The Data Center Divide
A policy snapshot ahead of the 2026 midterms. Mapping data center incentives, restrictions, and bans through legislation, regulations, and executive actions across all 50 states and 1,462 local jurisdictions.
Pasquotank County
This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.
Slightly Pro-Data Center Policies
Pasquotank County has enacted a temporary pause on development approvals for data centers, data-processing facilities, and cryptocurrency mining, except for incidental server rooms.
Rating from North Carolina statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Pasquotank County.
Specific to Pasquotank County only.
current law · Unincorporated jurisdiction outside municipal extraterritorial jurisdictionsPasquotank County adopts a temporary moratorium on permitting data centers and related processing and cryptocurrency uses on May 18, 2026.Pasquotank County Temporary Moratorium on Data Centers, Data Processing Facilities, and Cryptocurrency Mining Operations (2026)
What this means
Analysis: temporary restriction on all covered development approvals, with an incidental server-room exemption. Draft permanent UDO restrictions are not scored as enacted.
Timing
- Ends
- May 17, 2027
Begins May 18, 2026 and lasts until May 17, 2027 or qualifying zoning amendments, whichever comes first. Earlier termination or extension is unverified.
People behind it
- Pasquotank County
Developed the proposed Unified Development Ordinance and undertook its adoption.
- Pasquotank County Board of Commissioners
Adopted the data-center moratorium and is responsible for adopting the Unified Development Ordinance.
- Sam Davis
Moved to adopt the data-center moratorium ordinance.
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- Barry Overman
Seconded the motion to adopt the data-center moratorium ordinance.
- Planning and Inspections Department
Conducts county planning initiatives and implements zoning and subdivision regulations.
- Pasquotank County Planning Staff
Will study the moratorium’s impacts, develop regulations, and propose ordinance amendments.
- County staff
Develops land-use standards for the uses covered by the moratorium.
- Planning Director
Administers and enforces the Unified Development Ordinance.
- Subdivision Administrator
Administers subdivision review and approvals under the Unified Development Ordinance.
- Floodplain Administrator
Administers and implements the Unified Development Ordinance’s flood-damage-prevention provisions.
- Building Inspector
Enforces the Unified Development Ordinance’s minimum housing standards.
- Address Program Administrator
Administers the Unified Development Ordinance’s address-display provisions.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements2
A temporary moratorium bars development approvals for data centers, data processing facilities, cryptocurrency mining operations, and associated uses in unincorporated Pasquotank County outside municipal extraterritorial jurisdictions. It began May 18, 2026, and ends when related zoning amendments are adopted or no later than May 17, 2027, whichever comes first. It excludes data-processing equipment or server rooms that are incidental and subordinate to a permitted on-site principal use and do not primarily serve off-site users. All development approvals for the listed uses are subject to the moratorium
The public-hearing draft UDO expressly prohibits data centers as a principal industrial use in every zoning district. “Data centers”
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions5
The moratorium does not apply to data-processing equipment or server rooms that are incidental and subordinate to a permitted principal use, support only that use’s on-site operations, and are not offered as a primary service to off-site users. It does not exempt data centers serving off-site users. See the exception.
A data center that was lawful before the UDO takes effect may continue as a nonconforming use, but generally may not be enlarged; the right to continue can be lost after 365 days of discontinuance. This does not authorize a new data center, which the draft prohibits as a principal industrial use. See the UDO provision.
Valid development approvals issued before the UDO takes effect remain valid until they expire, and development may be completed under them even if it does not fully comply with the new UDO. After an approval expires, future applications are reviewed under the UDO. See the approval rules
A qualifying approved site-specific vesting plan protects the approved development and use from later regulations that would change or delay it. The right generally lasts five years, and the County may allow up to eight years where warranted; statutory exceptions apply. See the vested-rights provision
If development-permit or rezoning rules change while a qualifying application is pending, the applicant may choose which version of the rules applies under North Carolina’s permit-choice law. This may preserve a prior review path but does not authorize a use prohibited by the UDO. See the permit-choice provision
Sources
Specific to Pasquotank County only.
pending · Unincorporated areas, excluding the City of Elizabeth City and its Extraterritorial Zoning JurisdictionWould form part of a proposed Unified Development Ordinance consolidating zoning and other development regulations, aligned with North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 160D.Pasquotank County Unified Development Ordinance (Draft), Section 3.1.4 Prohibited Uses (2026)
People behind it
- Pasquotank County
County responsible for adopting the new Unified Development Ordinance and Zoning Map.
- Pasquotank County Planning and Inspections Department
Department responsible for administering and implementing the County’s development regulations, including zoning, subdivision, nuisance abatement, and floodplain management.
Sources
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