Columbus, OH City Council — Proposed Data Center Regulations: Water Use, Sewer Connections, and Decommissioning (July 2026)
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).
Technical detail
Three proposed ordinances under consideration as of July 2026: (1) water usage requirements — mandatory disclosure and limits on cooling water consumption by new and expanding data centers; (2) sewer connection standards — requirements for data center connections to the city sewer system, likely including impact assessments for high-volume cooling systems; (3) decommissioning plan requirement — data centers must submit and bond for a decommissioning plan before receiving city permits, ensuring site remediation obligations. Preceded by: July 10, 2026 oversight measure (passed) giving city increased review authority over data center proposals. Council public hearings July 21-23 with strong resident turnout demanding moratorium; Councilmember Wyche confirmed July 23 that ordinance approach (not moratorium) is Council's intent. Council returns from summer recess August 24, 2026; vote on ordinances expected in late August or September. Context: Columbus is the seat of Franklin County, which (with Grove City 6-1 moratorium — grove-city-oh-dc-moratorium-2026 and Jackson Township unanimous moratorium — jackson-township-oh-dc-moratorium-2026) has seen a wave of municipal data center regulation in 2026.
Who is protected: Columbus residents from unchecked data center water consumption, sewer overload, and abandoned decommissioned facilities
Who must comply: Data center developers and operators seeking city permits, sewer connections, or zoning approvals in Columbus, OH
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Columbus, OH |
|---|---|
| Level | City / local |
| Status | Proposed / pending |
| Protection strength | Proposed or pending |
| Citation | 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 |
| Enforced by | Columbus City Council; Columbus Division of Water; Columbus Department of Development (if enacted) |
| Private right of action | No — agency enforcement only |
| Topics | data-center siting and energy |
| Last verified | 2026-08-10 |
| Official source | Columbus City Council to pursue data center regulations instead of ban, despite community demands — WOSU Public Media (July 23, 2026) ↗ |
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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