City of Novi, Michigan zoning

A plain-language summary of the City of Novi zoning ordinance, organized by district and topic. Source: the official ordinance on city-hosted single-PDF Zoning Ordinance (Clearzoning format, effective January 8, 2015, amended through June 6, 2025); Code of Ordinances on Municode, last reviewed July 3, 2026.

Zoning districts

RAResidential
Residential Acreage
Residential Acreage is Novi's largest-lot residential district, 1 acre minimum lots for low-density single-family homes, with farms and greenhouses allowed alongside houses.
R-1Residential
One-Family Residential (R-1)
R-1 One-Family Residential is the most restrictive one-family district, half-acre-plus lots of at least 21,780 square feet for low-density detached homes.
R-2Residential
One-Family Residential (R-2)
R-2 One-Family Residential provides for detached homes on lots of at least 18,000 square feet.
R-3Residential
One-Family Residential (R-3)
R-3 One-Family Residential provides for detached homes on lots of at least 12,000 square feet.
R-4Residential
One-Family Residential (R-4)
R-4 One-Family Residential is Novi's smallest-lot one-family district, 10,000 square foot minimum lots. Its standards also serve as the baseline for detached homes allowed in several other districts.
RTResidential
Two-Family Residential
RT Two-Family Residential is where duplexes live in Novi, permitting new two-family homes and conversions as a transition between one-family areas and busier uses.
RM-1Residential
Low-Density, Low-Rise Multiple-Family
RM-1 hosts low-rise apartments and related uses as a transition between nonresidential areas or major roads and one-family neighborhoods, capped at 2 stories.
RM-2Residential
High-Density, Mid-Rise Multiple-Family
RM-2 is Novi's denser multiple-family district, allowing mid-rise apartment buildings up to 5 stories near intense commercial or office development.
MHResidential
Mobile Home District
MH is the mobile home park district, for planned manufactured housing communities on sites of at least 20 acres with direct access to a major thoroughfare.
B-1Commercial
Local Business
B-1 Local Business serves day-to-day convenience shopping and service needs of nearby residential areas, with modest one-story buildings.
B-2Commercial
Community Business
B-2 Community Business is a pedestrian-oriented commercial district at major intersections; individual stores are capped at 20,000 square feet and automotive and drive-through uses are meant to locate elsewhere.
B-3Commercial
General Business
B-3 General Business hosts the more diversified and auto-oriented businesses, including fueling stations, car sales, auto washes, and fast food as a special land use.
CCommercial
Conference District
The Conference district accommodates a planned multi-purpose conference center campus with lodging and dining, on sites of at least 30 acres.
EXOSpecial purpose
Exposition Overlay
EXO is an overlay for a planned exposition, convention, and conference facility used together with the City West district as the underlying zoning.
GEMixed use
Gateway East
Gateway East encourages coordinated, pedestrian-oriented development at the eastern gateway to the Town Center area, with offices, retail, and restaurants and a special development option for mixed use.
FSCommercial
Freeway Service
Freeway Service districts serve automobile traffic at freeway interchange areas with fueling stations, hotels and motels, and retail.
I-1Industrial
Light Industrial
I-1 Light Industrial accommodates research, office, and light industrial uses, including warehousing and manufacturing from previously prepared materials, whose external effects stay within the district.
I-2Industrial
General Industrial
I-2 General Industrial is for heavier manufacturing, assembling, and fabrication, including large-scale operations whose effects may be felt beyond the site.
NCCCommercial
Non-Center Commercial
NCC Non-Center Commercial offers spacious sites along major thoroughfares for low-impact businesses, offices, and some residential, away from shopping centers; individual stores are capped at 15,000 square feet.
OS-1Commercial
Office Service
OS-1 Office Service hosts offices, banks, and human-care facilities as transitional areas between residential and commercial districts.
OSCCommercial
Office Service Commercial
OSC Office Service Commercial is for large planned office complexes up to 5 stories, with related retail and hotels near major commercial or civic development.
OSTCommercial
Office Service Technology
OST Office Service Technology is Novi's high-tech office, laboratory, and research district, with hotels and a retail service overlay in defined areas.
RCCommercial
Regional Center
RC Regional Center permits major planned commercial centers, such as regional shopping malls, that serve the surrounding market area.
TCMixed use
Town Center
TC Town Center is a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented regional district where retail, office, civic, and residential uses mix, with buildings up to 5 stories.
TC-1Mixed use
Town Center 1
TC-1 is the Main Street version of Town Center, a neighborhood-scaled mixed-use district with urban build-to setbacks and shared parking.
PSLRSpecial purpose
Planned Suburban Low-Rise Overlay
PSLR is an overlay allowing low-rise multiple-family, office, and civic uses with residential design character as a transition between one-family neighborhoods and more intense uses.
P-1Special purpose
Vehicular Parking
P-1 Vehicular Parking districts permit off-street parking areas for private passenger vehicles as a use incidental to a nearby principal use.
PSVMixed use
Pavilion Shore Village
Pavilion Shore Village implements the master plan vision for the Pavilion Shore area with small-scale, walkable restaurants, retail, and live/work uses near Walled Lake.
CWMixed use
City West
City West permits a mix of office, commercial, entertainment, and multiple-family uses along the Grand River corridor, with a Mixed-Use Development Option for greater height and density.

