Surry County adopts 60‑day moratorium on data‑center approvals to study impacts

Surry County commissioners voted unanimously June 1 to impose a 60‑day temporary moratorium on accepting or processing development approvals for data centers and related high‑impact facilities in unincorporated parts of the county.

The action, effective immediately upon adoption, pauses new conditional rezonings, special‑use permits and related approvals while county development staff and the planning board draft amendments to the county development ordinance. County Attorney Howard Jones told the board the moratorium is authorized by North Carolina General Statute 160D‑107 and is intended to give staff time to define affected uses, propose performance standards, and identify exemptions.

"This moratorium does not say we will never allow data centers," Jones said. "It gives us time to do the work. From the moment you make it effective, no applications can be received or acted on by the county until the moratorium expires or is modified." He added the county would defend a lawful moratorium in court if necessary: "We would defend it in court and I think we would win."

Why it matters: county staff and many residents said existing zoning language does not specifically address the scale and impacts of modern data centers — a gap that, they said, could leave the county unprepared to evaluate projects that demand large amounts of power and water or generate sustained noise. Adrien Gardner, the county’s development services director, told commissioners staff had surveyed other jurisdictions and found moratoria ranging from 60 days to multiple months while ordinances are drafted or amended.

Gardner summarized the draft ordinance presented to the board: it defines "data center" broadly (explicitly including cryptocurrency mining and related high‑impact computing uses), exempts small on‑site systems that are clearly subordinate to a principal permitted use (for example, hospital or office servers), and requires a plan of action for how staff and the planning board will use the moratorium period to prepare draft text amendments.

Public testimony: residents of Surry County and nearby communities delivered more than an hour of public comment during the moratorium hearing. Speakers warned that large data centers can consume substantial water and electricity, produce noise from cooling systems and generators, and generate electronic waste. One commenter cited published ranges for water use "from 300,000 to 5 million gallons a day," and another said even a small data center can draw power equivalent to “10,000 to 25,000 homes.” Several speakers urged a longer pause or an outright ban; others urged a careful process to create enforceable standards that protect rural character while allowing appropriate technological uses.

Economic‑development perspective: Blake Moyer, president and CEO of the Surry County Partnership, told commissioners that economic development officials routinely work to attract capital and jobs but supported using the moratorium period to draft ordinance language that balances local needs and market realities. "We can’t rely on ad‑hoc decisions; this gives the county a chance to set the rules," he said.

What the moratorium does: the adopted ordinance pauses the county’s acceptance and processing of development approvals for data centers and related high‑impact facilities for 60 days from June 1, 2026. The draft ordinance identifies three uses of the pause: (1) direct development services to research and draft proposed amendments before the planning‑board meeting on June 8, (2) ask the planning board to review drafts and determine whether they are ready for formal public hearing on July 13, and (3) return to the commissioners on June 15 to decide whether to proceed with notice, extend the moratorium, or adopt a final ordinance.

Next steps: staff and the planning board will continue work during the moratorium; if the planning board requests more time, the commissioners may extend the moratorium. The board signaled openness to a longer moratorium if planning staff and counsel recommend it.

Authorities referenced: North Carolina General Statute 160D‑107 (local temporary moratoria on development approvals). The moratorium ordinance text presented to the board also includes specific definitions, exemptions and a stated plan of action for the 60‑day period.

Ending: commissioners said the pause is aimed at protecting public interests while the county develops enforceable standards; no development approvals for data centers will be accepted or processed while the moratorium is in effect.