Are marihuana dispensaries allowed in Shelby Township?
No. Shelby Township prohibits marihuana establishments generally and carves out exactly one exception: marihuana grow businesses. Under the current Code of Ordinances (Article IX of Chapter 14, rewritten by Ord. No. 304 on March 4, 2025), only licensed cultivation operations, both medical (MMFLA Class A, B, and C) and recreational (MRTMA Class A through C), may locate in the township, by township permit, in the industrial zoning district (Sec. 14-652; Sec. 14-654).
A grow business needs a $5,000 annual township permit plus a state license, cannot stack licenses, must comply with the sign ordinance, and faces revocation by the Township Board after a hearing for violations (Sec. 14-653; Sec. 14-655; Sec. 14-657).
Retail sales, provisioning centers, processors, secure transporters, safety compliance facilities, and consumption lounges are not among the permitted marihuana businesses, which makes them prohibited. The nearest retail options are in other communities; the City of Utica, which borders the township, has licensed retailers, but that is a different municipality with different rules.
Sources
Full text: Shelby Township ordinance on township-hosted consolidated PDF (Clearzoning format, CivicPlus CMS); effective March 8, 2018, amended through February 1, 2024. Applies to districts: L-M, H-M.
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