{"id":72826,"date":"2026-02-17T17:54:44","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T22:54:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/?p=72826"},"modified":"2026-02-17T17:54:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T22:54:51","slug":"michigan-lawmakers-fix-zoning-laws-to-grow-housing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/michigan-lawmakers-fix-zoning-laws-to-grow-housing\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan lawmakers: Fix zoning laws to grow housing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers unveiled legislation they say would speed up the homebuilding process by removing red tape<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The nine-bill package focuses on updating Michigan\u2019s zoning laws. Some measures could be up for debate this week in committee<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Among the key policy items in the package: What people are able to build on properties they own \u2014 and who has the final say in that<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>LANSING \u2014 As Michigan works to climb its way out of a statewide housing shortage, a bipartisan group of lawmakers say they want to speed up the process by scaling back red tape.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A nine-bill package announced Tuesday but not yet introduced will focus primarily on amending zoning laws \u2014 especially when it comes to what people can build on a property, and who has final say in getting it built.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe costs (of building housing) are rising,\u201d state Rep. Joe Aragona, R-Clinton Township, told reporters. \u201cThey&#8217;re becoming incredibly unattainable, and that&#8217;s why you have this bipartisan, bicameral group together to try and solve this issue, or at least solve part of this issue.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The legislative package has sponsors from both the Republican-led state House and Democratic-led Senate, but whether it will advance or grow Michigan\u2019s housing stock remains to be seen. <a href=\"https:\/\/legislature.mi.gov\/Bills\/Bill?ObjectName=2024-HB-6098\">Similar legislation<\/a> stalled in 2024.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/fact-check-are-regulations-to-blame-for-rising-michigan-house-costs\/\"><strong>Fact check: Are regulations to blame for rising Michigan house costs?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/michigan-group-pitches-800m-affordable-housing-plan-we-have-to-invest\/\">Michigan group pitches $800M affordable housing plan: \u2018We have to invest\u2019<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/michigan-affordable-housing-advocates-pitch-42m-tax-credit-plan\/\"><strong>Michigan affordable housing advocates pitch $42M tax credit plan<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Among other things, the bills seek to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Establish a statewide definition of what constitutes a \u201cduplex,\u201d while also allowing duplexes by right in single-family residential zones<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cap mandatory parking requirements at no more than one space per unit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expand the scope of who may protest a development being built, from people within 100 feet of the property\u2019s boundaries to 300 feet\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cap minimum dwelling size requirements at 500 square feet, in an effort to make it easier to build smaller homes and apartments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prohibit minimum lot size requirements of more than 2,500 square feet for single-family homes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create standards for local governments to follow when reviewing development requests, including a 60-day timeline for all decisions to be made\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Define what constitutes an Accessory Dwelling Unit \u2014 otherwise known as a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/revisioncharlotte.com\/ins-and-outs-of-a-mother-in-law-suite\/\">mother-in-law suite<\/a>\u201d \u2014 on parcels with single-family homes, while allowing them to be built either on- or off-site<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9649a0d9 wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\">\n<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"7f936c23-0cd1-4b69-a401-88af8235eda7\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"Home costs as a share of income\"><\/div><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script> \n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>State Rep. Kristian Grant, D-Grand Rapids, said the package represents months worth of work by lawmakers who want to \u201cdirectly impact housing,\u201d not just sound like they\u2019re trying to \u201cfix a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Supporters contend it is becoming harder for Michiganders \u2013 particularly first-time homebuyers and economically disadvantaged residents \u2013 to enter the housing market due to what they see as burdensome regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The median age of first-time homebuyers nationwide is now 40 years old, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nar.realtor\/newsroom\/first-time-home-buyer-share-falls-to-historic-low-of-21-median-age-rises-to-40\">November 2025 report<\/a> from the National Association of Realtors, with the median age of repeat buyers hitting 62.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s in part because, before a contractor purchases a single screw, it costs Michigan homebuilders roughly $94,000 in associated taxes and regulations to build a house, Aragona suggested.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo, how do you make a home affordable if you&#8217;re going to be spending $94,000 \u2026 before you ever pay somebody to swing a hammer at that nail and at that 2-by-4?