North Carolina has seen over 30 local jurisdictions enact temporary data center moratoriums in 2026 amid surging demand for AI infrastructure, with concerns over electricity demand, water use, noise, and environmental impacts driving community pushback. Raleigh approved a six-month pause in early October, joining longer pauses in Cary, Apex, and multiple counties, while recent court rulings like the Chatham County case have allowed specific projects to proceed despite local freezes, citing state limits on downzoning. No statewide moratorium bill has advanced, and ongoing local votes plus litigation risks continue to shape fragmented regulatory responses rather than uniform statewide action.