Michigan Zoning MAP

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Zoning laws dictate what can be built. 

Across the state of Michigan, they have a tremendous impact on our economy, environment, and society. But often, they are opaque and hard to interpret. That’s why we are collaborating with local, state, and national stakeholders to create the Michigan Zoning MAP: a user-friendly map to visualize how housing is permitted by zoning ordinances across the state.

Rising housing costs and a mismatch between Michigan’s housing stock and its households have sparked local, regional, and statewide interest in zoning reform. Many communities are realizing a data-driven need for diverse forms of housing, located near jobs and amenities. 

But in many cases, policymakers must fly blind. There is no consistent, high-quality data that describes how zoning is working on the ground–especially across communities. 

  • Planners, municipal professionals, and elected and appointed land use officials are not prepared to identify where reforms are needed. 
  • State policymakers lack the granular detail to implement visions like the Michigan Statewide Housing Plan. 
  • The business community, including homebuilders and land developers eager to build a wider variety of housing types are stymied by codes that prohibit innovative solutions to contemporary challenges.

Join the Michigan Zoning MAP

MAP is partnering with counties and regions that are ready to better understand where and how housing can legally be built. 

To create the Michigan Zoning MAP, we

  • Collect each zoning code in a county or region and analyze it against over 100 data points to determine what housing can be built and how in every zoning district. We capture constraints such as permitting processes, setbacks, parking requirements, and infrastructure connectivity. 
  • We also collect or create GIS-based spatial data for each jurisdiction in the county or region. 
  • The geographical data is combined with the zoning code data and displayed in the housing-focused interactive map. 

For each of our county and regional partners, we investigate and compile the area-wide findings into a shareable format. These reports focus on newly-created data such as the percentage of land area that permits only single-family housing developments; the percentage of land area that permits flexible housing formats; and land consumption driven by parking requirements in residential zones.

How much does it cost? 

Excellent question. Costs are subject to some variables, and so proposals are developed on a per-project basis. Factors that most significantly affect the final budget estimate include the population and the number of jurisdictions in the county or region, and whether up-to-date, consolidated, accessible spatial data already exists. 

We are happy to answer your questions, think through your plans, and help you connect with partners and resources. Contact Leah DuMouchel at ldumouchel@planningmi.org or call our office at 734-913-2000.

Learn more

Michigan’s Housing Shortage

Michigan’s Statewide Housing Plan - A 2022 plan led by the Michigan State Housing and Development Authority is the state’s first collaborative statewide housing plan.

Grand Rapids, Kent County, and Ottawa County Housing Needs Assessments - 2020 and 2021 reports document housing needs in the Grand Rapids area, the Atlas pilot location. 

Northwest Michigan Housing Needs Assessment - 2023 report documents the housing need in the fast-growing 10-county region 

Zoning Reform in Michigan

Zoning Reform Toolkit: 15 Tools to Expand Housing Choice and Supply - MAP publication details a comprehensive suite of tools that local governments can put into action today to support a more diverse and affordable housing stock

Zoning Reform Stories and Studies: A Companion Guide  - A statewide deep dive into how real local governments have tackled the housing shortage in their communities

MAP Zoning Reform Resources - Webpage includes news, on-demand training, national and statewide partnerships, and more.