Permitted uses in City of Novi, MI

Permitted by right in RA (Section 3.1.1.B): one-family dwellings, farms and greenhouses on parcels of at least 3 acres (Section 4.1), publicly owned parks, public and parochial elementary schools (Section 4.3.1), home occupations, family day care homes (Section 4.5), and accessory buildings and uses.

Private swimming pools sit in a genuine ordinance conflict: the district page lists them under the special land uses, while Section 4.16 itself treats a private pool as a permitted accessory use in the rear yard or a nonrequired interior side yard with no Planning Commission review; the ordinance carries both provisions, so confirm the review path with the Community Development Department (Section 3.1.1.C; Section 4.16). Keeping horses and livestock requires 2 acres for the first animal and 2 more acres for each additional animal (Section 4.8.2). Uses not listed anywhere in the ordinance go through the unlisted use determination process (Section 4.87).

Permitted by right in R-1 (Section 3.1.2.B): one-family detached dwellings, farms and greenhouses on parcels of at least 3 acres (Section 4.1), publicly owned parks and recreation facilities, home occupations (Section 4.4), keeping of horses and ponies with 2 acres per animal (Section 4.8), family day care homes (Section 4.5), and accessory buildings and uses.

Private pools are listed on the district page as a special land use, while Section 4.16 itself treats them as a permitted accessory use in the rear yard or a nonrequired interior side yard; the ordinance carries both provisions, so confirm the review path with the city (Section 3.1.2.C; Section 4.16). Up to three dogs and three cats may be kept in residential districts (Section 4.83). Two-family dwellings are not listed in R-1 through R-4; they are permitted in the RT district (Section 3.1.6.B). Unlisted uses need a determination under Section 4.87.

R-2 shares the R-1 use pattern (Section 3.1.3.B): one-family detached dwellings, farms and greenhouses (Section 4.1), public parks, home occupations (Section 4.4), keeping of horses and ponies (Section 4.8), family day care homes (Section 4.5), and accessory buildings and uses. Private pools appear on the district page as a special land use, while Section 4.16 itself treats them as a permitted accessory use in the rear yard; the ordinance carries both provisions, so confirm the review path with the city (Section 4.16). Two-family dwellings are not listed in this district (Section 3.1.6.B). Unlisted uses need a determination under Section 4.87.

R-3 shares the R-1 use pattern (Section 3.1.4.B): one-family detached dwellings, farms and greenhouses (Section 4.1), public parks, home occupations (Section 4.4), keeping of horses and ponies (Section 4.8), family day care homes (Section 4.5), and accessory buildings and uses. Private pools appear on the district page as a special land use, while Section 4.16 itself treats them as a permitted accessory use in the rear yard; the ordinance carries both provisions, so confirm the review path with the city (Section 4.16). Two-family dwellings are not listed in this district (Section 3.1.6.B). Unlisted uses need a determination under Section 4.87.

R-4 shares the R-1 use pattern (Section 3.1.5.B): one-family detached dwellings, farms and greenhouses (Section 4.1), public parks, home occupations (Section 4.4), keeping of horses and ponies (Section 4.8), family day care homes (Section 4.5), and accessory buildings and uses. Private pools appear on the district page as a special land use, while Section 4.16 itself treats them as a permitted accessory use in the rear yard; the ordinance carries both provisions, so confirm the review path with the city (Section 4.16).

R-4 standards also govern one-family detached homes built in the RT, RM-1, RM-2, and MH districts and in the TC districts, and in NCC, where one-family dwellings are a special land use (Sections 3.1.6.B, 3.1.7.B, 3.1.8.B, 3.1.9.B, and 3.1.20.C; Section 4.82.1). Two-family dwellings are not listed in this district (Section 3.1.6.B). Unlisted uses need a determination under Section 4.87.

Permitted by right in RT (Section 3.1.6.B): two-family dwellings (site built), shared elderly housing (Section 4.20), and accessory buildings and uses. This is the district where duplexes are a by-right use in Novi.

One-family detached dwellings, farms and greenhouses, public parks, cemeteries, home occupations, keeping of horses and ponies, and family day care homes are also permitted, regulated according to the R-4 standards (Section 3.1.6.B). Unlisted uses need a determination under Section 4.87.

