Board of Zoning Appeals

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 Board of Zoning Appeals office is located at 212 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Detroit, Michigan 48226, telephone number is (313) 224-3595.  Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
 

The City Council's Appointed Seven Board Members are: