Planning

Zone Districts

Grand Rapids is split into zone districts. The Zoning Ordinance is the set of laws for these zones. For a brief overview of what zoning is and how it works in the City, please watch our Zoning 101 and Zoning 102 videos below.

Zoning 101

Zoning 102

Zoning Ordinance

Learn more about the Zoning Ordinance below.

Zoning Ordinance

Zoning Map

Want to look up zoning or other aspects of a property? An online public mapping system is available for looking up the zoning or other aspects of a particular property.

Planning Map 

PDF Versions

• Zoning Overview Map(PDF, 1MB)
• Zoning Detailed Map Set(PDF, 28MB)

Individual Zone District Maps

• CC (City Center)(PDF, 3MB)
• C (Commercial)(PDF, 3MB)
• LDR (Low Density Residential)(PDF, 3MB)
• MDR (Mixed Density Residential)(PDF, 3MB)
• SD-IC (Special Districts - Institutional Campus)(PDF, 3MB)
• SD-NOS (Special Districts - Neighborhood Office Service)(PDF, 3MB)
• SD-OS (Special Districts - Open Space)(PDF, 3MB)
• SD-PRD (Special Districts - Planned Redevelopment District)(PDF, 3MB)
• SD-IT (Special Districts - Industrial Transportation)(PDF, 3MB)
• TBA (Traditional Business Area)(PDF, 3MB)
• TCC (Transitional City Center)(PDF, 3MB)
• TOD (Transit Oriented Development)(PDF, 3MB)

Overlay District Maps

• OD-DH (Downtown Height) Overlay
• OD-GR (Grand River) Overlay
• OD-WS (Wayfinding Sign) Overlay

OD-EBL (East Beltline) Overlay

• North
• South

Historic District Maps

• All Districts and Landmarks(PDF, 40MB)
• Online Map of Districts

2002 Master Plan Maps

• Bike Trails(PDF, 541KB)
• Business Associations(PDF, 810KB)
• Environmentally Sensitive Areas(PDF, 595KB)
• Existing Land Use(PDF, 3MB)
• Future Land Use(PDF, 469KB)
• Neighborhood Associations(PDF, 2MB)
• Open Space(PDF, 525KB)
• Opportunities for Change(PDF, 574KB)
• Regional Future Landuse(PDF, 957KB)
• Transportation Framework - Non-Motorized(PDF, 541KB)
• Transportation Framework - Streets(PDF, 155KB)
• Transportation Framework - Transit(PDF, 539KB)

Permit-ready Plans Program

This program is intended to provide new and emerging developers with permit-ready pre-reviewed housing plans for single-, two-, and multi-family housing. Visit the link below to read more about this program and to review housing plan options.

Permit-ready Plans Program

Development with Us

Development with Us (DwUs) is a program designed to facilitate meaningful engagement between residents, neighborhood associations, and developers.

Development with Us

Cannabis

Cannabis Information

One-Room Rentals (such as AirBnB)

The City code permits "shared room" or "private room"-type rentals, but not "entire apartment"-type. If you see those advertised, the City Clerk may not have licensed them.

Fact Sheet and More Information

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Zoning FAQs for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

City Housing Policy Amendments

In the spring of 2023, an update to the 2020 Housing Needs Assessment was presented by the City’s Housing Practice Leader, Ryan Kilpatrick of Housing Next. The update determined that by 2027, approximately 34,700 dwelling units are needed countywide, with 14,106 of the units in the City of Grand Rapids, to accommodate household growth and older home replacement. In response to the Assessment, the City Commission expressed a desire to evaluate the City’s housing policies and requested that the Planning Commission provide them with recommendations.

City Housing Policy Text Amendments Information

Planning Staff

• Apply for an Administrative Departure
• Request Pre-License Approval
• Verify Property Use
• Director Site Plan Review

• Accessory Structure without Building Permit in English (Zoning FAQs for Accessory Structures)

• Accessory Structure without Building Permit in Spanish 

Supplemental Checklists

• LIHTC Projects(PDF, 524KB)
• Group Childcare Homes(PDF, 569KB)
• Restaurants with Alcohol Service(PDF, 530KB)
• Outdoor Seating with Alcohol Service(PDF, 530KB)

Planning Commission

• Apply for a Special Land Use (SLU)
• Apply for a Site Plan Review (SPR)
• Apply for a Planned Redevelopment District (PRD)
• Apply for a Planned Redevelopment District (PRD) Amendment
• Apply for a Zone Change
• Apply for a Planned Sign Program
• Apply for a Text Amendment
• Submit Additional Project Parcels to the Planning Commission
• Apply for Optional Plan Review (OPR)

Board of Zoning Appeals

• Apply for a Dimensional Variance
• Apply for a Use Variance
• Apply for a Sign Variance
• Apply for a Zoning Ordinance Interpretation
• Apply to Appeal a Planning Commission or Staff Decision
• Apply for a Change of a Nonconforming Use
• Apply for an Expansion of a Nonconforming Use

Historic Preservation Commission

• Apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness for an Existing Structure
• Apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness for New Construction
• Apply for a Historic Demolition Approval

Sign Permit

• Apply for a Sign Permit

Administrative

• Apply for a Qualified Review Application

Questions

Not seeing what you're looking for? Give us a call or email us using the information in the Contact Us section of this page.

Planning Boards and Commissions

We staff three appointed boards and commissions. Click the links below to learn more about each, including public meeting information.

• Board of Zoning Appeals
• City Planning Commission
• Historic Preservation Commission

Where We're Going

Working closely with the community, we plan for Grand Rapids' future. The City's Community Master Plan spans 20 years, but we reassess and update it regularly focusing on specific topics such as:

• Green infrastructure
• Parks
• Special considerations for elderly adults
• Downtown
• The Grand River
• Specific corridors or neighborhoods through Area Specific Plans

Check these out below.

Community Master Plan

Better Neighborhood Engagement & Development Information

We've modified our public notice postcards and put information and all application attachments online for the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Historic Preservation Commission. We're also working with groups such as the Urban Core Collective (UCC) and several neighborhood associations to improve our engagement practices. One particular focus area is the "Development With Us" model, which we are creating to help better get out the word about proposed development projects. We're also bringing forward several Zoning Ordinance amendments to help provide guidance for better neighborhood meetings and Good Neighbor Plans. 

Bicycle Safety Education Campaign

Grand Rapids has one of the highest rates of crashes involving bikes in Michigan. The fatal bike crash rate here is nearly three times the state average. We partnered with the Michigan Department of Transportation to fund a $600,000 campaign, Driving Change, to address bike safety on the roads. 

Driving Change

Sustainability

Our Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance promote sustainable development practices. 

• Green Grand Rapids Master Plan Update (2010)(PDF, 23MB)
• Office of Sustainability

Vital Streets

We're improving our transportation network. This includes how streets should be used and designed, and made accessible for all users. See our progress, where we're making improvements and how the program works below.

Vital Streets

The Vital Streets initiative intends to build on the Street Classification Policy

Age Friendly Grand Rapids

We're part of a global initiative to make Grand Rapids happier and healthier for people of all ages.

Age Friendly Grand Rapids

GR Forward

GR Forward is a community plan and investment strategy. We're envisioning the City's future with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) and Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS). 

GR Forward