News

No state oversight of planning, zoning; limited central database of zoning ordinances

Published on April 4, 2023
While there is no state oversight of planning and zoning, there is a statewide database of zoning ordinances in Michigan.
Administrative decisions require careful application to ordinance standards: Part 1

Published on March 21, 2023
Base decisions only on explicit standards in the ordinance to avoid a challenge of being unreasonable, arbitrary or capricious.
Administrative decisions require careful application to ordinance standards: Part 2

Published on March 21, 2023
Base decisions only on explicit standards in the ordinance to avoid a challenge of being unreasonable, arbitrary or capricious.
Critical training for Zoning Board of Appeals members

Published on March 17, 2023
Acting properly, a community's Zoning Board of Appeals protects the interests of all parties and upholds due process, but when poorly trained, the board can be a serious legal risk to the community.
The importance of your Zoning Board of Appeals

Published on March 17, 2023
Maintaining a properly organized and functioning Zoning Board of Appeals is critical to ensure the integrity of the board’s decisions and to avoid potentially serious and costly legal issues.
How to remove restrictive covenants from a deed in Michigan

Published on January 13, 2023
The 2022 Discharge of Prohibited Restrictive Covenants Act allows for the discharge of racist and other discriminatory language from recorded deeds.
Local government has an important role for water quality protection: Part 2

Published on December 21, 2022
State and federal regulations help protect water resources but does not do the whole job. Local government has an important role also – key to retaining important habitat on lake’s and river’s edge.
Local government has an important role for water quality protection: Part 3

Published on December 21, 2022
Local governments have a very important role to play in the protection of surface water, ground water, drinking water and wetlands; often filling the gaps in state and federal regulations.
Getting enclosure right: Creating a comfortable public room

Published on December 2, 2022
Creating public spaces that pedestrians want to occupy and feel comfortable in.
MSU Extension’s Zoning Administrator Certificate Program returns to in-person format for 2023

Published on November 3, 2022
Participants in the ZAC Program will receive a wealth of training, resources, and learning activities to understand all parts of their role as a Zoning Administrator.