Detroit's Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and density-bonus provisions in Ch. 50 reward affordable-unit set-asides with extra height, FAR, and parking flexibility. Adopted 2017 and amended through 2024, the framework ties tax abatements and bonuses to income-restricted units.
Detroit Code Sec. 50-3-91 et seq. requires projects of 20+ units receiving city support (land, financing, abatements) to set aside at least 20% of units for households at 80% AMI or below. In return, developers may receive density bonuses, parking reductions, and design flexibility. Tax abatements through PA 210 (commercial rehab) and NEZ (neighborhood enterprise zone) districts further sweeten the deal. The Housing & Revitalization Department (HRD) and BSEED jointly administer. Critics argue the AMI threshold is too high for actual Detroit incomes; the ordinance has been amended to add deeper-affordability tiers.
Failure to record affordability covenants or delivering fewer affordable units than required can trigger HRD recapture of tax incentives and clawback of subsidies, with project-specific penalties up to the full incentive value.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Detroit, MI
Detroit's zoning and property maintenance codes do not restrict the number, size, or style of residential lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays. Re...
Detroit, MI
Detroit has no specific ordinance regulating residential inflatable holiday displays (giant snowmen, pumpkins, Santas). Restrictions, if any, come from priva...
Detroit, MI
Detroit has no citywide ordinance restricting the time of year, brightness, or duration of residential holiday lights. Restrictions arise mainly from Local H...
Detroit, MI
A built-in outdoor kitchen in Detroit requires separate trade permits from BSEED for any gas line, electrical, or plumbing work, plus a building permit if it...
Detroit, MI
Detroit has no ordinance specifically regulating residential offset smokers or pellet grills. The City's nuisance and air-quality provisions (Detroit Code Ch...
Detroit, MI
Detroit follows the International Fire Code (IFC) as adopted by Michigan. IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame and charcoal cooking on combustible balcon...
See how Detroit's density bonus law rules stack up against other locations.
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