Data centers are permitted only in the Innovation District and must undergo the Conditional Rezoning process.

A data center must be located at least 500 feet, measured lot line to lot line, from any residential structure, residentially zoned land or subdivision, school, childcare facility, assisted living facility, active agricultural land, or public park.

A minimum 50-foot landscaped buffer is required along all project boundaries, including street frontages, and must comply with the applicable planting standards.

At least 60% of forecasted energy consumption must come from on-site renewable energy, renewable power purchase agreements, or a combination of both. Compliance requires verification by a North Carolina-licensed engineer and annual reporting.

Cooling systems must use a closed-loop water or refrigerant system. System flushes and refills are limited to times approved by Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer, and applicants must submit a water-capacity analysis approved by the local water authority with the conditional rezoning application.

Data centers must connect to municipal water and sewer systems and may not use a well for water supply.

All external lighting must comply with Dark Sky standards.

Generators must use natural gas when available, may be used only for emergency power, and must meet or exceed EPA Tier 4 emissions standards when natural gas is unavailable. Generator testing is limited to 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m.

Data centers must maintain a maximum noise level of 60 dBA or less at the lot line, and applicants must submit a noise study prepared by a North Carolina-licensed acoustical engineer with the conditional rezoning application.

Data centers must be engineered to be heat-export ready.

Roof-mounted utility equipment must be screened from view from adjacent properties and rights-of-way.

The ordinance creates a defined "Data Center" use in the zoning code, providing a specific regulatory classification for facilities used for the storage, processing, management, generation, distribution, or transmission of digital data. The amendment creates a definition for “Data Center”

Data centers are authorized as a zoning use in the Innovation District through a conditional rezoning process, creating an established permitting pathway for development. The use is not permitted by right and remains subject to the conditional-rezoning standards and the ordinance’s other requirements. Data centers shall only be permitted in the Innovation District (ID) through a Conditional Rezoning process

The ordinance takes effect immediately upon adoption, allowing the new data-center classification and permitting framework to be used without a delayed effective date. This Ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its adoption