Grand Rapids, MI Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)
Key Facts
- Bonus
- Up to 500 sq ft/unit lot-area cut
- Eligible districts
- TCC, TBA, TOD, C zones
- Transit proximity required
- 0.5 mi BRT / 0.25 mi transit stop
- Affordability term
- At least 15 years
- Minimum project size
- 20 dwelling units
Summary
Grand Rapids lets multi-family developers in its TCC, TBA, TOD, and C zone districts shrink the minimum lot area per unit by up to 500 square feet, building denser, by mixing in affordable, transit-accessible housing.
Mixed-Income Housing Bonus. The minimum lot area per dwelling unit in a multiple family development may be reduced by up to five hundred (500) square feet per unit for development projects that satisfy the criteria below: i. The development is located within a half mile of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station or one-quarter of a mile of a transit stop; ii. The development includes at least twenty (20) dwelling units; iii. Not less than fifteen (15) percent nor more than thirty (30) percent of rental units are priced at or below sixty (60) percent of Area Median Income.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 70).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 5.6.07.B.2 of the Chapter 61 Zoning Ordinance's Density Bonus Table lets a multiple-family project in the TCC, TBA, TOD, or C Mixed-Use Commercial Zone Districts cut its minimum lot area per dwelling unit by up to 500 square feet under the Mixed-Income Housing Bonus. To qualify, the project must sit within a half mile of a Bus Rapid Transit station (or a quarter mile of a transit stop), include at least 20 dwelling units, and price 15 to 30 percent of its rental units at or below 60 percent of Area Median Income for at least 15 years. Separate bonuses in the same table cover micro-units and deeper affordability tiers.
Violations & Fines
A project that claims the density bonus but fails to keep the required affordability mix, pricing term, or unit comparability breaches its recorded density agreement, enforceable by the City Commission and City Attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Grand Rapids' density bonus work?
Which zone districts get this bonus?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Rapids
Compare Grand Rapids to another location·View the Michigan zoning overlays & bonuses overview
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Density Bonus Law in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kent County handle density bonus law.