Zoning Administration & Checklists
On this page:
- Restrictions on Zoning Authority
- Property Taking, Types and Analysis
- A Behavioral Approach To Avoid Regulatory Takings
- Check List #2: For Adoption of a Zoning Ordinance in Michigan
- Check List #4: For Adoption of a Zoning Ordinance Amendment (including some PUDs) in Michigan
- Check List #5: For Processing a Zoning Special Use Permit (including some PUDs) in Michigan
- Check List #6: For Processing a Zoning Appeal and Variance in Michigan
- How to Set Permit Fees
- Michigan Zoning Guidebook: for Citizens and Local Officials
- Approach to Update a Zoning Ordinance to Comply With Michigan Zoning Enabling Act of 2006
- Spot Zoning
Restrictions on Zoning Authority
This pamphlet is a summary of the limitations placed on zoning in Michigan. There are certain land uses which are exempt from zoning, others which might be subject to regulation but can not be prohibited. The list of restrictions on zoning changes as various court cases, state statues and federal law evolves. This pamphlet reviews limitation on zoning as it exists on the publication date. Please make sure your copy is not dated before March 9, 2021.
Restrictions on zoning authority.
Property Taking, Types and Analysis
This talks about the four types of property taking likely to be encountered in administration and enforcement of a zoning ordinance, and one example of the type of analysis a court may walk through when hearing a taking case.
Property Taking, Types and Analysis
A Behavioral Approach To Avoid Regulatory Takings
This outlines the types of behavior local zoning authorities engage in which are likely to get them in trouble for taking a persons property without just compensation. The pamphlet outlines three ways that happens and techniques to stay out of such trouble. This has been updated to reflect P.A. 110 of 2006, as amended.
A Behavioral Approach To Avoid Regulatory Takings
Check List #2: For Adoption of a Zoning Ordinance in Michigan
This series of pamphlets present a chronological step-by-step checklist to walk a county, village and city, or township through the process of adopting a zoning ordinance in Michigan. The checklist follows Michigan Zoning Enabling Act of 2006 statutory requirements, superceding the old acts as of July 1, 2006. The checklist also indicates what documentation should be kept on file.
For Adoption of a Zoning Ordinance in Michigan
Check List #4: For Adoption of a Zoning Ordinance Amendment (including some PUDs) in Michigan
This series of pamphlets present a chronological step-by-step checklist to walk a county, village and city, or township through the process of adopting of a zoning amendment in Michigan. The checklist follows Michigan Zoning Enabling Act of 2006 statutory requirements, superceding the old acts as of July 1, 2006.
For Adoption of a Zoning Ordinance Amendment (including some PUDs) in Michigan
Check List #5: For Processing a Zoning Special Use Permit (including some PUDs) in Michigan
This series of pamphlets present a chronological step-by-step checklist to walk a county, village and city, or township through the processing a special use permit (including some PUDs) in Michigan. The checklist follows Michigan Zoning Enabling Act of 2006 statutory requirements, superceding the old acts as of July 1, 2006.
For Processing a Zoning Special Use Permit (including some PUDs) in Michigan
Check List #6: For Processing a Zoning Appeal and Variance in Michigan
This series of pamphlets present a chronological step-by-step checklist to walk a county, village and city, or township through the processing a zoning appeal and variance in Michigan. The checklist follows Michigan Zoning Enabling Act of 2006 statutory requirements, superceding the old acts as of July 1, 2006.
For Processing a Zoning Appeal and Variance in Michigan
How to Set Permit Fees
This bulletin is a discussion of the philosophy of what should be paid by fees and what should be covered by general fund moneys. It also presents work sheets for a municipality to establish zoning, land division, and other permit fees.
How to take Minutes For Administrative Decisions
Taking minutes for the county board, city council or township board is one task. But the job of taking minutes for an administrative body (like a planning commission, zoning board, appeals board) is very different. This pamphlet explains the difference and why the difference exists. The bulletin also outlines the content of an administrative body's minutes and suggests techniques for taking minutes. Written by Kurt H. Schindler, MSU Extension Regional Land Use Educator, and Judge Charles Corwin. This has been updated to reflect P.A. 110 of 2006, as amended.
How to take Minutes For Administrative Decisions
Michigan Zoning Guidebook: for Citizens and Local Officials
The Michigan Zoning Guidebook (updated December 2017) is a general overview of zoning in Michigan covering basic zoning activities, the three zoning functions, roles and responsibilities of different boards and officials, procedural elements, special land uses, planned unit developments, site plans, amending and adopting zoning, enforcement, open space zoning, purchase of development rights, and more. It is written to reflect the requirements of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended through 2017.
Michigan Zoning Guidebook: for Citizens and Local Officials
Organization and Codification of a Zoning Ordinance
There is a logic to the way a zoning ordinance is organized. This bulletin presents one example of how to codify a zoning ordinance. The example presents a system that might be used for all zoning ordinances in a county. Doing so can be a public service to help those who work with several different zoning ordinances. With the standardization of ordinance organization, it is easier for a person using many ordinances to be able to find and compare particular sections. This has been updated to reflect P.A. 110 of 2006, as amended.
Organization and Codification of a Zoning Ordinance
Approach to Update a Zoning Ordinance to Comply With Michigan Zoning Enabling Act of 2006
This pamphlet present one approach for zoning amendments to comply with the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act of 2006. Local governments must follow the Acts procedures starting July 1, 2006. By July 1, 2007 the zoning ordinance must be amended to conform with the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act of 2006.
Approach to Update a Zoning Ordinance to Comply With Michigan Zoning Enabling Act of 2006
Spot Zoning
Spot Zoning is a Policy Brief prepared by the MSU Extension State and Local Government team. It provides a good primer on what is spot zoning, and how to deal with spot zoning issues.