Massillon City Council Approves Moratorium on Data Centers

The 180-day pause gives officials time to consider zoning rules for the growing industry.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:37pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a sleek, modern data server rack made of polished aluminum and tempered glass, floating on a clean, monochromatic background and dramatically lit from the side to highlight the premium materials and precise engineering.As data centers rapidly expand across Ohio, Massillon takes a thoughtful pause to consider the zoning and infrastructure impacts of this growing industry.Massillon Today

Massillon City Council has unanimously approved a 180-day moratorium on the development of any data centers within the city limits. The move is intended to provide time for officials to potentially add new rules to the city's zoning code regarding data centers, which have been rapidly expanding across Ohio.

Why it matters

Data centers have been proliferating across Ohio, with over 100 existing facilities and 80 more planned, primarily in metropolitan areas. Massillon's moratorium allows the city to get ahead of this trend and thoughtfully consider the potential impacts of data centers on the community in terms of zoning, infrastructure, utilities, and the environment.

The details

The moratorium resolution states that Massillon "shall not issue any zoning permits, building permits or other permits to any person or entity seeking to open a data center" during the 180-day period. The city has also hired a local attorney, Terry Seeberger, to review zoning recommendations for data centers. Nearby townships, such as Plain and Perry, have also enacted their own temporary moratoriums to study the impacts of data centers.

  • On April 6, 2026, Massillon City Council unanimously approved the 180-day moratorium.
  • In March 2026, Plain Township trustees approved a 12-month moratorium on data center construction.
  • On March 24, 2026, Perry Township trustees approved a property tax abatement for a planned data center, despite objections from residents.

The players

Massillon City Council

The governing body of the city of Massillon, Ohio, which unanimously approved the 180-day moratorium on data center development.

Terry Seeberger

A local attorney hired by Massillon to review zoning recommendations for data centers.

Plain Township Trustees

The governing body of Plain Township, Ohio, which approved a 12-month moratorium on data center construction to assess the impacts.

Perry Township Trustees

The governing body of Perry Township, Ohio, which approved a property tax abatement for a planned data center, despite objections from residents.

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What they’re saying

“I think we want to have some thoughtful control over this process.”

— Mike Gregg, Councilman

What’s next

The Massillon City Council is likely to introduce an ordinance next week to set aside up to $15,000 from the city's professional services fund to pay Terry Seeberger for his review of zoning recommendations for data centers.

The takeaway

Massillon's moratorium on data centers reflects a growing trend across Ohio, as local governments seek to get ahead of the rapid expansion of this industry and carefully consider its potential impacts on their communities. The move allows Massillon to thoughtfully update its zoning rules and prepare for the future, rather than reacting to data center development in a piecemeal fashion.