Westland, MI Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Commission size
- 7 city-resident members
- Permit required
- Certificate of approval before alteration
- Review deadline
- 60 days, or deemed approved
- Who designates landmarks
- City council, on commission recommendation
- Default penalty
- Up to $500 fine / 90 days
Summary
Westland's historic district commission designates historic landmarks and must approve a certificate before any exterior alteration, move, or demolition of a landmark structure can proceed.
The commission may recommend to the city council that certain sites or structures be added to or deleted from the historic districts established by this division or that certain structures, features or sites be designated as historic landmarks. ... The historic district commission shall maintain a roster of historic landmarks, as designated by the city council, which shall include a description of the characteristics and location of the historic landmarks.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 66).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code Ch. 2, Div. 6, the Westland City Council designates historic landmarks and historic districts, acting on recommendations from the seven-member historic district commission (all city residents), which maintains the official roster of designated landmarks. Before altering, moving, or demolishing the exterior of a structure within a historic district or landmark, the owner must obtain a certificate of approval from the commission, which weighs historical/architectural significance, exterior compatibility, and other factors. The commission must act within 60 days or the plans are deemed approved. If a demolition permit is denied, the commission must first attempt to find a feasible preservation plan or buyer before the city may consider purchase. No penalty is stated in this division, so the Code's general penalty (§ 1-8) applies.
Violations & Fines
Altering, moving, or demolishing a historic landmark or district structure without a commission-issued certificate of approval violates §§ 2-366 and 2-372; the general Code penalty in § 1-8 (up to a $500.00 fine and/or 90 days' imprisonment) applies absent a division-specific penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designates a property as a historic landmark in Westland?
Can I demolish a designated historic landmark in Westland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westland
Compare Westland to another location·View the Michigan historic preservation overview
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Historic-Cultural Monuments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle historic-cultural monuments.