How tall can buildings be in downtown Birmingham, MI?
Downtown heights are set by the Downtown Birmingham Overlay, which divides the area into height zones D2 through D5 (§ 3.04):
- D2: 34-foot eave, 46-foot ridge, 56-foot overall, with the third story limited to residential use.
- D3: 46-foot eave, 58-foot ridge, 68-foot overall.
- D4: 58-foot eave, 70-foot ridge, 80-foot overall, with the fifth story limited to residential use.
- D5: governed by the D4 limits, with an abutting-height exception available through a special land use permit.
Which zone applies to a given parcel is controlled by the Regulating Plan (§ 3.02), not by the underlying district alone, so two neighboring lots can carry different height entitlements.
Special land uses in Birmingham are decided by the City Commission after Planning Board review (§ 7.33). To find your parcel's height zone, contact the Planning Division at 248-530-1850.
Sources
Full text: Birmingham ordinance on enCodePlus. Applies to district: *.
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