Avon Freezes New Data Centers for a Year Amid Developer Interest

Avon City Council passed Ordinance 37-26 as an emergency measure, halting all new data center development in the city for one year — through April 14, 2027.

The ordinance blocks zoning permits, building permits, certificates of occupancy, and any general or final development plan applications that would enable a data center project within city limits. The moratorium covers all permitted, special, and accessory uses across every zoning district.

Council's stated rationale: interest in constructing data centers in Ohio municipalities has increased sharply in recent years, and Avon's administration, Planning Commission, and Council have collectively expressed concerns about the water, power, and land-use implications. The moratorium buys time to review state codes and draft comprehensive local regulations before any project can move forward.

The measure was declared an emergency, taking effect the day Mayor Jensen signed it. Council retains the ability to extend the pause for up to an additional year if the regulatory review takes longer than expected.

Avon joins a small but growing list of Northeast Ohio communities weighing how to handle data-center proposals that can consume tens of megawatts of electricity and millions of gallons of water per day — demands that can strain regional utility and infrastructure capacity.