Data centers in McDowell County, North Carolina
The public record for McDowell County: 1 local government action on data centers, 0 announced projects, the county's zoning, its electric providers, and the offices that hold the land records.
McDowell County at a glance
- County seat
- Marion
- Population, 2024 estimate
- 45,269
- Land area, square miles
- 440
- Development tier, 2026
- Tier 1
- Last reappraisal
- 2023
- Next reappraisal
- 2027
- Regional council
- Foothills Regional Commission
Local government actions
| Jurisdiction | Date | Status | What happened | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDowell County | 2026-08 | adopted | McDowell County adopted a six-month data center development moratorium on August 31, 2026. | [1] |
Announced projects
We have no announced data-center project on record for this county.
Zoning and land-use rules in McDowell County
McDowell County zones part of its unincorporated land. The rest has no county zoning district. County zoning covers designated districts, and the ordinance allows groups of landowners to request conversion from unzoned areas.
McDowell County Zoning Ordinance
How the county ordinance treats a data center
The county ordinance names this use. "Data processing service" is a use by right in the General Business district.
A use that the ordinance does not name is classified by the planning staff, and the permit path follows from that decision. Special use permits, conditional zoning, and rezoning
Municipalities in McDowell County
2 incorporated municipalities lie wholly or partly in McDowell County. A municipality regulates land inside its limits, and some also regulate a band outside them. Who regulates a property in North Carolina
- Marion
- Old Fort
Electric providers in McDowell 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 McDowell County.
| Provider | Type | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherford EMC | cooperative | [1] | |
| Duke Energy Carolinas | investor-owned | [1] | |
| Duke Energy Progress | investor-owned | [1] |
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 McDowell County
County offices hold the records that show who owns a parcel, what is recorded against it, and how it is taxed.
- McDowell County GIS parcel viewerParcel boundaries, parcel numbers, the owner of record, and mapped acreage.
- McDowell County Register of DeedsDeeds, plats, easements, and deeds of trust.
- McDowell County online land records searchRecorded documents, searched by name or by book and page.
- McDowell County Tax AssessingAssessed value, tax bills, and present-use status.
- McDowell County Planning DepartmentZoning maps, the ordinance, and permit history.
- How to find the owner of a property
- How to read a plat map
- What a title search for land covers
- Why county records come first
Reappraisal and development tier
McDowell County last reappraised real property effective 2023. The next reappraisal is scheduled for 2027.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce ranks McDowell 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.
- How to read a data-center moratorium
- Zoning and moratorium research
- All North Carolina actions
- All North Carolina projects
Questions
Does McDowell County have a data center moratorium?
The public record shows adopted local action in McDowell County: McDowell County (2026-08). Read the linked ordinance for its scope and end date, because boards extend and amend these.
What data centers are planned in McDowell County?
We have no announced data-center project on record for McDowell County as of 2026.09.30.
Does McDowell County have zoning?
McDowell County zones part of its unincorporated land. The rest has no county zoning district. County zoning covers designated districts, and the ordinance allows groups of landowners to request conversion from unzoned areas.
Who provides electricity in McDowell County?
Providers with territory or customers in McDowell County: Rutherford 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 McDowell County?
The McDowell County GIS parcel viewer shows parcel boundaries and the owner of record. The McDowell County Register of Deeds holds deeds, plats, and easements.
Neighboring counties
Sources for this page
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Population Totals, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files, Counties
- 2026 North Carolina Development Tier Designations, N.C. Department of Commerce, November 26, 2025
- 2026-2027 Property Tax Rates And Reappraisal Schedules For North Carolina Counties, N.C. Department of Revenue
- Regional Councils, North Carolina Association of Regional Councils of Governments
- McDowell County ordinance use search
- McDowell County Planning Department
- McDowell County GIS parcel viewer
- McDowell County Register of Deeds
- McDowell County online land records search
- McDowell County Tax Assessing
- Our Members | North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives
- Company-reported county service territories, Form EIA-861 2024 final data (Service_Territory_2024.xlsx)
- www.carolinajournal.com
Looking at land in McDowell County?
Send the parcel and the county. We confirm which government regulates it and read the record for power, local rules, and usable ground.