Raleigh NC proposed 6-month data center moratorium (2026)
Raleigh, NC — City Council to Hold Public Hearing and Possible Vote Oct. 6 on a Six-Month Moratorium on Data Centers Over 10,000 Square Feet (2026)
Raleigh, NC · Raleigh, NC — Proposed six-month data center moratorium (hearing/vote Oct. 6, 2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- October 6, 2026
- Applies to
- Proponents of data centers over 10,000 sq ft in Raleigh (if adopted)
- Enforced by
- City of Raleigh
Raleigh's City Council is considering a six-month pause on new data centers larger than 10,000 square feet, with a public hearing and possible vote set for October 6, 2026. Mayor Janet Cowell announced the proposal after a closed session with city attorneys, following a withdrawn annexation request tied to a planned data center on Jones Sausage Road. Existing facilities would not be affected. During the pause, the city would study rules on noise, vibration, water use, cooling and power demand. If adopted in October, the moratorium would last until April.
Who is protected: Raleigh residents
Legal detail
Announced Tuesday Sept. 15, 2026 by Mayor Janet Cowell after a closed session; council directed attorneys to draft for the Oct. 6, 2026 7 p.m. meeting with a public hearing (N&O; ABC11). Scope: data centers larger than 10,000 sq ft; existing facilities unaffected; six months, lasting until April if adopted in October (N&O). Rationale: Jones Sausage Road annexation for a 100,000-sq-ft data center submitted and withdrawn mid-August; data centers currently allowed on industrially zoned land only with a Board of Adjustment special-use permit. Study topics: noise (property-line decibel limits), vibration, water consumption, cooling technologies, grid demand. Context (N&O): residents cited moratoria in Cary and Durham; Durham County adopted a nine-month moratorium. The City of Raleigh also issued a news release (Sept. 24, 2026) titled 'City Council to Hold Public Hearing on Temporary Moratorium for Data Center Approvals' — it could not be opened (HTTP 403/404). NOT ESTABLISHED: ordinance text/number; grandfathering of pending applications.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Citation | Raleigh, NC — Proposed six-month data center moratorium (hearing/vote Oct. 6, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated in the located sources |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| News report | Raleigh to consider 6-month moratorium on data centers. Here's what's driving it. — The News & Observer |
More AI rules in Raleigh, NC
- Wake County NC Public School System · In effect
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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