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City of Grand Rapids

Zoning Ordinance

Zoning Ordinance

Zoning Ordinance Update

We are updating our Zoning Ordinance to align with the goals and vision of our completed Community Master Plan. This update will help guide future development, protect neighborhood character, and ensure our zoning regulations support the community’s priorities for growth, housing, sustainability, and quality of life.

Zoning Ordinance Update

A tentative timeline has been created with two phases and adoption expected mid-2027.

Tentative schedule of the Zoning Ordinance Update

Phase 1

The Technical Advisory Committee and consultant team will be selected, and the Zoning 101 Road Show will begin during Phase 1 which concludes Summer of 2025.

Phase 2

The second phase includes the writing of the Zoning Ordinance text and map creation, test concepts with the public, and hold work sessions and briefings with the City and Planning Commission and spans the Fall of 2025 through Winter of 2027.

Adoption

The final phase involves the Planning Commission who will hold a public hearing and recommend to the City Commission, with the City Commission consideration and adoption before Summer of 2027.

 

 

The TAC will provide guidance and recommendations to the Planning Department as it updates the existing Zoning Ordinance. Committee members are selected by city staff for their expertise and direct experience working with the zoning ordinance.

  • Nathan Biller, Small-Scale Housing Developers
  • Mauricio Daza, Contractors
  • Daniel Escobar Bercini, Small-Scale Housing Developer and Construction 
  • Hannah Greening, Commercial Real Estate Agents
  • Landon Jones, Emerging Developers
  • SuLin Kotowitz, Urban Designers/Landscape Architects
  • Sara Lachman, Land Use Attorneys
  • James Lewis, Developers
  • David Maxam, Architects
  • Traci Montgomery, Board of Zoning Appeals
  • Jeffrey Olsen, Construction
  • Brandon Simon, Civil Engineers
  • Brian Swem, Planning Commission
  • Zachary Verhulst, Architects

Codametrics, along with All Together and Clarion Associates, will be leading the Zoning Ordinance update for the City of Grand Rapids. You can read the project scope here. 

What is a Zoning Ordinance?

Grand Rapids is split into zone districts. The Zoning Ordinance is the set of laws we have for these zones. We review land uses based on the location and other factors.

In each zone district land uses are:

  • Permitted by Right (P) - Allowed in the zone district with Staff review
  • Special Land Use (S) - Subject to Planning Commission review and approval
  • Qualified Review (QR) - Subject to Planning Commission review and approval under certain conditions
  • Prohibited (X)

The common zone types are residential, commercial and industrial. The intent of zoning is to keep our neighborhoods and businesses strong.

Read the Zoning Ordinance

Zoning in GR

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 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.

Public Planning Map