MAP at the Forefront of Zoning Reform in Michigan

Housing Bills | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

March 17, 2026

Since the nine-bill package of zoning reforms for housing was introduced in the Michigan legislature, MAP has received questions and feedback from members and stakeholder organizations. We appreciate MAP members and partners, who come from a diverse range of backgrounds, practices, and community types, for sharing their thoughts. MAP is grateful to the state legislators who are taking the housing crisis seriously; we know that tackling housing issues is complex.

You can find the House Bills here: 5529, 5530, 5531, 5532, 5581, 5582, 5583, 5584, and 5585

We have prepared these FAQs to address some of the most common questions we’ve received.

What is MAP’s position on the housing bill package, and why?

MAP does not fully support the bills as introduced. While MAP generally supports the concepts embedded in the housing bill package, we have suggested modifications to the bill sponsors to better align them with MAP’s policies. Our recommendations include technical changes and a request that the legislature continue to consult a broad group of stakeholders on this legislation. Conditional support allows us to continue productive discussions with legislators, the Governor’s Office, and other stakeholder organizations, whereas opposing the package would almost certainly sideline planners in these discussions.

The bills incorporate some of the most straightforward elements of zoning reform and allow for modest density increases for housing. With the changes MAP envisions to these proposed bills, local governments will retain wide latitude to plan, implement zoning, control their communities’ character, and decide for themselves where medium- and large-scale housing and other developments can and should be located. See our letter to Representative Grant outlining the changes we would like to see.

Further, these housing bills are part of a much bigger set of critically needed interventions. Zoning fixes alone won’t solve the housing supply challenges facing our state. While zoning can be a barrier to developing more housing, many other factors block expansion of housing supply, including the cost of land and construction materials, dearth of skilled trades workers, outdated financial tools, public opposition, and more. MAP supports state policy that helps municipalities to achieve necessary reforms to achieve housing supply and affordability.

We call for well-crafted, flexible state-wide legislation to expand housing supply in Michigan so that every resident can attain decent housing across the state. We will continue to advocate our proposed changes to sponsoring legislators, and we welcome input from members and other stakeholders about constructive changes to improve the bills and increase the possibility of developing more housing everywhere.

What was MAP’s role in drafting this 9-bill package?

While MAP did not write these bills, we have recommended modifications that would improve them. Our past efforts on legislative advocacy resulted in legislators seeking our feedback on the draft bills prior to introduction. Our feedback was provided to the legislators by MAP staff in coordination with MAP’s Law Committee which regularly reviews legislation to guide MAP positions. While some of our feedback was integrated, some key provisions were not. Our recommendations for changes included making them more flexible, offering a menu approach, including population thresholds, and ensuring that any new development be served by necessary and appropriate infrastructure.

MAP’s recommended changes fall into two major categories.

MAP advocated for greater flexibility for local governments to do their part to address Michigan’s housing challenge. This includes allowing local governments to be exempt from the bill package’s requirements if they can demonstrate that they are advancing housing construction and affordability through a menu of alternative options.
In keeping with MAP’s advocacy for good planning, we recommended that many of the bills apply only in urbanized communities where water and sewer infrastructure is available to support development. These provisions would encourage infill housing development in places where it can be most readily served with public streets, utilities, and other infrastructure and amenities. Some of this input is reflected in the bills, which generally require local governments to allow more housing development in places served by public water and sewer.

Does MAP support local decision making?

Yes, we do. We’ve spent the last 5 years adopting policy and developing resources like our Zoning Reform Toolkit and the supplementary Zoning Reform Stories & Studies and high-level training (two housing summits, and 11 housing webinars), to guide planners and local leaders to make the local regulatory changes that will increase housing supply. But given the scale of the housing shortage, which impacts every community in Michigan, we believe there is a place for well-crafted, fair, and flexible state legislation. We also believe that local governments should be involved in designing these legislative solutions. The burden of the local reforms is falling on fewer municipalities than is necessary to collectively address the shortages.

How does this bill package align with MAP’s housing goals?

MAP seeks to increase the supply of housing that is affordable to low and middle-income households, and that is safe and connected to amenities and opportunities. We refer to such housing as “middle housing.” We stand for legislation that makes it easier to build, does not create negative environmental impacts or exacerbate stormwater issues, does not burden local infrastructure, and does not create sprawl.

The following APA and MAP policies guide our work:

MAP’s 2024 Housing Platform, include calls for housing needs planning, allowing accessory dwelling units throughout our most populous cities and regions, and requiring local governments to allow medium-density housing and mixed-use development.
APA’s 2019 Housing Policy Guide supports modernizing both state planning laws and local zoning ordinances to expand housing opportunities and remove regulatory barriers to housing.
APA’s Equity in Zoning Policy Guide, adopted in 2022, calls for allowing most housing development by right, without notices and public hearings.

There is no single solution.

We generally support any and all efforts to increase housing construction and improve affordability in Michigan. We support increased funding, like the MI Home Program proposes. We support efforts to ease the effects of the Headlee Amendment and Proposal A on our state’s local governments and housing market. And we support state and local policy reforms. It is MAP’s position that an all-of-the-above approach is needed to address Michigan’s housing challenges.

MAP is, among other things, an advocacy organization. We want to work with other stakeholders who have an interest in housing and housing affordability to refine the proposed legislation and provide local governments with greater flexibility. And we want planners at the table for important conversations about legislation that affects our profession and our communities.

Only by continuing to engage with the bill sponsors will we have this opportunity.

We call for well-crafted, flexible state-wide legislation to expand housing supply in Michigan so that every resident can attain decent housing across the state.

It Takes a Planner to Increase Housing Abundance

Planners are finding innovative ways to make housing more affordable, accessible, and available to Michigan residents through locally led housing reform.

Using expert insights, industry best practices, and data-backed policy ideas, planners are identifying and advancing actionable solutions to help elected leaders address the state’s housing shortage.

MAP recently joined state leaders in a conversation about zoning reform and housing in the state of Michigan. Watch the full event here.

Planners are the technical experts on housing reform

MAP has developed new training and tools, with support from the State of Michigan and other partners, to help Michigan municipalities increase housing choice and supply through local planning.

Contact MAP staff to learn about what we’re doing to support policymakers and planners working to close Michigan’s housing gap. See below for more resources: