# Data Centers in New Hanover County, NC: Rules, Power, Records | FOUND New Hanover 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/new-hanover-county/ Last updated 2026.09.30 ## New Hanover County at a glance - County seat: Wilmington - Population, 2024 estimate: 243333 - 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 - 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. https://portcitydaily.com/latest-news/2026/09/21/new-hanover-county-to-look-at-data-center-regulations-in-land-code/ https://www.wwaytv3.com/data-centers-emerge-as-key-election-issue-as-new-hanover-county-commissioners-review-local-policies/ ## 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. https://www.nhcgov.com/528/Planning-Land-Use ### 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 New Hanover County 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. - 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 New Hanover County - [New Hanover County Parcel Map](https://nhcgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=06539105dee84683be46bc47be3256ad): Parcel boundaries, parcel numbers, the owner of record, and mapped acreage. - [New Hanover County Register of Deeds](https://www.nhcgov.com/384/Register-of-Deeds/): Deeds, plats, easements, and deeds of trust. - [New Hanover County Search Deeds](https://search.newhanoverdeeds.com/NameSearch.php?Accept=Accept): Recorded documents, searched by name or by book and page. - [New Hanover County Tax Department](https://www.nhcgov.com/328/Tax-Department/): Assessed value, tax bills, and present-use status. - [New Hanover County Planning & Land Use](https://www.nhcgov.com/528/Planning-Land-Use): Zoning maps, the ordinance, and permit history. ## 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. ### 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 - [Brunswick County](https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/brunswick-county/index.md) - [Pender County](https://lotsfound.com/research/north-carolina/pender-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/) - [New Hanover County Planning & Land Use](https://www.nhcgov.com/528/Planning-Land-Use) - [New Hanover County Parcel Map](https://nhcgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=06539105dee84683be46bc47be3256ad) - [New Hanover County Register of Deeds](https://www.nhcgov.com/384/Register-of-Deeds/) - [New Hanover County Search Deeds](https://search.newhanoverdeeds.com/NameSearch.php?Accept=Accept) - [New Hanover County Tax Department](https://www.nhcgov.com/328/Tax-Department/) - [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) - [portcitydaily.com](https://portcitydaily.com/latest-news/2026/09/21/new-hanover-county-to-look-at-data-center-regulations-in-land-code/) - [www.wwaytv3.com](https://www.wwaytv3.com/data-centers-emerge-as-key-election-issue-as-new-hanover-county-commissioners-review-local-policies/) Transactions are handled through a licensed North Carolina real estate brokerage.