Findlay City Council approved an ordinance establishing a 12-month moratorium on the establishment, expansion, relocation, or certain changes in ownership and control of businesses utilizing type C skill-based amusement machines.
The city says the moratorium will give it time to review and consider zoning and regulatory controls.
You can read the full ordinance below.
ORDINANCE NO. 2026-011
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE
ESTABLISHMENT, EXPANSION, RELOCATION, OR CERTAIN CHANGES IN OWNERSHIP
OR CONTROL OF BUSINESSES UTILIZING TYPE C SKILL-BASED AMUSEMENT
MACHINES WITHIN THE CITY OF FINDLAY, OHIO, FOR A PERIOD OF TWELVE (12)
MONTHS, TO ALLOW TIME FOR THE REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF ZONING AND
REGULATORY CONTROLS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
WHEREAS, The City of Findlay, Ohio has the authority under Ohio law to regulate land use and
business activities within its jurisdiction in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare,
and;
WHEREAS, The Ohio Casino Control Commission and Ohio law recognize different categories
of skill-based amusement machines, including devices commonly understood as Type A (such
as claw or crane machines), Type B (such as ticket-redemption arcade games), and Type C
skill-based amusement machines, and;
WHEREAS, Type C skill-based amusement machines are typically characterized by video-
based gameplay that closely resembles casino-style slot machines, are often operated in
standalone or limited-purpose commercial establishments, and may award cash or cash-
equivalent prizes, with the degree of player skill involved being the subject of ongoing regulatory
and legal scrutiny in the State of Ohio, and;
WHEREAS, City Council finds that businesses utilizing Type C skill-based amusement
machines present land-use, secondary-impact, and enforcement considerations that are not
fully addressed under the City’s current zoning regulations, and;
WHEREAS, City Council further finds that the legal and regulatory status of Type C skill-based
amusement machines remains unsettled, and that additional time is necessary to evaluate
appropriate zoning classifications and reasonable local regulations that are consistent with state
law, and;
WHEREAS, City Council desires to act in a transparent, measured, and good-faith manner by
temporarily preserving the status quo while potential zoning and regulatory amendments are
studied and considered, and;
WHEREAS, This moratorium is not intended to regulate gambling, determine the legality of any
device, or restrict traditional amusement or arcade uses, but solely to address local land-use
and zoning considerations associated with businesses utilizing Type C skill-based amusement
machines.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Findlay, State of Ohio:
SECTION 1: A temporary moratorium is hereby established on the establishment, expansion,
or relocation of any business that utilizes Type C skill-based amusement machines, as generally
classified or described by the Ohio Casino Control Commission, within the corporate limits of
the City of Findlay.
SECTION 2: For purposes of this Ordinance, any change in ownership, control, or business
entity of a business utilizing Type C skill-based amusement machines that results in the creation
of a new or substantially different business operation, including but not limited to a sale of
assets, transfer of a controlling interest, or issuance of a new state or local license, shall be
deemed the establishment of a new business and shall be subject to the moratorium
established herein.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the continued operation of a lawfully
existing business under the same ownership and control as of the effective date of this
Ordinance. Routine internal corporate restructuring that does not result in a change of
controlling interest or operational control shall not be deemed the establishment of a new
business.
SECTION 3: This moratorium shall not apply to:
Type A skill-based amusement machines, including but not limited to claw or crane machines
awarding non-cash novelty prizes; or
Type B skill-based amusement machines, including arcade-style or ticket-redemption games
customarily operated at family entertainment centers or similar venues.
SECTION 4: The moratorium established by this Ordinance shall be in effect for a period of
twelve (12) months from the effective date of this Ordinance, unless sooner repealed or
extended by City Council.
SECTION 5: The purpose of this moratorium is to allow City Council, the Planning Commission,
and appropriate City departments sufficient time to study, review, and consider zoning and
regulatory amendments related to businesses utilizing Type C skill-based amusement machines
for possible inclusion in the City of Findlay Zoning Code and Codified Ordinances.
SECTION 6: This Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, and welfare of the City of Findlay,
and shall take effect immediately upon its passage and approval by the Mayor.