Code	Name	Category	Summary
RA	Residential Acreage	Residential	Residential Acreage is Novi's largest-lot residential district, 1 acre minimum lots for low-density single-family homes, with farms and greenhouses allowed alongside houses.
R-1	One-Family Residential (R-1)	Residential	R-1 One-Family Residential is the most restrictive one-family district, half-acre-plus lots of at least 21,780 square feet for low-density detached homes.
R-2	One-Family Residential (R-2)	Residential	R-2 One-Family Residential provides for detached homes on lots of at least 18,000 square feet.
R-3	One-Family Residential (R-3)	Residential	R-3 One-Family Residential provides for detached homes on lots of at least 12,000 square feet.
R-4	One-Family Residential (R-4)	Residential	R-4 One-Family Residential is Novi's smallest-lot one-family district, 10,000 square foot minimum lots. Its standards also serve as the baseline for detached homes allowed in several other districts.
RT	Two-Family Residential	Residential	RT Two-Family Residential is where duplexes live in Novi, permitting new two-family homes and conversions as a transition between one-family areas and busier uses.
RM-1	Low-Density, Low-Rise Multiple-Family	Residential	RM-1 hosts low-rise apartments and related uses as a transition between nonresidential areas or major roads and one-family neighborhoods, capped at 2 stories.
RM-2	High-Density, Mid-Rise Multiple-Family	Residential	RM-2 is Novi's denser multiple-family district, allowing mid-rise apartment buildings up to 5 stories near intense commercial or office development.
MH	Mobile Home District	Residential	MH is the mobile home park district, for planned manufactured housing communities on sites of at least 20 acres with direct access to a major thoroughfare.
B-1	Local Business	Commercial	B-1 Local Business serves day-to-day convenience shopping and service needs of nearby residential areas, with modest one-story buildings.
B-2	Community Business	Commercial	B-2 Community Business is a pedestrian-oriented commercial district at major intersections; individual stores are capped at 20,000 square feet and automotive and drive-through uses are meant to locate elsewhere.
B-3	General Business	Commercial	B-3 General Business hosts the more diversified and auto-oriented businesses, including fueling stations, car sales, auto washes, and fast food as a special land use.
C	Conference District	Commercial	The Conference district accommodates a planned multi-purpose conference center campus with lodging and dining, on sites of at least 30 acres.
EXO	Exposition Overlay	Special purpose	EXO is an overlay for a planned exposition, convention, and conference facility used together with the City West district as the underlying zoning.
GE	Gateway East	Mixed use	Gateway East encourages coordinated, pedestrian-oriented development at the eastern gateway to the Town Center area, with offices, retail, and restaurants and a special development option for mixed use.
FS	Freeway Service	Commercial	Freeway Service districts serve automobile traffic at freeway interchange areas with fueling stations, hotels and motels, and retail.
I-1	Light Industrial	Industrial	I-1 Light Industrial accommodates research, office, and light industrial uses, including warehousing and manufacturing from previously prepared materials, whose external effects stay within the district.
I-2	General Industrial	Industrial	I-2 General Industrial is for heavier manufacturing, assembling, and fabrication, including large-scale operations whose effects may be felt beyond the site.
NCC	Non-Center Commercial	Commercial	NCC Non-Center Commercial offers spacious sites along major thoroughfares for low-impact businesses, offices, and some residential, away from shopping centers; individual stores are capped at 15,000 square feet.
OS-1	Office Service	Commercial	OS-1 Office Service hosts offices, banks, and human-care facilities as transitional areas between residential and commercial districts.
OSC	Office Service Commercial	Commercial	OSC Office Service Commercial is for large planned office complexes up to 5 stories, with related retail and hotels near major commercial or civic development.
OST	Office Service Technology	Commercial	OST Office Service Technology is Novi's high-tech office, laboratory, and research district, with hotels and a retail service overlay in defined areas.
RC	Regional Center	Commercial	RC Regional Center permits major planned commercial centers, such as regional shopping malls, that serve the surrounding market area.
TC	Town Center	Mixed use	TC Town Center is a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented regional district where retail, office, civic, and residential uses mix, with buildings up to 5 stories.
TC-1	Town Center 1	Mixed use	TC-1 is the Main Street version of Town Center, a neighborhood-scaled mixed-use district with urban build-to setbacks and shared parking.
PSLR	Planned Suburban Low-Rise Overlay	Special purpose	PSLR is an overlay allowing low-rise multiple-family, office, and civic uses with residential design character as a transition between one-family neighborhoods and more intense uses.
P-1	Vehicular Parking	Special purpose	P-1 Vehicular Parking districts permit off-street parking areas for private passenger vehicles as a use incidental to a nearby principal use.
PSV	Pavilion Shore Village	Mixed use	Pavilion Shore Village implements the master plan vision for the Pavilion Shore area with small-scale, walkable restaurants, retail, and live/work uses near Walled Lake.
CW	City West	Mixed use	City West permits a mix of office, commercial, entertainment, and multiple-family uses along the Grand River corridor, with a Mixed-Use Development Option for greater height and density.

Rules by topic

Common questions

Get the full picture for your property

Enter an address. We identify the zoning district and assemble what the ordinance says about it: permitted uses, dimensional rules, accessory structures, and the approval process.

District identification is free. The full brief is $79.