# Data Centers in Buncombe County, NC: Rules, Power, Records | FOUND Buncombe County, North Carolina for data-center and land buyers: local actions, announced projects, county zoning, electric providers, and the land records offices. Canonical: https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/buncombe-county/ Last updated 2026.09.30 ## Buncombe County at a glance - County seat: Asheville - Population, 2024 estimate: 279210 - Land area, square miles: 656.5 - Development tier, 2026: Tier 2 - Last reappraisal: 2021 - Next reappraisal: 2027 - Regional council: Land of Sky Regional Council ## Local government actions - Asheville, 2026-06, adopted: Asheville City Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on new data center development on June 23, 2026. https://wlos.com/news/local/asheville-city-council-approves-1-year-pause-moratorium-new-ai-data-center-development-western-north-carolina-industry-neighborhoods-community-residents https://www.foxcarolina.com/2026/06/17/city-asheville-considering-one-year-moratorium-new-data-centers-over-utility-noise-concerns/ - Woodfin, 2026-05, adopted: Woodfin Town Council unanimously adopted a 12-month data center moratorium on May 19, 2026. https://mountainx.com/?p=1049671 https://wlos.com/news/local/asheville-city-council-approves-1-year-pause-moratorium-new-ai-data-center-development-western-north-carolina-industry-neighborhoods-community-residents - Black Mountain, 2026, adopted: Black Mountain approved new zoning standards for data centers. https://mountainx.com/?p=1049671 https://wlos.com/news/local/asheville-city-council-approves-1-year-pause-moratorium-new-ai-data-center-development-western-north-carolina-industry-neighborhoods-community-residents - Buncombe County, 2024-11, adopted: The county approved zoning amendments defining data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations. The changes permit data centers meeting special requirements and prohibit cryptocurrency mining operations. https://www.asheville.com/news/2024/11/buncombe-county-approves-helene-related-amendments-and-programs/ https://media.buncombenc.gov/common/Commissioners/20241119/PH%201_PRESO_Crypto%20data%20Gov%20Serv%20draft%20text%20amendment_10-29-2024_BOC.pdf ## Announced projects We have no announced data-center project on record for this county. ## Zoning and land-use rules in Buncombe County Buncombe County zones the unincorporated land outside municipal planning jurisdictions. The county adopted zoning for unincorporated land outside municipal zoning jurisdictions. https://library.municode.com/nc/buncombe_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH78ZO_ARTVIBUCOZOOR https://www.buncombenc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1440/Zoning-Decisions-Outline-PDF ### How the county ordinance treats a data center We could not search the full county ordinance text for a data-center use. The planning office can state how the county classifies one. ### Municipalities in Buncombe County Asheville, Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, Montreat, Weaverville, Woodfin ## Electric providers in Buncombe County North Carolina assigns electric service by territory, so the provider for a parcel depends on where the parcel sits. These providers have territory or customers in Buncombe County. - French Broad EMC (cooperative) https://www.ncelectriccooperatives.com/our-members - Haywood EMC (cooperative) https://www.ncelectriccooperatives.com/our-members - Duke Energy Carolinas (investor-owned) https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/zip/f8612024.zip - Duke Energy Progress (investor-owned) https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/zip/f8612024.zip A provider's presence does not show that it can serve a large load at a given point. Only the utility can state that. ## Where the land records are in Buncombe County - [Buncombe County GIS parcel viewer](https://gis.buncombenc.gov/buncomap/): Parcel boundaries, parcel numbers, the owner of record, and mapped acreage. - [Buncombe County Register of Deeds](https://www.buncombenc.gov/457/Register-of-Deeds): Deeds, plats, easements, and deeds of trust. - [Buncombe County online records search](https://registerofdeeds.buncombenc.gov/External/LandRecords/protected/v4/SrchName.aspx): Recorded documents, searched by name or by book and page. - [Buncombe County Tax Department](https://www.buncombenc.gov/581/Tax-Department): Assessed value, tax bills, and present-use status. - [Buncombe County Planning & Development](https://www.buncombenc.gov/307/Planning-Development): Zoning maps, the ordinance, and permit history. ## Reappraisal and development tier Buncombe County last reappraised real property effective 2021. The next reappraisal is scheduled for 2027. The North Carolina Department of Commerce ranks Buncombe County as Tier 2 for 