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The Data Center Divide

Village of Waynesville

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

Mixed Data Center Policies

Waynesville village’s measure is listed as enacted, though its description says it would pause applications for large data centers for 180 days, possibly extendable once, with exceptions for smaller facilities and certain existing projects.

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

current law · Village of Waynesville
Imposes a temporary moratorium on applications for large-scale data-center development in the Village of Waynesville, covering their acceptance, processing, consideration, and approval and, under the ordinance text, lasting 180 days across all zoning districts.Ohio H 2026-020 (2026)

What this means

The measure would pause applications for large data centers throughout the Village for 180 days, with a possible additional 180-day extension, creating a substantial delay while rules are studied. It would not cover smaller facilities or certain existing projects, so it is a temporary barrier rather than a complete ban.

Timing

Ends
180 days from the effective date of the ordinance

The moratorium takes effect immediately upon passage and expires after 180 days, unless terminated earlier when permanent regulations are adopted. Council may extend it once for up to an additional 180 days if the study is incomplete, permanent regulations have not been adopted, or state legislative action remains pending. The Data Center Study Committee and other ordinance provisions remain unless separately amended or repealed.

People behind it

  • Law Director who proposed a moratorium on data centers and indicated he would draft the legislation.

  • Council member who moved to waive the first-reading rule and moved to adopt Ordinance 2026-020; appointed to the Data Center Study Committee.

  • Council member who seconded the motion to waive the first-reading rule and was appointed to the Data Center Study Committee.

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  • Council member who seconded the motion to adopt Ordinance 2026-020.

  • Council member appointed to the Data Center Study Committee.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements7

  • The ordinance imposes an immediate 180-day moratorium on accepting, processing, considering, or approving applications for large-scale data centers; applications submitted during the moratorium must be held in abeyance.

  • The moratorium applies throughout the Village’s corporate limits, regardless of the zoning district and regardless of whether the proposed data center would otherwise be permitted, conditional, or special use.

  • The moratorium covers a broad range of approvals, including zoning approvals, conditional or special uses, variances, site-plan reviews, subdivisions, lot splits, building permits, and other land-use or development entitlements needed for a large-scale data center.

  • A facility is treated as a large-scale data center if it has aggregate electrical demand or capacity of at least 25 megawatts, a combined building footprint of at least 100,000 square feet, or requires a dedicated electrical substation or transmission infrastructure.

  • Applications submitted before the effective date remain subject to the moratorium unless substantive review had already begun. Substantive review requires that the application had been deemed complete and scheduled for a public hearing before the effective date; incomplete applications, applications awaiting resubmission, and preliminary or pre-application discussions do not qualify for the exception.

  • The moratorium may be extended once for up to an additional 180 days if Council adopts legislation before the initial period expires and finds that the study is incomplete, permanent regulations have not been adopted, or relevant state action remains pending.

  • The moratorium does not cover data centers below the large-scale thresholds, accessory server or telecommunications rooms serving a principal use on the same premises, or expansions, alterations, or renovations that do not increase electrical demand by more than 10 percent and do not cause the facility to meet the large-scale thresholds.

Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions5

  • The moratorium does not apply to data centers that do not meet the ordinance’s large-scale thresholds: 25 megawatts or more of aggregate electrical demand or capacity, a combined building footprint of 100,000 square feet or more, or the need for a dedicated electrical substation or transmission infrastructure.

  • The moratorium does not apply to accessory server rooms, telecommunications equipment rooms, or similar facilities serving a principal use on the same premises.

  • Existing data centers may be expanded, altered, or renovated if the work increases electrical demand by no more than 10% and does not cause the facility to meet the large-scale thresholds.

  • Applications for large-scale data centers are exempt if substantive review began before the ordinance took effect. Substantive review requires that the application was complete and scheduled for a public hearing before the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, or another applicable body.

  • The moratorium lasts only 180 days unless Council adopts a qualifying extension of up to another 180 days. When the moratorium expires or is terminated, the Village must resume accepting and processing large-scale data-center applications under the regulations then in effect.

Sources

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