related mentions
On the agenda (before the vote) Zoning amendment Data centers

Granville County, NC

Board of Commissioners ·
“not a "use by right" in any part of the County's zoning jurisdiction • A data center can now only be proposed for land zoned I-2 (general / heavy industry) • For a data center to move forward, and would also require a…”

Frequently asked questions

How many local moratoria are there in North Carolina?

As of Sep 30, 2026 we list 73 local moratoria in North Carolina: 69 from the Moratorium Nation inventory (CC BY 4.0) and 4 more found in meeting documents we monitor. 57 are in force or recently adopted, 9 are pending or proposed and 7 have ended. Coverage is partial, so the real number is likely higher.

Which North Carolina communities have a data center moratorium?

As of Sep 30, 2026, 56 North Carolina governments have a data center moratorium in force or recently adopted in our records, including Vance County, City of Statesville, City of Southport, Nash County, City of Lincolnton, City of Hendersonville, Town of Newport, McDowell County, Town of Cary, City of Whiteville, Town of Hildebran, Durham County and 44 more. Most are temporary moratoria, not permanent bans; check the linked records for dates.

Which North Carolina communities have a solar moratorium?

1 North Carolina government has a solar moratorium in force or recently adopted in our records as of Sep 30, 2026, including Pasquotank County.

Which North Carolina communities have a battery storage moratorium?

1 North Carolina government has a battery storage moratorium in force or recently adopted in our records as of Sep 30, 2026, including City of Wilson.

Are any moratorium or siting votes coming up in North Carolina?

Yes. We have 3 upcoming hearings or votes on moratoria and siting rules in North Carolina in the next 120 days; the next is in Town of Butner on Oct 1, 2026 (on the agenda (before the vote)). The list on this page is updated daily.

Who approves large solar, wind and battery projects in North Carolina?

Building an electric generating facility requires a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the North Carolina Utilities Commission (G.S. 62-110.1(a)). Which state and local rules apply to a given project depends on its type and size; the cited notes on this page summarise North Carolina's siting authority as of Sep 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Is this legal advice?

No. This page is information compiled automatically from public records and the Moratorium Nation inventory. It may be incomplete or out of date. Read the linked sources and confirm with the local government and your counsel.