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AI Laws in Ohio
As of 2026-08-12, AI Laws USA tracks 24 AI rules in Ohio: 6 state-level rules and 18 county or city rules. Federal AI protections apply statewide on top of these — see the federal page. Each entry links to its official source.
Ohio state-level AI rules (6)
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In effect
AI Model Policy for Ohio Districts and Schools
Ohio Department of Education and Workforce · Effective 2026-01-06 · AI Model Policy for Ohio Districts and Schools
Ohio's education department released a state model AI policy that all public, community, and STEM schools must adopt (or customize) a formal AI policy from by July 1, 2026, covering student/staff use, privacy, ethics, and vendor evaluation.
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In effect
Ohio AI Fabricated Sexual Images Law
Ohio · Effective 2025-09-30 · ORC § 2917.211 (amended by 2025 Ohio HB 96); ORC § 2307.66
Ohio amended its nonconsensual-image law in September 2025 to expressly cover AI-generated and digitally fabricated sexual images — prohibiting both distributing AND creating them without the depicted person's consent. First offenses are fourth-degree felonies, escalating for repeat offenders. Victims may sue for compensatory and punitive damages plus attorney's fees.
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In effect
AEP Ohio Data Center Tariff Order (Case 24-0508-EL-ATA)
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (AEP Ohio) · Effective 2025-07-09 · AEP Ohio Data Center Tariff Order (Case 24-0508-EL-ATA)
The Ohio PUC adopted a settlement creating a new data center customer class for loads of 25 MW or greater, requiring those customers to pay for at least 85% of contracted capacity for a minimum 12-year term plus exit fees and financial assurances to prevent cost-shifting to other customers.
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In effect
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in State of Ohio Solutio
Ohio · Effective 2023-12-04 · Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in State of Ohio Solutions (Policy IT-17)
Ohio's Department of Administrative Services adopted Policy IT-17 requiring state AI use to be fair, accountable, transparent, and human-centric, mandating piloting, human verification for consequential decisions, and limiting generative-AI inputs to public-record data.
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In effect
OH HB 7 (2022 AV)
Ohio · Effective 2022-09-13 · Ohio Rev. Code §§ 4501.01, 4511.01, 4511.991
Ohio's 2022 statute codified what had been executive-order policy under DriveOhio: fully driverless AV operation is allowed, the registered owner is the legal operator for traffic enforcement, AV networks must carry $5 million in insurance, and the state must maintain an AV testing program (the Smart Mobility / TRC framework).
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In effect
OH PDD law (SB 156)
Ohio · Effective 2019-04-04 · Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.513
Ohio authorized sidewalk delivery robots up to 200 lb (one of the highest weight caps in the country) and up to 10 mph, with $100,000 in liability insurance. Local governments retain authority to set additional operating rules.
County and city AI rules in Ohio (18)
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In effect
Cleveland OH 3-month data center moratorium (eff. July 15, 2026)
Cleveland, OH · Effective 2026-07-15 · Cleveland, OH City Council 14-1 vote, July 15, 2026, 3-month standalone data center moratorium (extendable 3 months)
Cleveland, Ohio paused new standalone data center projects for three months on July 15, 2026, by a 14-1 city council vote. The pause can be extended for three additional months. It applies to standalone data centers — facilities whose primary use is data processing — rather than server rooms inside other businesses.
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In effect
Blanchester OH schools AI policy EDEC (Jun. 29, 2026)
Blanchester, OH · Effective 2026-06-29 · Blanchester Local Schools (OH) Board of Education, policy EDEC adoption, June 29, 2026, under Ohio HB 96 mandate
The Blanchester Local Schools board in Clinton County, Ohio adopted a district artificial intelligence policy (policy EDEC) on June 29, 2026, meeting the July 1, 2026 deadline set by Ohio House Bill 96. HB 96 made Ohio the first state in the nation to require every school district to adopt an AI policy — the statewide mandate is the context that makes this small-district adoption notable. The policy governs AI use in the district under the state-mandated framework.
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In effect
Butler County OH 6-Month Data Center Moratorium
Butler County, OH · Effective 2026-06-16 · Six-month moratorium covering Hanover, Lemon, Madison, Milford, Oxford, and Ross townships only
The Butler County (OH) Board of Commissioners adopted a six-month moratorium on data centers in the six townships under its zoning control: Hanover, Lemon, Madison, Milford, Oxford, and Ross. The moratorium temporarily prohibits 'approval, establishment, or the granting or issuance of any permit for any data center' within those townships. Commissioner Don Dixon proposed the measure citing infrastructure and resource capacity concerns. The other seven Butler County townships, six cities, and four villages set their own zoning and were not covered.
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In effect
Grove City OH 12-Month Moratorium on High-Density Computing Facilities
Grove City, OH · Effective 2026-06-02 · Grove City Council moratorium (June 2026) (2026-06-02)
6-1 vote pausing establishment, review, and approval of high-density computing facilities for 12 months with 6-month task-force check-in; triggered by Headwaters Site Development proposal.
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In effect
Jackson Township OH One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers
Jackson Township, OH · Effective 2026-05-12 · Trustees resolution May 12, 2026 (2026-05-12)
Blocks permits and zoning approvals for data centers on unincorporated township land while regulations are studied; follows Stream Data Centers proposal off Rensch Road.
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In effect
Boardman Township OH One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers
Boardman Township, OH · Effective 2026-04-28 · Trustees resolution Apr 28, 2026 (2026-04-28)
Unanimous trustee vote pausing data centers for one year to develop zoning addressing noise, energy and water-rate impacts.
