Business Licensing & Operations in Westland, MI

If you live in Westland or are thinking about moving there, business licensing & operations are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Westland has 7 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of business licensing & operations, and some of them might surprise you.

Adult Entertainment

Any Westland establishment selling sexually explicit books, videos or magazines must shield them from public view, keep them out of windows, and restrict access to buyers 18 and older.

Key details: Access age: 18 or older. Penalty: Up to 90 days, $500 fine. Adopted: Ord. No. 109-M, 5-21-01. Enforced by: Police or building department.

Displaying adult material in a window or unshielded area, allowing access to minors, or failing to post required signage: a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days jail and a $500 fine, with each day a separate offense.

Auto Repair on Residential Property

Westland's zoning ordinance flatly excludes vehicle repair or painting from the home-occupation category, so residents can't run an auto-repair business out of their house or garage as their principal occupation.

Key details: Vehicle repair/painting: Excluded from home occupations. Also excluded: Dental and medical offices. Applies when: Principal occupation based at the dwelling. Governing section: Zoning Ordinance § 8.1.1(i).

Running an auto-repair business from a home violates the zoning ordinance's use standards; Sec. 19.1 sets a fine up to $500 and up to 90 days in jail per offense, with each day of continued operation a separate offense.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Westland actively enforces its auto repair on residential property requirements.

Tobacco Retail License

Westland bars new retail tobacco, hookah and vape shops from locating within 500 feet of any place of worship, school, park, playground, or place where minors gather.

Key details: Governing section: § 8.17, Zoning Ordinance. Buffer distance: 500 feet. Protected sites: Schools, parks, worship, minors' areas. Adopted: October 21, 2024.

Opening a retail tobacco, hookah, or vape shop within 500 feet of a school, park, playground, place of worship, or area where minors gather violates the zoning ordinance and can block site plan approval.

Compared to other cities, Westland takes a harder line on tobacco retail license. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Tattoo & Body Modification

Westland's zoning ordinance classifies tattoo artist establishments as a personal service use, permitted by right in five of the city's six commercial/mixed-use zoning districts: every one except Office Business (OB).

Key details: Use classification: Personal service use. Permitted districts: CB-1, CB-2, CB-3, CCD, Ford. Excluded district: OB Office Business. Special approval needed: None: permitted by right.

Operating a tattoo shop in a district where the use isn't listed as permitted, such as OB, violates the zoning ordinance: § 19.1 sets a fine up to $500 and up to 90 days imprisonment per day, plus civil nuisance abatement.

The rules around tattoo & body modification in Westland lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Pawnbrokers

Westland treats pawnbrokers as secondhand dealers requiring a city clerk license, and lets police place up to 90-day investigative holds on pawned property suspected of being stolen.

Key details: Classified as: Second hand dealer under § 26-3. License authority: Westland city clerk. Police hold order: Up to 90 days. Adopting ordinance: Ord. No. 220-A-3 (2019).

Operating as an unlicensed pawnbroker is a misdemeanor carrying up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail, plus a two-year license revocation on conviction; releasing property against a valid police hold order is a separate violation.

Massage Establishments

Westland requires a separate city clerk license for every massage establishment location, plus state-licensed therapists, background checks, and closure between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Key details: License required: Per location, from city clerk. Hours: Closed 11 p.m.-6 a.m.. Therapist license: Separate state license required. Minimum age on premises: 18. Adopting ordinance: Ord. No. 177-A-2 (2020).

Operating an unlicensed massage establishment, employing an unlicensed therapist, or violating operating rules can trigger license suspension or revocation after a hearing before the mayor, appealable to city council.

This is one of the stricter rules in Westland's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Secondhand Dealers

Westland requires anyone dealing in secondhand goods or junk to obtain a city clerk license, submit fingerprints, and log every purchase in a police-inspectable record book before reselling items.

Key details: License required: From Westland city clerk. Retention period: 15 days before resale. Penalty: $500 fine, 90 days jail. Adopting ordinance: Ord. No. 220-A-3 (2019). Record inspection: Open to Westland police.

Operating without a license, or violating the recordkeeping and 15-day retention rules, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail; a conviction also revokes the license for two years.

The Bottom Line

Westland is tougher than many cities when it comes to business licensing & operations. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Westland, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Westland's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.