Permitted by right in RM-1 (Section 3.1.7.B): multiple-family dwellings, independent and congregate elderly living facilities (Section 4.20), and accessory buildings and uses.

Two-family dwellings and shared elderly housing are permitted under the RT standards, and one-family detached dwellings, farms and greenhouses, parks, cemeteries, home occupations, keeping of horses and ponies, and family day care homes are permitted under the R-4 standards (Section 3.1.7.B). Unlisted uses need a determination under Section 4.87.

Permitted by right in RM-2 (Section 3.1.8.B): multiple-family dwellings and accessory buildings and uses. Independent and congregate elderly living facilities are permitted under the RM-1 standards, two-family dwellings and shared elderly housing under the RT standards, and one-family detached dwellings and related residential uses under the R-4 standards (Section 3.1.8.B). Unlisted uses need a determination under Section 4.87.

Permitted in MH (Section 3.1.9.B): mobile homes and manufactured housing units meeting A.N.S.I. code standards subject to Section 3.9, mobile home condominium projects, one park office building, utility and laundry buildings, community buildings and recreation areas for residents, and mobile home sales carried out under Section 4.23.

Two-family dwellings and shared elderly housing are permitted under the RT standards, and one-family detached dwellings and related residential uses under the R-4 standards (Section 3.1.9.B). The special land use list is marked Reserved (Section 3.1.9.C). Off-street parking is required at 2 spaces per mobile home site (Section 5.2.12.A), and a screened storage area for residents' recreational vehicles and boats must be provided (Section 3.9.9).

Permitted by right in B-1 (Section 3.1.10.B): retail businesses, retail business service uses, dry cleaning establishments or pick-up stations dealing directly with the consumer (Section 4.24), business establishments performing services on the premises, professional services, post offices and similar government offices serving the adjacent residential area, off-street parking lots, instructional centers, other similar uses, and accessory structures and uses.

All establishments must be retail or service businesses dealing directly with customers, goods produced on the premises must be sold at retail there, and all business must be conducted within completely enclosed buildings except parking and loading (Section 3.10.1).

Permitted by right in B-2 (Section 3.1.11.B, amended by Ord. 18.282, 7-08-2019): retail business and retail service uses (Section 4.27), businesses performing services on premises, dry cleaning establishments or pick-up stations (Section 4.24), professional services, instructional centers, office-showroom-workshop service establishments, sit-down restaurants, banquet facilities, and other places serving food or beverage (Section 4.27), theaters and places of assembly, business schools and colleges or private schools operated for profit, day care and adult day care centers (Section 4.12.2), private clubs, places of worship (Section 4.10), hotels and motels (Section 4.28), professional and medical offices, similar uses, and accessory structures.

Two size caps distinguish B-2: no individual retail or personal service establishment may exceed 20,000 square feet of gross floor area, and total retail within a single development may not exceed 25,000 square feet (Section 3.10.2.C). All business must be conducted in completely enclosed buildings except permitted outdoor sales (Section 3.10.3.B). Automotive sales and service, open-air retail sales, and drive-through fast food are contrary to the district intent (Section 3.1.11.A).

Permitted by right in B-3 (Section 3.1.12.B, amended by Ord. 18-278, 11-28-2016): retail business and retail service uses (Section 4.27), dry cleaning establishments or pick-up stations (Section 4.24), businesses performing services on premises, professional services, professional and medical offices, fueling stations (Section 4.29), outdoor sale of produce and seasonal plants (Section 4.30), auto washes (Section 4.32), bus passenger stations, new and used car salesrooms, showrooms, or offices (Section 4.33), tattoo parlors, public parks, health and fitness facilities (Section 4.34), microbreweries and brewpubs (Section 4.35), day care and adult day care centers (Section 4.12.2), similar uses, and accessory structures.

All business other than permitted outdoor sales uses must be conducted within completely enclosed buildings (Section 3.10.3.B).

The Conference district is a special-approval district: it lists no by-right principal uses, and conference centers (Section 4.75), hotels and motels (Section 4.28.5), offices, and sit-down restaurants (Section 4.41) may be permitted by the City Council after report and recommendation from the Planning Commission (Section 3.1.13.C, amended by Ord. 18.290, 12-09-2019).

