Data centers in New Hanover County, North Carolina
The public record for New Hanover 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.
New Hanover County at a glance
- County seat
- Wilmington
- Population, 2024 estimate
- 243,333
- Land area, square miles
- 192.3
- Development tier, 2026
- Tier 3
- Last reappraisal
- 2025
- Next reappraisal
- 2029
- Regional council
- Cape Fear Council of Governments
Local government actions
| Jurisdiction | Date | Status | What happened | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hanover County | 2026-09 | debated | In September 2026, county commissioners asked planning staff to review data-center regulations and explore changes to the land code. The board took no action to pause development. | [1][2] |
Announced projects
We have no announced data-center project on record for this county.
Zoning and land-use rules in New Hanover County
New Hanover County zones the unincorporated land outside municipal planning jurisdictions. The county administers development regulations throughout unincorporated areas while municipalities administer their own land-use regulations.
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.
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 New Hanover County
4 incorporated municipalities lie wholly or partly in New Hanover County. A municipality regulates land inside its limits, and some also regulate a band outside them. Who regulates a property in North Carolina
- Carolina Beach
- Kure Beach
- Wilmington
- Wrightsville Beach
Electric providers in New Hanover 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 New Hanover County.
| Provider | Type | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 New Hanover County
County offices hold the records that show who owns a parcel, what is recorded against it, and how it is taxed.
- New Hanover County Parcel MapParcel boundaries, parcel numbers, the owner of record, and mapped acreage.
- New Hanover County Register of DeedsDeeds, plats, easements, and deeds of trust.
- New Hanover County Search DeedsRecorded documents, searched by name or by book and page.
- New Hanover County Tax DepartmentAssessed value, tax bills, and present-use status.
- New Hanover County Planning & Land UseZoning 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
New Hanover County last reappraised real property effective 2025. The next reappraisal is scheduled for 2029.
The North Carolina Department of Commerce ranks New Hanover County as Tier 3 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 New Hanover County have a data center moratorium?
We found no adopted pause on record in New Hanover County. The record does show: New Hanover County (2026-09). See the linked sources for the current status.
What data centers are planned in New Hanover County?
We have no announced data-center project on record for New Hanover County as of 2026.09.30.
Does New Hanover County have zoning?
New Hanover County zones the unincorporated land outside municipal planning jurisdictions. The county administers development regulations throughout unincorporated areas while municipalities administer their own land-use regulations.
Who provides electricity in New Hanover County?
Providers with territory or customers in New Hanover County: Duke Energy Progress. The provider for a parcel depends on where the parcel sits.
Where do I find parcel records for New Hanover County?
The New Hanover County Parcel Map shows parcel boundaries and the owner of record. The New Hanover 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
- New Hanover County Planning & Land Use
- New Hanover County Parcel Map
- New Hanover County Register of Deeds
- New Hanover County Search Deeds
- New Hanover County Tax Department
- Company-reported county service territories, Form EIA-861 2024 final data (Service_Territory_2024.xlsx)
- portcitydaily.com
- www.wwaytv3.com
Looking at land in New Hanover County?
Send the parcel and the county. We confirm which government regulates it and read the record for power, local rules, and usable ground.