# Data Centers in Burke County, NC: Rules, Power, Records | FOUND Burke 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/burke-county/ Last updated 2026.09.30 ## Burke County at a glance - County seat: Morganton - Population, 2024 estimate: 88545 - Land area, square miles: 506.2 - Development tier, 2026: Tier 1 - Last reappraisal: 2023 - Next reappraisal: 2027 - Regional council: Western Piedmont Council of Governments ## Local government actions - Hildebran, 2026-03, adopted: The town replaced Cryptocurrency Mining with Critical Infrastructure Facilities in its zoning ordinance. The change subjects data centers to conditional zoning approval and development standards. https://www.thepaper.media/business/hildebran-updates-zoning-rules-as-ai-data-center-proposal-moves-forward/article_cca58562-0868-46cb-88a0-37bd281e4e1d.html ## Announced projects - DigiPower X, Hildebran, 2026-02, announced: DigiPower X plans a 200 MW data center in Hildebran on 40.5 acres. The town reported no permit application as of June 2026. https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/data-center-company-buys-more-land-burke-county/OUBHZ6QYIFAO3KNNKIQNYJIM74/ https://www.thepaper.media/business/hildebran-updates-zoning-rules-as-ai-data-center-proposal-moves-forward/article_cca58562-0868-46cb-88a0-37bd281e4e1d.html https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/residents-sign-petition-against-new-data-center-hildebran/UDDMRRRGE5ADTHXEPE6HFDWJIE/?outputType=amp ## Zoning and land-use rules in Burke County Burke County zones the unincorporated land outside municipal planning jurisdictions. The county zones all unincorporated land outside municipal zoning jurisdictions. https://burkenc.org/1262/Planning-and-Zoning ### 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 Burke County Connelly Springs, Drexel, Glen Alpine, Hickory, Hildebran, Long View, Morganton, Rhodhiss, Rutherford College, Valdese ## Electric providers in Burke 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 Burke County. - Rutherford EMC (cooperative) https://www.ncelectriccooperatives.com/our-members - Duke Energy Carolinas (investor-owned) https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/zip/f8612024.zip - Drexel (municipal) https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/zip/f8612024.zip - Morganton (municipal) 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 Burke County - [Burke County GIS parcel viewer](https://gis.burkenc.org/): Parcel boundaries, parcel numbers, the owner of record, and mapped acreage. - [Burke County Register of Deeds](https://www.burkenc.org/1172/Register-of-Deeds): Deeds, plats, easements, and deeds of trust. - [Burke County Tax Administration](https://burkenctax.com/default.aspx): Assessed value, tax bills, and present-use status. - [Burke County Planning and Zoning](https://burkenc.org/1262/Planning-and-Zoning): Zoning maps, the ordinance, and permit history. ## Reappraisal and development tier Burke County last reappraised real property effective 2023. The next reappraisal is scheduled for 2027. The North Carolina Department of Commerce ranks Burke County as Tier 1 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 Burke County have a data center moratorium? The public record shows adopted local action in Burke County: Hildebran (2026-03). Read the linked ordinance for its scope and end date, because boards extend and amend these. ### What data centers are planned in Burke County? Announced projects on record in Burke County: DigiPower X, Hildebran (announced). Each row on this page links to its public source. ### Does Burke County have zoning? Burke County zones the unincorporated land outside municipal planning jurisdictions. The county zones all unincorporated land outside municipal zoning jurisdictions. ### Who provides electricity in Burke County? Providers with territory or customers in Burke County: Rutherford EMC; Duke Energy Carolinas; Drexel; Morganton. The provider for a parcel depends on where the parcel sits. ### Where do I find parcel records for Burke County? The Burke County GIS parcel viewer shows parcel boundaries and the owner of record. The Burke County Register of Deeds holds deeds, plats, and easements. ## Neighboring counties - [Avery County](https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/avery-county/index.md) - [Caldwell County](https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/caldwell-county/index.md) - [Catawba County](https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/catawba-county/index.md) - [Cleveland County](https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/cleveland-county/index.md) - [Lincoln County](https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/lincoln-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) ## 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/) - [Burke County Planning and Zoning](https://burkenc.org/1262/Planning-and-Zoning) - [Burke County GIS parcel viewer](https://gis.burkenc.org/) - [Burke County Register of Deeds](https://www.burkenc.org/1172/Register-of-Deeds) - [Burke County Tax Administration](https://burkenctax.com/default.aspx) - [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) - [www.thepaper.media](https://www.thepaper.media/business/hildebran-updates-zoning-rules-as-ai-data-center-proposal-moves-forward/article_cca58562-0868-46cb-88a0-37bd281e4e1d.html) - [www.wsoctv.com](https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/data-center-company-buys-more-land-burke-county/OUBHZ6QYIFAO3KNNKIQNYJIM74/) - [www.wsoctv.com](https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/residents-sign-petition-against-new-data-center-hildebran/UDDMRRRGE5ADTHXEPE6HFDWJIE/?outputType=amp) Transactions are handled through a licensed North Carolina real estate brokerage.