Headline dimensional standards: minimum site of 30 acres, maximum floor area ratio 0.5, setbacks of 50 feet or the height of the building, whichever is greater, on all sides, and a height cap of 65 feet or 5 stories (Section 3.1.13.D; Section 3.23). This pack covers the Conference district at summary level; consult Section 3.23 and the Community Development Department for project-level details.

EXO is an overlay intended to be used only with the CW City West district as the underlying zoning; principal permitted uses are those of the underlying CW district (Section 3.1.15.B, amended by Ord. 18.296, 5-20-2024). Overlay uses, permitted subject to Sections 3.25, 3.33, and 3.34, are exposition, conference, and convention facilities with supporting indoor and outdoor recreation, retail, outside exhibits and festivals, and surface parking (Section 3.1.15.C).

Headline standards: floor area ratio 0.5, setbacks of 50 feet or building height on all sides, height 65 feet or 5 stories (Section 3.1.15.D). The overlay is limited to at most 55 contiguous acres and one EXO district until the city passes 100,000 residents (Section 3.1.15.A). This pack covers EXO at summary level; consult Section 3.25 for details.

Permitted by right in Gateway East (Section 3.1.16.B): professional and medical offices, financial institutions, real estate offices, sit-down restaurants (Section 4.41), public parks, retail business and retail service uses, funeral homes, post offices and mailing centers, similar uses as determined by the City Council, and customary accessory uses. The special land use list is marked Reserved.

Headline standards: minimum lot 2 acres with 200 feet of width, height 35 feet or 2 stories, maximum floor area ratio 0.275, and setbacks from a table keyed to the road type, for example 70 to 90 feet from the centerline of a major thoroughfare in front and 30 feet rear (Section 3.1.16.D; Section 3.11.2; Section 3.11.5). Drive-through uses are not consistent with the district intent (Section 3.11.1). A Special Development Option allows mixed use and greater height under Section 3.12. This pack covers GE at summary level.

Permitted by right in FS (Section 3.1.17.B, amended by Ord. 18.290, 12-09-2019): fueling stations and minor automobile service establishments (Section 4.29), parking garages and bus passenger stations, retail establishments (Section 4.27), hotels and motels (Section 4.28), other similar uses (Section 4.42), and accessory structures and uses. The special land use list is marked Reserved (Section 3.1.17.C).

Permitted by right in I-1 (Section 3.1.18.B, amended by Ord. 18.301 Pt. IV, 7-22-2024): professional offices and office sales and service, public parks, health and fitness facilities (Section 4.34), medical offices and clinics, trade or industrial schools, greenhouses, utility buildings, indoor recreation, private outdoor recreation, pet boarding (Section 4.46), veterinary hospitals (Section 4.31), film and media production facilities (Section 4.47), other uses of a similar character, and accessory buildings and uses.

Research and development, data processing and computer centers, warehousing and wholesale establishments, manufacturing (Section 4.43), industrial office sales and service (Section 4.44), and laboratories are principal permitted uses, except that when the site abuts a residentially zoned district they are treated as special land uses and require a noise impact statement (Section 3.1.18.B). Raw material processing for bulk shipment is not permitted (Section 3.1.18.A).

Permitted by right in I-2 (Section 3.1.19.B): heavy industrial uses including heating and power plants, outdoor storage yards (Section 4.55), heavy truck and construction equipment sales, junkyards (Section 4.58), garbage incineration (Section 4.59), blast and steel furnaces, manufacture of corrosive acids, cement, lime, and gypsum, petroleum production and refining, and ore smelting (this production and manufacturing sub-list is subject to the Section 4.57 standards), indoor rinks and tennis courts (Section 4.60), auto engine and body repair shops, lumber and planing mills (Section 4.61), motor freight terminals, ready-mix concrete operations, and similar uses.

The I-1 use list, including offices, research and development, warehousing, manufacturing, self-storage, and industrial-service uses, is also permitted subject to the I-1 required conditions and development standards without a special land use hearing (Section 3.1.19.B). The special land use list is marked Reserved (Section 3.1.19.C). Performance standards for smoke, dust, gases, vibration, noise, and fire hazards apply (Section 5.14).

