Data Centers Study
Data Centers Study
Have questions about data centers in Asheville? This page provides information on the City of Asheville's one-year moratorium and process for developing regulations for data centers. Although no data centers are currently proposed in Asheville, we have heard increasing concerns from residents and are working to develop a policy proposal for Council consideration in summer 2027.
Happening Now
On June 23, 2026, the Asheville City Council implemented a one-year moratorium on data centers to give time for staff to research the issue and draft regulations for their consideration.
This project will proactively study the land use, environmental and infrastructural impacts of high-density data centers and AI computing facilities. The one-year moratorium (June 2026-June 2027) will give the City time to conduct the study and develop a regulatory framework to integrate this currently-unregulated use into Asheville’s zoning code.
This study will seek to balance natural resource protection with reasonable economic development. The outcomes will define these uses in the development codes, establish zoning restrictions and set enforceable performance standards for noise, water and energy.
Opportunities for Community Involvement
The City of Asheville is committed to a transparent, inclusive planning process. Throughout the upcoming public engagement period, community members will have several ways to get involved, including:
- Sharing your questions, comments or concerns via the comment box at the bottom of this page
- Directly communicating with staff by phone or email
- Participating in an online feedback survey, scheduled to launch on November 30, 2026
- Attending one of our virtual information sessions on December 1 or December 9, 2026
- Receiving project updates by email when you register on this page
We understand that data centers have primarily caused concerns related to noise, high water consumption and energy. Any forthcoming regulations will address these as well as other issues brought to our attention.
What’s Next?
After the information sessions, staff will compile and summarize input and share it with the public on this website. Any reasonable concerns will be considered when developing draft regulations, which will be developed toward the end of 2026 (and then discussed/reviewed in 2027).
After draft recommendations are developed, they will be shared with the public in the review and decision-making phase of the project. Input on draft regulations will be accepted as part of the formal review process that begins with a presentation and review at the Planning & Zoning Commission (currently slated for February 3, 2027), and then subsequently when presented and reviewed by the City Council (meeting date still pending).
Background
High-density (also known as "hyperscale") data centers serve as the physical backbone of the digital economy, housing the high-performance servers that power cloud applications, artificial intelligence (AI) and data storage. Driven by the rapid growth of generative AI, these facilities concentrate thousands of specialized processing units onto single sites, creating a significant demand for continuous electrical power, localized cooling (typically fans and water) and physical space.
Unlike standard commercial buildings, high-density computing requires significant utility consumption—sometimes demanding power equivalent to thousands of homes and millions of gallons of water daily—while operating continuous mechanical cooling systems that generate low-frequency noise. As these developments proliferate, municipalities are establishing land-use regulations to cover land use patterns that are not currently specified in local development regulations.
On June 23, 2026, the Asheville City Council voted unanimously to establish a 12-month moratorium on data centers, which gives the Department of Planning & Urban Design time to research the topic, gather input from stakeholders, and develop draft regulations for policymakers to consider.
Join the conversation!
Please use this input form to share your questions, comments and concerns. Your feedback will supply important information on community questions and priorities that will help to inform the study recommendations.
Data Centers Study - Virtual Information Session #1
Join us for an informational presentation and community discussion that will help to inform the City's future regulations on data centers.
Hosted online via Google Meet. Pre-registration is required. A link to join the session will be sent to registered attendees one hour before the meeting start time.
We are committed to transparency. A recording of the virtual session will be posted to the project web page after the event, along with presentation slides.
Please bring your questions and provide us your feedback. Community input will be used alongside research and analysis to draft a proposed regulatory framework for Council consideration in summer 2027.
Look up your registration
To protect your information, we'll send a one-time code and link to the phone number or email address on your registration. This confirms the request is coming from you and keeps your details private. It expires in about an hour.
We found your registration
- Name
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To make changes, confirm it's you. We've sent a 6-digit code to . It expires in about an hour.
Just tap the link in the message instead — it does exactly the same thing, without typing anything.
Data Centers Study - Virtual Information Session #2
Join us for an informational presentation and community discussion that will help to inform the City's future regulations on data centers.
Hosted online via Google Meet. Pre-registration is required. A link to join the session will be sent to registered attendees one hour before the meeting start time.
We are committed to transparency. A recording of the virtual session will be posted to the project web page after the event, along with presentation slides.
Please bring your questions and provide us your feedback. Community input will be used alongside research and analysis to draft a proposed regulatory framework for Council consideration in summer 2027.
Look up your registration
To protect your information, we'll send a one-time code and link to the phone number or email address on your registration. This confirms the request is coming from you and keeps your details private. It expires in about an hour.
We found your registration
- Name
- Code sent to
- Meeting
- When
- Attending
To make changes, confirm it's you. We've sent a 6-digit code to . It expires in about an hour.
Just tap the link in the message instead — it does exactly the same thing, without typing anything.