Board of Zoning Appeals

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Pay Zoning Appeals Fees

The Board of Zoning Appeals consists of seven members appointed by the City Council for a term of three years.  Members must be United States citizens and residents of the city of Detroit, and not members of City government.  Members may be removed for cause by the Council only after consideration of written charges and a public hearing.  Any vacancies are filled by Council for the remainder of the unexpired term. 

The Board of Zoning Appeals hears and decides appeals from any order, requirement, decision or determination made by any administrative official charged with the enforcement of the City of Detroit Zoning Ordinance.  The basis upon which the building permit was denied determines the type of zoning appeals that is made to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

THE APPEAL WILL THEREFORE FALL INTO ONE OF SEVERAL CATEGORIES:

1)    A SPECIFIC INTERPRETATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE.

2)    AN ADJUSTMENT OR A VARIANCE FROM THE STRICT APPLICATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE.

3)    A DECISION ON SUCH MATTERS WHICH IT IS AUTHORIZED TO REVIEW BY THE CITY ZONING ORDINANCE.

4)    JURISDICTION OVER ALL NON-CONFORMING BUILDINGS AND USES.

5)    JURISDICTION OVER REQUEST FOR HARDSHIP RELIEF AS PROVIDE FOR BY THE ZONING ORDINANCE.

The Board of Zoning Appeals hears and decides from, and reviews any order, requirement, decision or determination made by an administration official charged with the enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance.

They are also charged with accepting appeals from decision made by the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department after a hearing has been held before the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department‘s Hearing Officer.

The Boaf Zoning Appeals office is located at 212 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center - Suite 212, Detroit, Michigan 48226. The telephone number is (313) 224-3595.  Office hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 

The Board of Zoning Appeals will be meeting in person and virtually. You may attend in either of the following ways: 

In Person:
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Ave., 13th Floor Auditorium
Detroit, MI 48226 


To attend online use:
https://cityofdetroit.zoom.us/s/81642143162
Meeting ID: 81642143162

 

The City Council's Appointed Seven Board Members are: 

Board Members     Term Beginning     Term Ending     Council District
Robert ThomasMarch 2013December 2026Council District At Large
Scott BomanMarch 2024December 2026Council District At Large
Robert WeedMarch 2013December 2024District 1
Kimberly Hill KnottJanuary 2023December 2025District 2
Elois MooreJanuary 2017December 2025District 3
Jerry WatsonMay 2022December 2024District 4
Byron OsbernJune 2024December 2027District 5
Robert RobertsFebruary 2023December 2025District 6
Anthony ShermanMarch 2020December 2023District 7
City Council President
Off
City Council Pro Tem
Off

Pay Hearing fees for zoning projects

Zoning Hearing Fees