Shelby Township, Michigan zoning

A plain-language summary of the Shelby Township zoning ordinance, organized by district and topic. Source: the official ordinance on township-hosted consolidated PDF (Clearzoning format, CivicPlus CMS); effective March 8, 2018, amended through February 1, 2024, last reviewed July 3, 2026.

Zoning districts

• R-1Residential

  One-Family Residential (R-1)

  R-1 is the township's largest-lot single-family district, 30,000 square foot minimum lots with 120 feet of width, and it is the only one-family district where a farm needs just the base 3 acre minimum.

• R-1-AResidential

  One-Family Residential (R-1-A)

  R-1-A is a large-lot single-family district on 19,800 square foot minimum lots with 110 feet of width.

• R-1-BResidential

  One-Family Residential (R-1-B)

  R-1-B is the township's mid-size single-family district, 14,400 square foot minimum lots with 90 feet of width.

• R-1-CResidential

  One-Family Residential (R-1-C)

  R-1-C is the smallest-lot single-family district, 12,000 square foot minimum lots with 80 feet of width.

• R-2Residential

  Two-Family Residential (R-2)

  R-2 is the township's duplex district: two-family buildings and single-family homes on 14,000 square foot lots with public sewer and water, or 17,500 square feet without.

• R-3Residential

  Multiple-Family Residential Low Rise (R-3)

  R-3 is the lowest-density rung of the R-3 to R-7 multiple-family low-rise group, capped at 3 dwelling units per acre with 2-story, 35 foot buildings.

• R-4Residential

  Multiple-Family Residential Low Rise (R-4)

  R-4 is part of the R-3 to R-7 multiple-family low-rise group, capped at 4 dwelling units per acre with 2-story, 35 foot buildings.

• R-5Residential

  Multiple-Family Residential Low Rise (R-5)

  R-5 is part of the R-3 to R-7 multiple-family low-rise group, capped at 5 dwelling units per acre with 2-story, 35 foot buildings.

• R-6Residential

  Multiple-Family Residential Low Rise (R-6)

  R-6 is part of the R-3 to R-7 multiple-family low-rise group, capped at 6 dwelling units per acre with 2-story, 35 foot buildings.

• R-7Residential

  Multiple-Family Residential Low Rise (R-7)

  R-7 is the densest rung of the R-3 to R-7 multiple-family low-rise group, capped at 7 dwelling units per acre with 2-story, 35 foot buildings.

• R-8Residential

  Multiple-Family Residential Low Rise (R-8)

  R-8 is the lowest-density rung of the R-8 to R-12 multiple-family group, capped at 8 dwelling units per acre with 3-story, 40 foot buildings.

• R-9Residential

  Multiple-Family Residential Low Rise (R-9)

  R-9 is part of the R-8 to R-12 multiple-family group, capped at 9 dwelling units per acre with 3-story, 40 foot buildings.

• R-10Residential

  Multiple-Family Residential Low Rise (R-10)

  R-10 is part of the R-8 to R-12 multiple-family group, capped at 10 dwelling units per acre with 3-story, 40 foot buildings.

• R-11Residential

  Multiple-Family Residential Low Rise (R-11)

  R-11 is part of the R-8 to R-12 multiple-family group, capped at 11 dwelling units per acre with 3-story, 40 foot buildings. The township zoning map currently shows no R-11 areas.

• R-12Residential

  Multiple-Family Residential Low Rise (R-12)

  R-12 is the densest rung of the R-8 to R-12 multiple-family group, capped at 12 dwelling units per acre with 3-story, 40 foot buildings.

• MHPResidential

  Mobile Home Park

  MHP is the district for planned mobile home communities on sites of at least 10 acres, with home sites averaging 5,500 square feet.

• HMRResidential

  High and Mid-Rise

  HMR provides for apartment, office, and hotel buildings up to 50 feet near major traffic generators, with setbacks equal to the height of the building.

• O-1Commercial

  Professional Office (O-1)

  O-1 hosts professional and administrative offices and banks in 1-story, 18 foot buildings, meant as a buffer between busier uses and single-family neighborhoods.

• O-2Commercial

  Service Office (O-2)

  O-2 accommodates larger office buildings and complexes than O-1, up to 2 stories and 25 feet, on parcels with direct access to major thoroughfares.

• C-1Commercial

  Local Retail Business (C-1)

  C-1 is the neighborhood convenience district; most permitted uses carry explicit floor-area caps, such as convenience stores up to 3,000 square feet and restaurants up to 5,000 square feet.

• C-2Commercial

  Linear Retail Business (C-2)

  C-2 covers the historic Van Dyke and Auburn Road commercial strips with a broad retail and service use list, including auto services and fast food.

• C-3Commercial

  Shopping Center Business (C-3)

  C-3 is the planned shopping center district, 5 acre minimum sites with 300 feet of width and anchor-tenant retail.

• C-4Commercial

  General Business (C-4)

  C-4 is the township's broadest commercial district, including auto dealers, hotels, and adult entertainment, on 40,000 square foot lots per building.

• C-5Mixed use

  Multi-Use (C-5)

  C-5 is an 80 acre planned multi-use district mixing residential, office, retail, and recreation under an approved project development plan, with buildings up to 200 feet.

• C-6Mixed use

  Shelby Center (C-6)

  C-6 implements the Shelby Center Design Plan: a walkable mixed-use town center near Van Dyke and 24 Mile with its own residential, sign, and architectural standards.

• L-MIndustrial

  Light Manufacturing (L-M)

  L-M hosts industrial operations conducted wholly within buildings, plus offices, warehousing, indoor recreation, and auto services, on 20,000 square foot minimum lots.

• H-MIndustrial

  Heavy Manufacturing (H-M)

  H-M permits everything in light manufacturing plus processing of raw materials, with special land uses ranging from junk yards to race tracks, in 3-story, 40 foot buildings.

• RECSpecial purpose

  Recreation

  REC covers public parks, golf courses, and government buildings, with 100 foot setbacks wherever the site abuts residential property.

• PNDSpecial purpose

  Planned Neighborhood Development

  PND appears on the township zoning map for residential areas approved as planned neighborhood developments; their standards come from the development approval rather than a standard district table, so confirm any rule for a PND parcel with the Planning and Zoning Department.

Rules by topic

• Permitted usesWhat you can do by right in each zoning district.
• Special land usesUses that need special approval before they are allowed.
• SetbacksHow far buildings must sit from property lines.
• Building heightHeight limits by district, and the exceptions.
• Lot coverageHow much of a lot buildings may cover.
• Lot size and widthMinimum lot area and width requirements.
• ParkingRequired spaces, driveway rules, and surfaces.
• Accessory dwelling unitsWhether a second dwelling unit is allowed.
• Garages, sheds, and accessory structuresSize caps, setbacks, and height limits for detached structures.
• FencesHeight limits, placement, and prohibited materials.
• SignsWhat signs are allowed and where.
• Home occupationsRunning a business from a residence.
• Variances and appealsWho decides, what standard applies, and the sequence.

Common questions

• Are marihuana dispensaries allowed in Shelby Township?
• Can I build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or in-law suite in Shelby Township?
• Can I keep chickens or other animals in Shelby Township?
• Can I park my RV or boat at my house in Shelby Township?
• Can I run a business from my home in Shelby Township?
• Can my driveway be gravel in Shelby Township?
• What are the corner lot rules in Shelby Township?
• Do I need a permit for a shed in Shelby Township, and where can it go?
• Do I need site plan review to open or expand a business in Shelby Township?
• Can I grow marihuana at home in Shelby Township?