Amherst OH proposed data center moratorium (A-26-38, 2026)
Amherst, OH — Proposed Temporary Moratorium on Data Center Construction (Ord. A-26-38) Amended to Run Through End of 2027 (September 2026)
Amherst, OH · City of Amherst, Ohio, Ordinance A-26-38 (proposed), temporary data center construction moratorium (first reading Sept. 28, 2026)
- Status
- Proposed / pending
- Applies to
- Data center developers in the City of Amherst (size threshold not confirmed)
- Enforced by
- City of Amherst
Amherst City Council is considering an ordinance that would temporarily stop construction of data centers in the city while it reviews its zoning rules. The proposal followed opposition to a data center proposal that came before the city in late July 2026. The ordinance was on first reading on September 28, 2026; it was introduced to run until June 30, 2027 with an automatic six-month extension, and the council amended it that night to run through the end of 2027. It has not been finally adopted.
Who is protected: Amherst residents
Legal detail
City of Amherst (Lorain County, OH) ordinance A-26-38, 'An Ordinance to establish a temporary moratorium on the construction of Data Centers within the City of Amherst until June 30, 2027, with an automatic six month extension' — listed under ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS FIRST READING on the Sept. 28, 2026 regular council agenda (official). The Building and Lands Committee met Sept. 21, 2026 (minutes on the Sept. 28 consent agenda); The Chronicle-Telegram (Sept. 22) reported the committee advanced the proposal to council and described it as covering 'larger data centers'. The Chronicle-Telegram (Sept. 29) reported council amended the legislation Monday night (Sept. 28) to extend it through the end of 2027. Related: Amherst OH Nordson campus data center variance denial (2026). NOT ESTABLISHED (paywalled, could not be opened): the size threshold (draft's '2.5 MW'), vote count on the amendment, whether the automatic extension was removed, sponsor, number of readings/waiting period required, date of next reading.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Amherst, OH |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Citation | City of Amherst, Ohio, Ordinance A-26-38 (proposed), temporary data center construction moratorium (first reading Sept. 28, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Not stated in the located source |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| Agency page | City of Amherst, Ohio — City Council Regular Meeting Agenda, September 28, 2026 |
More AI rules in Amherst, OH
Related data-center siting and energy rules elsewhere
- Superior WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Dane County WI Hyperscale Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- Madison WI Data Center Moratorium (1-year) · In effect
- Manitowoc County WI Data Center Moratorium · In effect
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Dayton OH data center moratorium (180-day, Apr 2026) · In effect
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