Can a church locate in a residential zone in Royal Oak?

Yes, but only as a special land use, not by right. Churches are listed among the special land uses in One-Family Residential zoning (§ 770-34C, § 770-74).

That means a church needs Planning Commission approval after a public hearing (§ 770-11). The process includes:

• A public hearing with mailed notice to property owners within 300 ft, at least 15 days ahead (§ 770-13)
• Review against the special land use standards, decided at the Commission's discretion
• The approval lapses if no building permit is obtained within 1 year, and a denied application carries a 1-year reapplication bar (§ 770-11D, E)

Site plan approval also applies, since the exemption covers only one- and two-family dwellings (§ 770-12A(2)).

For application requirements and the current hearing schedule, contact the Planning Division at 248-246-3280 and check the city's posted meeting schedule.