Frequently Asked Questions

The purpose of zoning is to regulate property use and development within each district and ensure that the vision in the City’s Comprehensive Plan is consistently met. Zoning divides the city into districts (zones). The districts are shown on the zoning map, and the zoning ordinance lists the rules for each district. Zoning is just one piece of the review of any proposed development or project, which may also entail evaluation for planning criteria (known as Site Plan review), building codes, and life safety codes.

To determine what your property is zoned you will need to use the City’s Interactive Zoning Map. Be prepared to enter in your property address or Parcel ID number.

The Zoning Ordinance (PDF) lists the rules for each district and how properties can be used. Each zone section has the following information: 

• Permitted Uses – uses that are allowed in the zone, usually requiring administrative permit approval. 
• Special Land Uses – uses that are generally considered compatible with the permitted uses of the zone and requiring approval from the Planning Commission & City Council.

Rezoning a property, also known as a map amendment, is an involved process, and success is not guaranteed. Petitioners must provide documentation that the property is appropriate for rezoning based on the principles of zoning and the City’s Master Plan. It then requires public hearing and review through the Planning Commission, and then final approval through the City Council. These bodies would have to find that the zoning is appropriate and not likely to cause negative impacts on surrounding existing uses such as residences.

Setbacks are measured from the actual property lines and not from fences, curbs, sidewalks, or street pavement edges. A property survey may be necessary to verify the location of property lines prior to construction. From the property line, setbacks are usually measured to the foundation edge of the structure.

The City does not have surveys of private property. You will need to hire a professional survey to create a survey for you.

If you will be occupying an existing building you will need to fill out and submit a re-occupancy application. Before doing so please verify that the proposed use is allowed in the existing zoning district for the property. The Planning Division will verify the use is permitted and will pass the application over to the Building Division to schedule inspections and determine any necessary permits. If the property passes the final inspections a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued.

If you are developing a property, you will need to go through the Site Plan approval process. Please contact the Planning Division. 

You may fence in the rear yard (back corner of home all the way around to the other back corner of the home) with up to a six foot high fence. Unless you have written permission from the neighbors, the fence must be wholly on your property, good side facing out. The City prefers that chain link fences be removed before installing a privacy fence. If it is going adjacent to a chain link fence it must be either two feet away or 6” up off the ground so that the area between the fences can be maintained. A side yard fence (at 4.5’ high maximum) would be allowed in a side yard if there is a side door to the home on that side or it is at a corner. It can go up to the front line of the home in that case. 

• Front yards may be enclosed by split rail or ranch-type fences with no more than two rails, at a height above the grade of two adjoining lots of three feet, so long as the fence is constructed two or more feet from the sidewalk or front lot line, whichever is closest to the front building line. No fence shall be constructed along the side lot line of residential lots which have adjacent or abutting driveways unless a written approval, signed and notarized by the owners of each of the adjacent lots, is filed with the building division.
• If a rear yard for one lot is a front yard for another lot than such rear yard fence is not allowed.
• For corner lots a side yard fence shall be allowed along the side lot line on the street side of a corner lot, so long as it is not constructed between the front lot line and the front building line of the corner lot.

A zoning ordinance specifies what types of uses zones allow (ex. Residential, Commercial, Industrial etc.) and also regulates lot size, placement, bulk (or density) and the height of structures. Click to read the City of Westland’s Zoning Ordinance (PDF).

A variance is a deviation from the set of rules a municipality applies to land use and land development, typically a zoning ordinance, building code or municipal code. The manner in which variances are employed can differ greatly depending on the municipality.

Site plans for single-family residential and industrial properties in the industrial subdivisions not adjacent to residential zoning districts are reviewed and approved by the Planning Division. All other site plans require review by the Planning Commission and approval by the City Council.

• Residential accessory buildings larger than 200 square feet may occupy not more than 40 percent of a required rear yard, and/or 25 percent of any non-required rear yard; provided that in no instance shall the total square footage of all accessory buildings exceed the ground floor area of the main buildings.
• A detached accessory building shall be located so that its front building line is at least ten feet to the rear of the building line of any main building, provided that a detached private garage shall be so located that its front building line is not closer to the front lot line than the rear building line of any main building.
• When an accessory building is located on a corner lot, the side lot line of which is substantially a continuation of the front lot line of the lot to its rear, said building shall not project beyond the front yard line required on the lot to the rear of such corner lot.
• Accessory buildings for residential land uses shall not be erected in any required yard except a rear yard, provided further, that in no instance shall such a building be nearer than two feet to any adjoining lot line.
• Detached accessory structures shall not exceed a height of 14 feet.

For a lot/parcel to be buildable it will need to comply with the minimum lot width and minimum lot size requirements for the zoning district in which it is zoned. That information is found in the zoning district under the zoning category after the use lists.

Section 110-5.4 of the zoning ordinance sets criteria to allow the development of certain lots that do not meet current zoning dimensional standards. A nonconforming “lot of record” may be developed if:

• The lot existed in its current form as of 1981, as demonstrated by a recorded deed or plan from prior to that date.
• Subject lot shall have been in separate ownership and not contiguous with other lots in the same ownership.
• The minimum setback dimensions and other requirements shall conform to the regulations for the district.