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Chatham County Board of Commissioners Approves Temporary Moratorium on Data Centers
Post Date:02/12/2026 1:24 PM
PITTSBORO, NC— On February 11, 2026, the Chatham County Board of Commissioners approved a temporary moratorium on the permitting of data centers, data processing facilities, and cryptocurrency mining operations in the unincorporated areas of Chatham County.
Before approving the moratorium, the Board held a public hearing and received written and verbal comments from more than two dozen individuals.
The moratorium takes effect immediately and will remain in place until February 11, 2027, or until new zoning regulations are adopted—whichever comes first. The action allows the County time to study the impacts of these uses and to develop clear, modern standards to guide where and how data centers may operate in the future.
“This temporary moratorium allows us the time we need to properly investigate and plan ahead,” said Amanda Robertson, Chair of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. “Our goal is to protect residents, natural resources, and quality of life while we develop clear, thoughtful standards that reflect today’s technologies and align with the County’s long-term vision.”
During the moratorium period, Chatham County Planning staff will:
• Study the environmental and community impacts of data centers and cryptocurrency mining
• Review how other local governments in North Carolina and across the country regulate these uses
• Develop proposed zoning definitions, performance standards, and mitigation measures
• Seek public input throughout the process
The Board emphasized that the moratorium is temporary and is intended to support responsible planning consistent with Plan Chatham and Recode Chatham, the County’s adopted development policies.
The moratorium applies to all development approvals for data centers, data processing facilities, cryptocurrency mining operations, and related uses within unincorporated Chatham County and outside municipal extraterritorial jurisdictions.
For more information or to follow the public engagement process, residents are encouraged to visit the Chatham County Planning Department’s webpage, www.chathamcountync.gov/planning, or attend upcoming public meetings.
Return to full list >>Before approving the moratorium, the Board held a public hearing and received written and verbal comments from more than two dozen individuals.
“This temporary moratorium allows us the time we need to properly investigate and plan ahead,” said Amanda Robertson, Chair of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. “Our goal is to protect residents, natural resources, and quality of life while we develop clear, thoughtful standards that reflect today’s technologies and align with the County’s long-term vision.”
During the moratorium period, Chatham County Planning staff will:
• Study the environmental and community impacts of data centers and cryptocurrency mining
• Review how other local governments in North Carolina and across the country regulate these uses
• Develop proposed zoning definitions, performance standards, and mitigation measures
• Seek public input throughout the process
The Board emphasized that the moratorium is temporary and is intended to support responsible planning consistent with Plan Chatham and Recode Chatham, the County’s adopted development policies.
The moratorium applies to all development approvals for data centers, data processing facilities, cryptocurrency mining operations, and related uses within unincorporated Chatham County and outside municipal extraterritorial jurisdictions.
For more information or to follow the public engagement process, residents are encouraged to visit the Chatham County Planning Department’s webpage, www.chathamcountync.gov/planning, or attend upcoming public meetings.