Data centers have become one of the hottest land-use debates in North Carolina, and Brunswick County towns have been moving to get ahead of it. Over the past year, Shallotte and Leland wrote data center rules into their development ordinances, Boiling Spring Lakes paused new approvals, and in September Southport adopted a 15-month moratorium. None of this is because a project is on the way. As of the StarNews (July 24, 2026), officials in the county and those towns said no data centers had been proposed and none operate in Brunswick County.
So why should homeowners and buyers care? Because these rules decide where a very large, power-hungry industrial use could ever land, and how far it has to stay from homes, schools, and parks. If you’re buying near an industrial park or a big tract of undeveloped land, it’s worth knowing the ground rules. Here’s a plain-language rundown.
Where Each Town Stands Right Now
Southport: a 15-month pause
Southport’s Board of Aldermen voted unanimously on Sept. 10 to adopt a 15-month moratorium on new data center approvals, according to Port City Daily (Sept. 14, 2026). The city’s ordinance had no data center rules at all, so the pause gives staff time to decide which districts could allow them and what setbacks would apply. WWAY (Sept. 10, 2026) quoted Mayor Joe Pat Hatem saying the moratorium “gives us guidelines” and keeps control of placement with the board. At that meeting, a resident also raised land near Duke Energy’s Brunswick nuclear plant north of town as a concern.
Boiling Spring Lakes: a 12-month moratorium
The Boiling Spring Lakes Board of Commissioners approved a 12-month moratorium on June 2 covering data centers, data processing facilities, and cryptocurrency mining. The city said the goal was to research impacts and best practices and set zoning standards in case an application ever comes in, as reported by the StarNews (June 5, 2026).
Shallotte: the strictest rules so far
Shallotte adopted its rules in January. Data centers are limited to the town’s heavy industrial district, which the town’s planning director has said is mostly the Shallotte Business Park off N.C. 130. They’re barred from residential districts and flood hazard areas and must sit at least 1,000 feet from residentially zoned property and from schools, daycares, parks, libraries, churches, and residential care facilities. Equipment like cooling towers and transformers must be enclosed or screened, and equipment noise is capped at 55 decibels.
Leland: allowed only in the innovation district
Leland allows data centers only in its innovation district, as a conditional zoning alongside labs and research uses. Its buffer from residential property is 500 feet less than Shallotte’s, and its noise cap is 60 decibels. In both towns, projects also have to meet design, lighting, stormwater, landscaping, water-use, and energy standards, and a conditional zoning means a public hearing before any approval.
Unincorporated Brunswick County
Outside town limits, the county allows data centers only in its industrial general zoning district, which carries substantial buffers and setbacks, a county spokesperson told the StarNews. Depending on size, a project could be approved administratively by staff, or it could need Technical Review Committee and planning board review. The county also said state law limits its ability to ban the use outright from land already zoned for it, since that would count as a downzoning.
What This Means for Homeowners
For most Brunswick County neighborhoods, nothing changes day to day. The practical takeaway is that the towns with rules have pushed any future data center into industrial land and away from homes, and the towns without rules have hit pause until they write some. That’s generally good news for nearby property owners, because it means a big project would face clear standards and, in most cases, a public hearing.
If you live near an industrial or business park, it’s worth signing up for your town’s or the county’s meeting agendas. That’s where any rezoning or conditional zoning request would show up first, and it’s your chance to weigh in.
What Buyers Should Check
- Look at the zoning around the home, not just the lot. Brunswick County’s online GIS map shows zoning for nearby parcels. Industrial or heavy industrial land within a mile or so is worth noting for any future use, not just data centers.
- Know which jurisdiction you’re in. A Leland or Shallotte address may actually sit in unincorporated county land, and the rules differ. Your agent and closing attorney can confirm this.
- Ask about planned infrastructure. Large industrial users often bring new power lines and substations. Duke Energy and the county can tell you what’s planned in an area.
- Keep perspective. No data center has been proposed in the county. Treat this as one item on your due diligence list, alongside flood zones, utilities, and road projects.
What Sellers Should Know
If buyers ask about data centers, you can point to the local rules and the fact that none have been proposed. Being upfront and informed tends to calm nerves faster than dodging the question. If your home is near an industrial district, your listing agent can help you frame it honestly alongside the area’s strengths.
FAQ
Is a data center being built in Brunswick County?
Not as of the latest reporting. County and town officials told the StarNews in July 2026 that none exist and none have been proposed.
Did Leland and Shallotte ban data centers?
No. They adopted rules that allow data centers only in specific industrial or innovation districts, with setbacks, noise limits, and other standards. Southport and Boiling Spring Lakes are the ones with temporary moratoriums.
How would I hear about a proposal near my home?
Rezonings and conditional zonings require public notice and hearings, so watch your town’s or the county’s planning board and council agendas. Port City Daily also publishes a weekly roundup of local government meetings.
Could a data center affect my home’s value?
There’s no local track record to point to, since none exist here. Distance, buffers, and how a site is screened would matter most, which is exactly what these new rules address.
Get Local Answers Before You Buy or Sell
Zoning questions like this are part of what we check for our clients in Southport, Leland, Shallotte, Boiling Spring Lakes, and across Brunswick County. If you want help looking into the land around a home you’re considering, or you’re thinking about selling, reach out to Aspyre Collective and we’ll dig in with you.