Permitted by right in NCC (Section 3.1.20.B): retail businesses, retail business service uses, professional office buildings, medical offices with laboratories and clinics, financial institutions and stock brokerages, sit-down restaurants (Section 4.41), public parks, instructional centers (Section 4.62), similar uses, and accessory structures.

Required conditions (Section 3.16): all establishments must deal directly with customers within completely enclosed buildings, outdoor storage is prohibited, and no individual retail sales or personal service establishment may exceed 15,000 square feet of gross floor area (Section 3.16.4). Each establishment generally occupies its own lot, with two allowed on a common lot under specific criteria (Section 3.16.5).

Permitted by right in OS-1 (Section 3.1.21.B, amended by Ord. 18.292, 4-06-2020): professional office buildings, medical offices with laboratories and clinics, facilities for human care (Section 4.64), financial institutions with drive-in facilities as an accessory use only, personal service establishments, off-street parking lots, places of worship, instructional centers of 2,000 square feet or less (Section 4.62), public parks, health and fitness facilities (Section 4.34), similar uses, and accessory structures.

Required conditions (Section 3.17): no interior display visible from outside the building, no outdoor storage, and no warehousing beyond what is normally incident to the permitted uses.

Permitted by right in OSC (Section 3.1.22.B, amended by Ord. 18.290, 12-09-2019): professional office buildings and office sales and service, medical offices with laboratories and clinics, facilities for human care (Section 4.64), financial institutions with drive-in facilities as accessory only, personal service establishments, off-street parking lots, places of worship, hotels (Section 4.28.5), public utility offices, the inpatient bed facility portion of general hospitals (Section 4.65), health and fitness facilities (Section 4.34), public parks, similar uses, and accessory buildings.

Permitted by right in OST (Section 3.1.23.B, amended by Ord. 18.290, 12-09-2019): professional office buildings and office sales and service, data processing and computer centers, laboratories, research, testing, design and development and technical training (Section 4.68), hotels (Section 4.28.4), colleges and post-secondary institutions (Section 4.15.2), film and media production facilities (Section 4.47), medical offices, facilities for human care (Section 4.64), off-street parking lots, public parks, publicly owned buildings and utility offices, financial institutions with drive-in facilities as accessory only, indoor and private outdoor recreation facilities (Section 4.38), day care and adult day care centers (Section 4.12.2), secondary uses (Section 4.69), sit-down restaurants (Section 4.41.4), similar uses, and accessory buildings.

Permitted by right in RC (Section 3.1.24.B, amended by Ord. 18.290, 12-09-2019): regional and community shopping centers (Section 4.79), professional office buildings and office sales and service, medical offices, facilities for human care (Section 4.64), financial institutions with drive-in facilities as accessory only, personal service establishments, off-street parking lots, places of worship, hotels (Section 4.28.5), health and fitness facilities (Section 4.34), public utility offices, the inpatient bed portion of general hospitals (Section 4.65), bus and transit passenger stations, public parks, similar uses, and accessory structures.

All establishments must deal directly with consumers, and all business except permitted open air uses must be conducted within completely enclosed buildings (Section 3.26.1; Section 3.26.2). Site plans go to City Council after Planning Commission review, except smaller detached sites of 4 acres or less (Section 3.26.3).

Permitted by right in TC (Section 3.1.25.B, amended by Ord. 18-276, 11-28-2016 and Ord. 18.290, 12-09-2019): retail businesses (Section 4.78.3), retail service uses, dry cleaning pick-up stations (Section 4.24), businesses performing services on premises, professional services, post offices, off-street parking lots, private clubs, places of worship (Section 4.10), office-showroom-workshop establishments, sit-down restaurants and banquet facilities, theaters and museums, business schools, offices, municipal uses, indoor commercial recreation, outdoor plazas and public gathering places, hotels (Section 4.28.5), financial institutions (Section 4.81), residential dwellings (Section 4.82), day care centers (Section 4.12.2), instructional centers, similar uses, and accessory structures.

Residential works on R-4 standards for detached homes and RM-1 standards for multiple and attached housing, with TC-specific modifications (Section 4.82.1).

