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1. When does the Board of Zoning Appeals meet?

The Board of Zoning Appeals meets on the second Thursday of every month, unless otherwise notified, at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the 10th Floor of City Hall.

Questions regarding the BZA should be directed to the Zoning Information Desk by calling 517-483-4069 on Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - noon.

2. What is a Comprehensive Plan?

A Comprehensive Plan provides general direction on the City's future development patter. The Plan also provides policies and actions for community leaders to consider in the future. Some of the Comprehensive Plan recommendations will be implemented through amendments to the Zoning Ordinance text and map. However, the Comprehensive plan itself does not change the Zoning Ordinances or the zoning of any property.

3. What is zoning?

Zoning primarily controls how property may be used and where structures may be placed on the property. Different regulations may be established to carry out specific purposes stated for each zoning district, although within each zone land uses are treated similarly. This includes land uses, density, building height and size, lot sizes, yards and open spaces, setbacks, signs and accessory uses. In addition, various standards are established for off-street parking and provisions related to different development techniques. Within each zoning district, a category of uses is defined which require a special land use permit in order to locate in that district. The laws are designed to allow owners reasonable use of their land while protecting the rights of the neighborhood and the community.

The Zoning Code and Maps should be reviewed prior to constructing, altering or locating land use within the City. The Zoning maps are official City documents that reflect the location of the various residential, commercial and industrial zoning districts with the City. Both the Zoning Code text and Maps can be inspected in the Planning Office. A copy of the Zoning code or Zoning Map may be purchased at the Planning Office, or you may view the Zoning Code Online.

4. How can a property owner seek to amend the requirements of the Zoning Code?

1. Obtain an application from the Planning Office. Assistance is available to fill out the applications.

2. File the application with the Planning Office, which will then verify the information and forward the application to the City Clerk.

3. The application of petition will be referred to the Planning Board, which meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers, 10th Floor of City Hall, 124 E Michigan Avenue (unless otherwise notified).

4. Upon receipt of the petition, Planning Office staff will prepare a public hearing notice for the newspaper (printed 15 days in advance of the public hearing), prepare letters or postcards to all taxpayers and occupants within 300 feet of the subject property (mailed 15 days before the public hearing), and gather initial data concerning the subject property and surrounding area (i.e., present land use and zoning).

5. At the public hearing, staff will make a short presentation. The petitioner will be called to speak. Other persons in favor or opposed are then allowed to speak regarding the proposed rezoning.

Public comment may also be expressed in a letter or telephone call to the Planning Office. Public input is considered and evaluated at each hearing prior to recommendation by the Planning Board.

6. After the public hearing, the petition is referred to the Zoning and Ordinance Subcommittee of the Planning Board. This Committee meets generally on the 2nd Wednesday following the hearing of each month at 4 p.m. in the Department of Planning and Neighborhood Development Conference Room, 316 N Capitol Avenue, Lansing. This meeting is also open to the public. The Subcommittee's responsibility is to make a recommendation back to the full Planning Board.

7. The petition is placed on the Planning Board agenda for action once the Zoning and Ordinance Subcommittee has made a recommendation. The Planning Board may recommend approval, modification or denial of the petition.

8. Upon Planning Board action, a letter is sent to the Mayor and Council (with a copy to petitioner) transmitting the Planning Board's recommendation.

9. Council receives the recommendation and sets a public hearing (approximately 3 weeks hence) before Council. A public notice is prepared and placed in the newspaper 15 days prior to the public hearing.

10. After that public hearing, the petition is referred to the Development and Planning Subcommittee of City Council. The Subcommittee's responsibility is to review the Planning Board action and make a recommendation to the entire City Council.

11. City Council then makes the final decision, which may be to approve, modify or deny the petition.

12. The applicant is notified of Council's action, and the Planning Office is directed to make the appropriate change to the official Zoning Map.

5. How can I oppose a proposed change to the Zoning Code?

The property owners of at least 20 percent of the area of land within an area extending outward 100 feet from any point on the boundary of the land included in the proposed change (excluding publicly owned land) may submit a properly signed protest petition to the City Clerk.

If the legal protest is determined to be valid, then the amendment to the Zoning Ordinance may be passed only by a 2/3 vote of the City Council.

In the absence of a legal protest challenge, only a simple majority of the total membership of City Council is necessary for an amendment.

6. How do I obtain a Special Land Use Permit?

Special Land Use Permits follow the same procedures as rezoning requests and take approximately 60 to 90 days to process. The final action taken may be to approve, approve with conditions or deny the application.

7. Can a requirement of the Zoning Code be waived (variance)?

The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) will hear and decide requests for variances to the dimensional requirements of the Zoning Code. The BZA is only authorized to grant dimensional variances. To obtain such a variance it is necessary to establish that there is a hardship or practical difficulty in meeting Code requirements and still be able to use the land in a reasonable way. Once a practical difficulty or hardship has been established, the BZA evaluates each appeal request according to the enumerated standards to determine its relationship to the subject property and compatibility with the surrounding area. The process takes 30 to 45 days.

8. What is the procedure for obtaining a variance?

To view this process, visit our Procedure for Obtaining a Variance Page.

9. What does the Board of Zoning Appeals do?

To learn about the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Zoning Appeals, visit our Board of Zoning Appeals Duties Page.

10. Can a decision of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) be appealed?

The decisions of the BZA are final. However, a decision of the BZA may be appealed to Circuit Court within 21 days of the denial.