Washtenaw County does not zone residential land. Cities and townships do, under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act. In Ann Arbor, a home occupation must be conducted within the dwelling, carried on by a resident family member, and stay incidental and subordinate to the home's residential use.
Under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (MCL 125.3101 et seq.), cities and townships zone their own land; a Michigan county zones only townships that never adopted their own zoning, and in Washtenaw nearly all have. So home-business zoning is set by Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, or your township, not the county. Ann Arbor's Unified Development Code allows a home occupation as an accessory use in dwellings. It must be conducted entirely within the dwelling unit by a resident family member, be clearly incidental and subordinate to residential use, and not change the character of the dwelling. Other municipalities have comparable but distinct standards, so confirm rules with your local planning office.
Operating a business that violates local zoning (e.g., changing the dwelling's residential character) can bring municipal zoning-enforcement notices, fines, and orders to cease the use.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Washtenaw County, MI
Washtenaw County has no dedicated hoarding ordinance, but Michigan's animal-cruelty law requires adequate care for every animal and escalates penalties sharp...
Washtenaw County, MI
Washtenaw County has no wildlife-feeding ordinance, but a statewide ban prohibits feeding and baiting deer and elk throughout the Lower Peninsula, which incl...
Washtenaw County, MI
Backyard composting is allowed in Ann Arbor, which also runs curbside compost and yard-waste collection. Grass clippings, leaves, and yard waste must not be ...
Washtenaw County, MI
Neither Washtenaw County nor Ann Arbor has a specific ordinance banning or permitting residential artificial turf. It is generally allowed, subject to standa...
Washtenaw County, MI
Washtenaw County and Ann Arbor allow and actively encourage native-plant and pollinator landscaping. The 12-inch turf-grass cap targets neglected lawns, not ...
Washtenaw County, MI
Rainwater harvesting is legal and unrestricted for homeowners in Washtenaw County and Michigan. Ann Arbor actively encourages rain barrels, rain gardens, and...
See how Washtenaw County's zoning restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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