TC-1 permits the same mixed-use range as TC (Section 3.1.26.B, amended by Ord. 18-276, 11-28-2016): retail businesses (Section 4.78.3), retail services, restaurants and banquet facilities, theaters, offices, business schools, private clubs, places of worship, indoor commercial recreation, brewpubs (Section 4.35), outdoor plazas and gathering places, hotels (Section 4.28.5), financial institutions (Section 4.81), residential dwellings (Section 4.82), day care centers (Section 4.12.2), instructional centers, similar uses, and accessory structures. The district is designed as an urban Main Street with mixed uses and shared parking (Section 3.1.26.A).

PSLR is an overlay: by right it permits everything the underlying zoning district permits, as regulated in that district (Section 3.1.27.B). As special land uses subject to Section 3.21 it adds low-rise multiple-family residential (Section 4.70), independent and congregate elderly living (Section 4.20), assisted living and convalescent facilities, hospice care facilities, live/work units (Section 4.71), day care centers (Section 4.12.2), professional and medical offices, places of worship, schools, colleges, public parks, nonprofit community and cultural facilities (Section 4.72), mixed-use buildings combining these, similar uses as determined by City Council, and accessory buildings (Section 4.73).

Headline standards: height 35 feet or 2.5 stories, lot coverage 25 percent, front and exterior side setbacks of 30 feet (50 feet for an exterior side yard adjacent to a section-line road right-of-way) with a 75 foot maximum front setback, interior side 30 feet, and building-to-building separation of 30 feet, or 15 feet corner-to-corner (Section 3.1.27.D). This pack covers PSLR at summary level; consult Section 3.21 for the overlay's development agreement process.

P-1 permits off-street vehicular parking areas for private passenger vehicles as a use incidental to a nearby principal use (Section 3.1.28.B). Parking for sale of new unlicensed motor vehicles and parking of licensed rental and loaner vehicles is a special land use (Section 4.74). Setbacks and improvement standards come from Section 3.22.8, and detached accessory buildings in P-1 are limited to 1 story or 14 feet (Section 4.19.1.I). This pack covers P-1 at summary level; consult Section 3.22 for details.

Permitted by right in Pavilion Shore Village (Section 3.1.29.B, amended by Ord. 18.291, 11-22-2021): sit-down, fast food carryout, and fast food sit-down restaurants, small-scale retail such as specialty food and sporting goods stores, retail service uses such as pet grooming and bicycle rental, live/work units (Section 4.71), off-street parking lots, similar uses as determined by the Planning Commission, and accessory structures. Veterinary hospitals or clinics are the lone special land use (Section 3.1.29.C).

Headline standards: build-to front setback of 0 feet minimum and 20 feet maximum, rear 25 feet, side 10 feet, height 30 feet, and no front yard parking (Section 3.1.29.D). This pack covers PSV at summary level; consult Section 3.32 for the district's design standards.

Permitted by right in City West (Section 3.1.30.B, amended by Ord. 18.296, 5-20-2024): offices including medical, municipal uses, financial institutions (Section 4.81), retail business or service establishments including restaurants (Section 4.27), business schools, instructional centers (Section 4.62), day care centers (Section 4.12.2), non-profit community centers, outdoor theaters, plazas, and farmers markets, art galleries and museums, personal services, indoor and outdoor private recreation, public parks, transit stations, brewpubs and microbreweries (Section 4.35), outdoor restaurants (Section 4.84), off-street parking lots and structures, similar uses, and accessory structures other than drive-through windows.

Special land uses (Section 3.1.30.D) include amusement and entertainment uses, private clubs and cultural facilities, places of worship, accessory drive-throughs (Section 5.3.11), and veterinary clinics (Section 4.31). A Mixed-Use Development Option under Section 3.34 adds residential and hotels with greater height and density. Base standards include a minimum building height of 20 feet and a maximum of 2 stories, relaxable under the Mixed-Use Development Option, plus 100 foot parking setbacks: rear where adjacent to existing residential zoning, and side where adjacent to existing single-family residential (Section 3.1.30.E; Section 3.33.1.F). This pack covers CW at summary level; consult Sections 3.33 and 3.34 for details.