Guilford County NC proposed 180-day data center moratorium
Guilford County, North Carolina — Commissioners Set an October 15 Hearing on an Ordinance Imposing a 180-Day Moratorium on Development Approvals for New Data Centers (September 2026)
Guilford County, NC · Guilford County, N.C., proposed 180-day data center moratorium ordinance (hearing Oct. 15, 2026)
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- Data center developers seeking county development approvals (if adopted)
- Enforced by
- Guilford County Board of Commissioners
Guilford County commissioners voted unanimously on September 17, 2026 to hold a public hearing on October 15 on an ordinance imposing a moratorium of up to 180 days on development approvals for new data centers. Data centers are not currently defined in the county's zoning ordinance, and no data center application is pending. County staff propose a text amendment adding data centers as a permitted use in heavy industrial districts, with design standards for size, height, setbacks and noise and lighting screening.
Who is protected: Guilford County residents (unincorporated jurisdiction)
Legal detail
Guilford County, N.C. Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on Thursday 2026-09-17 (High Point Enterprise, published Sept 18: 'on Thursday') to set a public hearing for Thursday 2026-10-15, 5:30 p.m., Board of Commissioners Meeting Room, Old Courthouse, 301 W. Market St., Greensboro (WXII, updated Sept 29) on an ordinance to impose a proposed moratorium of up to 180 days on development approvals for new data centers. Context: data centers are not defined in the county development ordinance; no data center application pending; staff propose a text amendment adding data centers as a permitted use in heavy industrial districts with design standards (size, height, setbacks, noise and lighting screening). Commissioner Carly Cooke supported a pause. Separate from Greensboro's city moratorium (Greensboro NC 180-day data center moratorium (2026)). NOT ESTABLISHED: ordinance text, exemptions, MW threshold.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Guilford County, NC |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Citation | Guilford County, N.C., proposed 180-day data center moratorium ordinance (hearing Oct. 15, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated in the located sources |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Guilford County Board of Commissioners to consider moratorium on data centers — WXII 12 |
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- Superior WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Dane County WI Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Manitowoc County WI Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026) · In effect
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