# Data Centers in Madison County, NC: Rules, Power, Records | FOUND

Madison 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/madison-county/

Last updated 2026.09.30

## Madison County at a glance

- County seat: Marshall
- Population, 2024 estimate: 22352
- Land area, square miles: 449.6
- Development tier, 2026: Tier 1
- Last reappraisal: 2024
- Next reappraisal: 2032
- Regional council: Land of Sky Regional Council

## Local government actions

- Madison County, 2024-05, adopted: Madison County amended its Land Use Ordinance to regulate cryptocurrency and data processing facilities in commercial and industrial districts. https://media.buncombenc.gov/common/planning/calendar-files/planning-board/2024-08-19/PACKET.pdf

## Announced projects

We have no announced data-center project on record for this county.

## Zoning and land-use rules in Madison County

Madison County zones the unincorporated land outside municipal planning jurisdictions. County zoning covers unincorporated land, and Mars Hill, Marshall, and Hot Springs administer their own zoning. https://www.madisoncountync.gov/uploads/5/9/7/0/59701963/scanner_madisoncountync.gov_20250527.pdf https://www.madisoncountync.gov/planning-and-zoning.html

### 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. The linked Land Use Ordinance is scanned and its full text could not be searched. https://www.madisoncountync.gov/uploads/5/9/7/0/59701963/scanner_madisoncountync.gov_20250527.pdf

### Municipalities in Madison County

Hot Springs, Mars Hill, Marshall

## Electric providers in Madison 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 Madison County.

- French Broad EMC (cooperative) https://www.ncelectriccooperatives.com/our-members
- Haywood EMC (cooperative) https://www.ncelectriccooperatives.com/our-members
- 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 Madison County

- [Madison County GIS parcel viewer](https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/2333843dc4584e648a98fb9542dc75fe): Parcel boundaries, parcel numbers, the owner of record, and mapped acreage.
- [Madison County Register of Deeds](https://madisonrod.net/): Deeds, plats, easements, and deeds of trust.
- [Madison County Tax Administration](https://www.madisoncountync.gov/tax-administration.html): Assessed value, tax bills, and present-use status.
- [Madison County Planning and Zoning](https://www.madisoncountync.gov/planning-and-zoning.html): Zoning maps, the ordinance, and permit history.

## Reappraisal and development tier

Madison County last reappraised real property effective 2024. The next reappraisal is scheduled for 2032. The North Carolina Department of Commerce ranks Madison 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 Madison County have a data center moratorium?

The public record shows adopted local action in Madison County: Madison County (2024-05). Read the linked ordinance for its scope and end date, because boards extend and amend these.

### What data centers are planned in Madison County?

We have no announced data-center project on record for Madison County as of 2026.09.30.

### Does Madison County have zoning?

Madison County zones the unincorporated land outside municipal planning jurisdictions. County zoning covers unincorporated land, and Mars Hill, Marshall, and Hot Springs administer their own zoning.

### Who provides electricity in Madison County?

Providers with territory or customers in Madison County: French Broad EMC; Haywood EMC; Duke Energy Progress. The provider for a parcel depends on where the parcel sits.

### Where do I find parcel records for Madison County?

The Madison County GIS parcel viewer shows parcel boundaries and the owner of record. The Madison County Register of Deeds holds deeds, plats, and easements.

## Neighboring counties

- [Buncombe County](https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/buncombe-county/index.md)
- [Haywood County](https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/haywood-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/)
- [Madison County Planning and Zoning](https://www.madisoncountync.gov/planning-and-zoning.html)
- [Madison County ordinance use search](https://www.madisoncountync.gov/uploads/5/9/7/0/59701963/scanner_madisoncountync.gov_20250527.pdf)
- [Madison County GIS parcel viewer](https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/2333843dc4584e648a98fb9542dc75fe)
- [Madison County Register of Deeds](https://madisonrod.net/)
- [Madison County Tax Administration](https://www.madisoncountync.gov/tax-administration.html)
- [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)
- [media.buncombenc.gov](https://media.buncombenc.gov/common/planning/calendar-files/planning-board/2024-08-19/PACKET.pdf)

Transactions are handled through a licensed North Carolina real estate brokerage.