Frequently Asked Questions: Data Centers & Moratorium

A data center is a facility that houses computers, servers, and equipment used to process, store, and manage digital data. Data centers vary in size and ownership, ranging from an IT closet in an office building to a stand-alone hyperscale facility.

Charlotte’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) refers to data centers as telecommunications and data storage facilities and defines them as a facility, accessed only by employees, that houses computer systems and associated components, related to the transmittal and receiving of information, including but not limited to telecommunications systems, telecommunication and telephone switching systems, cloud storage systems, and server farms.

A moratorium is a temporary pause imposed by local government on issuing new development approvals, like zoning permits or building permits for a set period. A moratorium does not halt approved development projects or adopted rezonings.

The Charlotte moratorium is intended to allow time to assess infrastructure capacity, noise impacts, and other environmental concerns about data centers before additional development proceeds.

Charlotte is temporarily not accepting applications for new data centers. However, data center projects that submitted full and complete applications or were already approved prior to the start of the moratorium (June 8, 2026) can continue being built and can operate as planned.

Charlotte’s City Council voted to approve a 150-day moratorium on data centers during the June 8, 2026, meeting. It will last until Nov, 5, 2026.

During the moratorium, developers may not apply to build new data centers. Neighbors may notice continued construction on previously approved projects.

Yes. Existing data centers may continue operations during the moratorium.

Yes. Projects that are exempt from the moratorium under state law may continue with development activities.

The city established an interdisciplinary group, made up of staff from various city and Mecklenburg County departments to research and recommend policy and solutions. The group will engage with external stakeholders and offer opportunities for community engagement.