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The Data Center Divide

City of Sunbury

This restriction takes precedence while in effect. The rating below excludes temporary restrictions.

Mixed Data Center Policies

Sunbury has an enacted measure, though its description says “if enacted,” that pauses approvals and construction of new data centers through January 31, 2027; repairs and replacements at existing centers are exempt.

Rating from Ohio statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for City of Sunbury.

current law · City of Sunbury
Imposes a temporary moratorium through January 31, 2027 on data-center development and approvals; City Council approved it 6–0 on April 15, 2026.City of Sunbury Resolution No. 2026.12 (2026)

What this means

If enacted, this measure would block approvals and construction of new data centers through January 31, 2027, including facilities larger than 5,000 square feet (moratorium through January 31, 2027). It exempts repairs and replacements at existing centers, but the pause would make new development substantially harder during its term.

Timing

Ends
Jan 31, 2027

The moratorium expires on 2027-01-31. City Council may extend it by majority vote if additional study time is needed, and may lift it earlier. All other provisions remain.

People behind it

  • Moved to amend and suspend the rules and moved adoption of Resolution No. 2026.12.

  • Seconded the motion to adopt Resolution No. 2026.12.

  • Seconded the motion to amend and suspend the rules for Resolution No. 2026.12.

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  • Adopted the resolution imposing the temporary data-center moratorium.

  • As City Manager, was directed to begin the study and recommend regulatory action concerning data centers.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements7

  • A temporary moratorium, effective through January 31, 2027, prohibits establishing, developing, constructing, converting structures into, or beginning construction of covered data centers in Sunbury.

  • During the moratorium, the City may not consider, approve, or authorize licenses, permits, permitted or special uses, accessory uses, variances, development plans, zoning certificates, occupancy permits, building permits, or rezonings to the Limited Industrial District (L-I) that would enable a covered data center.

  • The moratorium also covers associated infrastructure and accessory facilities on a data-center site, including utilities, external mechanical equipment, water towers, security facilities, and structures housing servers, data-storage drives, or network equipment.

  • The measure defines covered data centers to include AI, enterprise, managed-services, colocation, cloud, and edge data centers, as well as facilities storing computing machines and related hardware that exceed 5,000 square feet.

  • The moratorium suspends and tolls applicable legal deadlines for City action on covered data-center applications, and an application cannot be deemed approved because the City does not act during the moratorium.

  • The moratorium does not apply to repairing or replacing existing data centers or to data centers contained in existing Sunbury businesses.

  • The moratorium may be extended by a majority vote of Council if additional study time is needed, and Council may also lift it before January 31, 2027.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions2

  • The moratorium applies to data centers exceeding 5,000 square feet, so facilities at or below that size are not covered by this measure and may proceed under otherwise applicable requirements.

  • The moratorium does not apply to the repair or replacement of existing data centers, including data centers located within existing businesses, allowing those facilities to continue operating and be maintained.

Sources

pending · City of Sunbury
Directs the city clerk to certify a citizen-led charter amendment for placement on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot, after City Council approved the ordinance unanimously on July 15, 2026.Sunbury Ordinance 2026.24 (2026)

What this means

If voters approve it, the amendment would prohibit construction of data centers with power demand above 25 megawatts, an outright ban for those large facilities. It applies to construction, not expressly to operating existing centers or building smaller ones (proposed charter language).

People behind it

  • Local group that spearheaded the citizen initiative and collected signatures for the proposed charter amendment.

  • Approved the ordinance directing certification of the proposed charter amendment for placement on the November 2026 ballot.

  • Directed by the ordinance to certify the proposed charter amendment to the Delaware County Board of Elections.

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  • Certified the petition signatures and handled certification of the measure for ballot placement.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements3

  • The proposed Charter amendment would prohibit construction of any data center with aggregate monthly demand or peak load greater than 25 megawatts, measured across one or more facilities on a single parcel or contiguous, adjacent, or otherwise aggregated parcels. The ban would apply to construction activities broadly defined, including building, infrastructure, facility, and related site preparation or modification.

  • The proposed Charter amendment must be approved by Sunbury voters at the November 3, 2026, general election before it can be added to the City Charter.

  • Sunbury adopted a temporary moratorium on establishing new data centers through January 31, 2027, halting rezoning and other data-center development activity while the city reviews its regulations.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions1

  • The prohibition applies only to data centers with an aggregate monthly demand or peak load greater than 25 megawatts; facilities at or below 25 megawatts are not covered by the measure.

Sources

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