2026. Tier 1 marks the most economically distressed counties and Tier 3 the least. The tier sets eligibility for several state incentive programs. ## How to read this County and town are different governments. A county can have no pause while a town inside it has one, and the reverse. Before you rely on any row, confirm which government regulates the parcel, then read the ordinance in the linked source for its scope and end date. ### Does Buncombe County have a data center moratorium? The public record shows adopted local action in Buncombe County: Asheville (2026-06); Woodfin (2026-05); Black Mountain (2026); Buncombe County (2024-11). Read the linked ordinance for its scope and end date, because boards extend and amend these. ### What data centers are planned in Buncombe County? We have no announced data-center project on record for Buncombe County as of 2026.09.30. ### Does Buncombe County have zoning? Buncombe County zones the unincorporated land outside municipal planning jurisdictions. The county adopted zoning for unincorporated land outside municipal zoning jurisdictions. ### Who provides electricity in Buncombe County? Providers with territory or customers in Buncombe County: French Broad EMC; Haywood EMC; Duke Energy Carolinas; Duke Energy Progress. The provider for a parcel depends on where the parcel sits. ### Where do I find parcel records for Buncombe County? The Buncombe County GIS parcel viewer shows parcel boundaries and the owner of record. The Buncombe County Register of Deeds holds deeds, plats, and easements. ## Neighboring counties - [Haywood County](https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/haywood-county/index.md) - [Henderson County](https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/henderson-county/index.md) - [Madison County](https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/madison-county/index.md) - [McDowell County](https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/mcdowell-county/index.md) - [Rutherford County](https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/rutherford-county/index.md) - [Yancey County](https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/yancey-county/index.md) ## Sources for this page - [U.S. Census Bureau, County Population Totals, Vintage 2024](https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html) - [U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files, Counties](https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html) - [2026 North Carolina Development Tier Designations, N.C. Department of Commerce, November 26, 2025](https://www.commerce.nc.gov/report-county-tiers-ranking-memo-current-year/open) - [2026-2027 Property Tax Rates And Reappraisal Schedules For North Carolina Counties, N.C. Department of Revenue](https://www.ncdor.gov/2026-2027countytaxratesfinalxlsx/open) - [Regional Councils, North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Governments](https://ncarcog.org/regional-councils/) - [Buncombe County Zoning Ordinance](https://www.buncombenc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1440/Zoning-Decisions-Outline-PDF) - [Buncombe County Zoning Ordinance](https://library.municode.com/nc/buncombe_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH78ZO_ARTVIBUCOZOOR) - [Buncombe County Planning & Development](https://www.buncombenc.gov/307/Planning-Development) - [Buncombe County GIS parcel viewer](https://gis.buncombenc.gov/buncomap/) - [Buncombe County Register of Deeds](https://www.buncombenc.gov/457/Register-of-Deeds) - [Buncombe County online records search](https://registerofdeeds.buncombenc.gov/External/LandRecords/protected/v4/SrchName.aspx) - [Buncombe County Tax Department](https://www.buncombenc.gov/581/Tax-Department) - [Our Members | North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives](https://www.ncelectriccooperatives.com/our-members) - [Company-reported county service territories, Form EIA-861 2024 final data (Service_Territory_2024.xlsx)](https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/zip/f8612024.zip) - [wlos.com](https://wlos.com/news/local/asheville-city-council-approves-1-year-pause-moratorium-new-ai-data-center-development-western-north-carolina-industry-neighborhoods-community-residents) - [foxcarolina.com](https://www.foxcarolina.com/2026/06/17/city-asheville-considering-one-year-moratorium-new-data-centers-over-utility-noise-concerns/) - [mountainx.com](https://mountainx.com/?p=1049671) - [www.asheville.com](https://www.asheville.com/news/2024/11/buncombe-county-approves-helene-related-amendments-and-programs/) - [media.buncombenc.gov](https://media.buncombenc.gov/common/Commissioners/20241119/PH%201_PRESO_Crypto%20data%20Gov%20Serv%20draft%20text%20amendment_10-29-2024_BOC.pdf) Transactions are handled through a licensed North Carolina real estate brokerage.