The Michigan State
University College
of Law
Urban Food, Farm
& Agriculture Law
Practicum
Kathryn Hynan
Zoning & Land Use

Zoning – written regulations and laws that define how property
in specific geographic zones can be used; to partition by
ordinance into sections reserved for different purposes
1.
2.
3.
4.

Residential Districts
Business Districts
Industrial Districts
Special Districts & Overlay
Areas
Land use – the human use of land, which involves the
management and/or modification of the natural environment or
wilderness into built environments (i.e. settlements)
Examples of Land Use in Detroit
Proposed by the Detroit Works Project on Land Use:
Residential Use:
•
•
•
•
Green
Residential
Low-Density
Medium Density
Green Mixed
Rise
Mixed Use:
•
•
•
•
Neighborhood
Center
District Center
Live + Make
City Center
Landscape Use:
Industrial Use:
•
•
•
Light Industrial
General
Industrial
Heavy Industrial
•
•
•
Large Park
Innovation
Productive
Innovation
Ecological
Reading City Ordinances
Detroit City Code - Chapter 61: Zoning
Article VII: Residential Zoning Districts
Division 4. R3 Low Density Residential District
DIVISION 4. R3 LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL
DISTRICT
[. . .]
Sec. 61-8-64. Conditional other uses.
[. . .]
(2) Greenhouse as provided for in ARTICLE
XII.DIVISION 3.Subdivision H of this Chapter
(3) Hoophouse as provided for in ARTICLE
XII.DIVISION 3.Subdivision H of this Chapter
(4) Signs as provided for in ARTICLE VI of
this Chapter.
(5) Urban farm as provided for in ARTICLE
XII.DIVISION 3.Subdivision H of this Chapter
Detroit permits
agricultural uses by
zoning districts in its
Zoning Ordinance.
However, Detroit
permits specific uses
in sub-districts, like
a “Low Density
Residential District.”
Detroit also
separately permits
narrow uses like
“greenhouse” and
“urban farm.” These
uses can differ with
each type of zoning
district.
2 Ways to Gain Access to Land in
Detroit....
1.
Ownership
2. Leasing
Land Ownership
1. Accessibility
2. Zoning
3. Adequate spacing
Advantages
Disadvantages
• Investment returns • Property tax
• Collateral
• Maintenance
• Permanence
Options

1. Land Bank: “a bank whose main function is to
provide loans for land purchase, especially to
farmers.”

2. White Picket Fence Program: “allows property
owners to buy vacant city-owned lots next to their
property for $200.”
Leasing Land

Advantages
 Initial cost is cheaper
 No long term
commitment/investment
 No responsibility for taxes

Disadvantages
 No guaranteed renewal of
property
 Zoning
 Funding
Options
1.
2.
Gardens for Growth Program: Gardeners can lease
plots of land for 1 year ($25) or 3 years ($75)
Adopt-A-Lot Program: free program ran by the City
of Detroit; lease ends on December 31st each year