\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it\u2019s not clear if that math applies to Michigan. The $94,000 figure, often cited by officials, is a national cost estimate, according to a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/fact-check-are-regulations-to-blame-for-rising-michigan-house-costs\/\">Bridge Michigan fact check<\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bob Filka, CEO of the Michigan Association of Homebuilders, told Bridge late last month that he believed Michigan\u2019s cost would be similar but said state figures weren\u2019t available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aragona, chair of the House Regulatory Affairs Committee, said he expects to take up a few of the bills this week.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Already, however, they have some detractors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The legislation is \u201ca disingenuous attempt\u201d at solving the state\u2019s affordable housing crisis that ignores the reality of labor shortages, as well as rising material and land costs, in order to place \u201cthe blame on local governments,\u201d Tom Hickson with the Michigan Township Association said in a statement provided to Bridge Michigan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The proposal \u201cis yet another attempt to preempt local authority and local decisions\u2014which is never the answer,\u201d he added.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a familiar refrain.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignright is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9649a0d9 wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\">\n<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"6e598669-a81b-410a-857a-f4c83e2ee45f\" data-type=\"interactive\" data-title=\"Building permits as a share of housing stock\"><\/div><script>!function(e,n,i,s){var d=\"InfogramEmbeds\";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,\"script\",\"infogram-async\",\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Two years ago, groups like the Michigan Township Association and Michigan Municipal League opposed similar legislation, arguing that while the reforms could increase the housing supply, it\u2019s not clear if zoning updates would \u201caffect affordability, or increase affordable units being built.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;If \u2026 savings are happening, there&#8217;s nothing in here to require those savings be passed on to the actual buyer or renter,&#8221; Jennifer Rigterink, assistant director of state and federal affairs for the Michigan Municipal League, told lawmakers at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She went on to argue that cities were already &#8220;dedicated and committed to finding real solutions for the housing crisis\u201d and were determining how to update zoning laws on a city-by-city basis \u2014 rather than from the statewide approach the bill package calls for, both in the 2024 and 2026 iterations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur members have been making these reforms by choice,\u201d Rigterink said. \u201cAnd so we do question the need of \u2018one size fits all&#8217; \u2014&nbsp; because one size fits no one.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Municipal League last fall called on lawmakers to <a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/michigan-group-pitches-800m-affordable-housing-plan-we-have-to-invest\/\">set aside $800 million<\/a> over the next five years to help spur affordable housing projects, predicting the cash infusion could result in 10,000 new or rehabilitated homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The carrot-over-stick proposal sought to provide funding to developers for projects in communities that relax certain zoning regulations \u2013 such as allowing duplexes in residential areas \u2013 in an effort to ward off any potential mandates from the state.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers say they think they have the fix to boost housing stock in the state by altering zoning laws. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":233,"featured_media":72832,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2026-02-17T22:54:49Z","apple_news_api_id":"9a9528a0-0211-43be-814a-d9e38c523ddc","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2026-02-17T22:54:49Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AmpUooAIRQ76BStnjjFI93A","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[2445],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[2457],"class_list":["post-72826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-michigan-government","entry"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Michigan lawmakers: Fix zoning laws to grow housing - Bridge Michigan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/michigan-lawmakers-fix-zoning-laws-to-grow-housing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Michigan lawmakers: Fix zoning laws to grow housing - Bridge Michigan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers say they think they have the fix to boost housing stock in the state by altering zoning laws.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/michigan-lawmakers-fix-zoning-laws-to-grow-housing\/\" 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bipartisan, bicameral group of Michigan lawmakers say updating Michigan\u2019s zoning laws may just be the fix needed to boost affordable housing stock across the state. 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Prior to joining the Capitol crew, she wrote for MLive as its statewide politics and culture reporter and with Gongwer Michigan as its state House reporter. She lives in Lansing with her husband and two cats.\u00a0When not writing, you can catch her watching hockey or horror movies \u2014 though, usually not at the same time. 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