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.
Detroit, MI
The Detroit Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 50, separate document) governs land use, density, and form across residential, business, special-purpose, and overlay d...
Detroit, MI
Detroit requires rental property registration and inspection through the BSEED rental inspection program. All residential rental properties must obtain a Cer...
See how Detroit's density bonus law rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.