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In effect
Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026)
Dayton, OH · Effective 2026-04-22 · Dayton City Commission moratorium resolution (April 22, 2026)
Dayton City Commission passed a 180-day moratorium on April 22, 2026, pausing acceptance and processing of applications for zoning, building permits, and other approvals for large data centers in the city. City staff were directed to develop permanent data-center zoning regulations; on June 22 commissioners held a public hearing on a proposed permanent ban on large data centers in all city zones, with a final vote scheduled June 24. The June 24 outcome was not confirmed in search results as of June 25.
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In effect
Washington Township OH data center moratorium (360-day, Apr 2026)
Washington Township, OH · Effective 2026-04-21 · Washington Township (Montgomery Co.) Board of Trustees resolution (April 21, 2026)
Washington Township (Montgomery County), in the Dayton metro area, enacted a 360-day moratorium on the issuance and processing of zoning permits and approvals for new data center uses on April 21, 2026. The trustees described the action as preemptive — no developer had yet applied — and intended to allow time to study impacts on utilities, noise, aesthetics, safety, and infrastructure, and decide whether to limit, prohibit, or regulate data centers with permanent zoning standards.
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In effect
Massillon OH Data Center Moratorium (60-day stay; extended through Aug 21, 2026)
Massillon, OH · Effective 2026-04-06 · Resolution Apr 6, 2026; extended June 15, 2026 (2026-04-06)
Council unanimously passed a 180-day moratorium on data center permits April 6, 2026; voted 8-0 on April 13 to scale it to a 60-day stay; allocated $15K for consultant review; extended another 60 days at the June 15 meeting (set to expire June 22, now extended through ~August 21, 2026).
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In effect
Vienna Township OH 180-Day Data Center Moratorium
Vienna Township, OH · Effective 2026-02-15 · Trustees resolution Feb 2026 (2026-02-15)
2-1 vote for 180-day pause while drafting zoning that caps decibel levels and megawatt draw rather than banning the use outright.
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In effect
Hubbard Township OH One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers
Hubbard Township, OH · Effective 2026-02-10 · Trustees resolution Feb 10, 2026 (2026-02-10)
2-1 trustee vote in response to 'Project Milo'; county planning commission asked to evaluate zoning text amendment.
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In effect
Licking County OH Data Center Water Service Conditions
Licking County, OH · Effective 2024-06-15 · Licking County Water & Wastewater agreements (2024) (2024-06-15)
Licking County entered binding water service agreements requiring data-center developers to fund infrastructure capacity expansion, disclose annual withdrawals, and accept curtailment provisions during drought emergencies.
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In effect
Yellow Springs Use of Surveillance Technology (Codified Ord. Ch. 607)
Yellow Springs, OH · Effective 2022-04-04 · Ord. 2022-09 (2022-04-04)
CCOPS ordinance requiring council approval, cost-benefit + civil-liberties findings before adoption of any surveillance technology.
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Enacted (not yet in effect)
Akron OH data center review process (2026)
Akron, OH · City of Akron, Ohio — City Council, unanimous vote, 2026-07-27
Akron City Council unanimously passed a new zoning process for data centers on July 27, 2026, after two public hearings the same day. Data centers are now a defined land use requiring conditional-use approval from both the Planning Commission and City Council, and developers must disclose the project's impact on the electric grid, water consumption, the sanitary sewer system, and noise. Mayor Shammas Malik's administration crafted the proposal in response to resident concerns.
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In effect
Cleveland OH Flock 6-month renewal w/ data-sharing restrictions (Jul. 15, 2026)
Cleveland, OH · Effective 2026-07-15 · Cleveland, OH City Council 9-6 vote, July 15, 2026, six-month Flock Safety renewal with no-data-sharing and no-fusion-center conditions
Cleveland City Council voted 9-6 on July 15, 2026 to keep the city's Flock Safety license plate reader cameras for another six months — but attached new restrictions the prior contract lacked. Under the renewal, Flock data may not be shared with other governments or third parties, and access by the regional fusion center is cut off. The short six-month term functions as a probationary period. This entry indexes a surveillance deployment renewal; the new data-sharing restrictions are the operative oversight conditions.
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In effect
Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Cleveland, OH · Effective 2025-09-09 · Cleveland Metropolitan School District — AI Acceptable Use Policy (2025-09-09)
Board-adopted AUP: vetted tool list, ban on uploading student records to generative models, AI literacy added to high-school graduation pathway, AI tool vendors must pass district privacy review.
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In effect
Community Control Over Police Surveillance (CCOPS) Ordinance
Yellow Springs, OH · Effective 2018-11-19 · Community Control Over Police Surveillance (CCOPS) Ordinance
Yellow Springs requires the police or municipal agencies to present new surveillance technology to Village Council for a public-hearing cost-benefit review and a use policy before adoption, with annual reporting.
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Proposed / pending
Columbus OH proposed data center regulations — water, sewer, decommissioning (vote expected Aug 24+)
Columbus, OH · Columbus OH City Council proposed data center ordinances (water use / sewer / decommissioning); public hearings July 21-23, 2026; full vote expected after August 24, 2026
Columbus City Council is advancing three proposed ordinances to regulate data centers in the city, focusing on water consumption, sewer infrastructure, and decommissioning obligations for closed facilities. The council held public hearings on July 21 and 23, 2026, drawing hundreds of residents — many demanding a moratorium — but Councilmember Christopher Wyche confirmed the city is not proposing a ban, only targeted regulations. The city passed a preliminary oversight measure on July 10. A full council vote on the three ordinances is expected after the council returns from summer recess on August 24, 2026. Columbus is projected to become the second-largest data center hub in the Great Lakes region, making it the first major Central Ohio jurisdiction to pursue citywide regulatory standards (distinct from surrounding municipalities that chose moratoriums).
Ohio city guides
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