- Home
- Government
- Departments J - Z
- Planning Office
- Zoning
- Zoning Definitions
Zoning Definitions
The following is a summary of the permitted uses and special uses contained within the individual City of Lansing Zoning Districts. It is important to note that the various uses indicated within the districts mentioned are used as examples only. The Zoning Ordinance Text and Maps should be reviewed prior to constructing, altering, or locating a land use within the City of Lansing. Additionally, there are other requirements not listed here; i.e., off-street parking, sings, lot size, landscaping, etc., which must be met before a permit is issued.
The intent of the "A", "A-1", and "B" Residential Districts is to provide for an environment of predominantly low-density one-family dwellings, along with other residential-related facilities which serve the residents in the district.
Permitted Uses: Single-family detached dwellings with minimum lot size of 6,000 square feet.
Use by Special Condition: Group day care, schools, golf courses.
Use by Special Land Use Permit: Churches, cemeteries, nurseries, child care facilities.
Permitted Uses: Single-family detached dwellings with minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet.
Use by Special Condition and Special Land Use Permit: The same as above.
Permitted Uses: Single-family detached dwellings with minimum lot size of 4,000 square feet.
Use by Special Condition and Special Land Use Permit: The same as above.
The intent of the "C" Residential District is to provide lots for moderate density two-family dwellings. The district is designed to do all of the following:
Permitted Uses: Single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings with lot area per unit as follows:
The intent of the "DM-1" Residential District is to permit the construction or conversion of structures for multiple dwellings, which may be developed at a net density to 19.8 dwelling units per acre.
Permitted Uses: Low density multiple dwellings with minimum lot area per unit:
The intent of the "DM-2" Residential District is to permit the construction or conversion of structures for multiple dwellings, which may be developed at a net density to 31.1 units per acre.
Permitted Uses: Moderate density multiple dwellings with minimum lot area per unit:
The intent of the "DM-3" Residential District is to permit the construction or conversion of structures for multiple dwellings, which may be developed at a net density to 39.6 dwelling units per acre.
Permitted Uses: Medium density multiple dwellings with minimum lot area per unit:
The intent of the "DM-4" Residential District is to permit the construction or conversion of structures for high-rise dwellings, which may be developed at a net density to 87.1 dwelling units per acre.
Permitted Uses: High density multiple dwellings with minimum lot area per unit:
The intent of the "D-1" Professional Office District is to permit the construction or conversion of structures for office uses and multiple dwelling uses.
The intent of the "D-2" Residential / Office District is to permit the construction of structures for combined office and residential use, primarily in the central area, provided that the residential character of the structure and the parcel is retained.
The intent of the "E-1" Apartment Shop District is to permit a structure to be utilized in a combination of commercial, office, and residential uses, although single usage of structures is also permitted. Density ranges for residential uses in an "E-1" Apartment Shop District range to 87.1 dwelling units per acre.
The intent of the "E-2" Local Shopping District is to provide convenience retail stores.
The intent of the "F" and "F-1" Commercial Districts is to allow general retail commercial uses.
The intent of the "G-1" Business District is to allow for a general retail commercial district for the downtown area.
The intent of the "G-2" Wholesale District is to permit the wholesale and warehousing of products, and to permit the packaging, assembly or treatment of products within an enclosed structure.
The intent of the "H" Light Industrial District is to permit the construction or conversion of structures and the use of land for the purpose of manufacturing, processing, compounding, packaging, assembling or treatment of items permitted by this section within an enclosed structure.
The intent of the "I" Heavy Industrial District is to permit the construction or conversion of structures and the use of land for the purpose of manufacturing, processing, and compounding of semi-finished or finished products from raw materials, as well as from previously prepared materials.
The intent of the "J" Parking District is to permit the establishment of areas to be used solely for the off-street parking of private passenger vehicles as a use incidental to a principal use.
"A", "A-1", and "B" Districts
The intent of the "A", "A-1", and "B" Residential Districts is to provide for an environment of predominantly low-density one-family dwellings, along with other residential-related facilities which serve the residents in the district.
"A" Residential District
Permitted Uses: Single-family detached dwellings with minimum lot size of 6,000 square feet.
Use by Special Condition: Group day care, schools, golf courses.
Use by Special Land Use Permit: Churches, cemeteries, nurseries, child care facilities.
"A-1" Residential District
Permitted Uses: Single-family detached dwellings with minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet.
Use by Special Condition and Special Land Use Permit: The same as above.
"B" Residential District
Permitted Uses: Single-family detached dwellings with minimum lot size of 4,000 square feet.
Use by Special Condition and Special Land Use Permit: The same as above.
"C" Residential District
The intent of the "C" Residential District is to provide lots for moderate density two-family dwellings. The district is designed to do all of the following:
Permitted Uses: Single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings with lot area per unit as follows:
- Efficiency - 2,400 square feet
- 1 bedroom - 2,800 square feet
- 2 bedroom - 3,200 square feet
- 3 bedroom - 4,000 square feet
"DM-1" Residential District
The intent of the "DM-1" Residential District is to permit the construction or conversion of structures for multiple dwellings, which may be developed at a net density to 19.8 dwelling units per acre.
Permitted Uses: Low density multiple dwellings with minimum lot area per unit:
- Efficiency - 2,200 square feet
- 1 bedroom - 2,600 square feet
- 2 bedroom - 3,000 square feet
- 3 bedroom - 3,800 square feet
"DM-2" Residential District
The intent of the "DM-2" Residential District is to permit the construction or conversion of structures for multiple dwellings, which may be developed at a net density to 31.1 units per acre.
Permitted Uses: Moderate density multiple dwellings with minimum lot area per unit:
- Efficiency - 1,400 square feet
- 1 bedroom - 1,600 square feet
- 2 bedroom - 2,000 square feet
- 3 bedroom - 2,800 square feet
"DM-3" Residential District
The intent of the "DM-3" Residential District is to permit the construction or conversion of structures for multiple dwellings, which may be developed at a net density to 39.6 dwelling units per acre.
Permitted Uses: Medium density multiple dwellings with minimum lot area per unit:
- Efficiency - 1,100 square feet
- 1 bedroom - 1,300 square feet
- 2 bedroom - 1,500 square feet
- 3 bedroom - 2,200 square feet
"DM-4" Residential District
The intent of the "DM-4" Residential District is to permit the construction or conversion of structures for high-rise dwellings, which may be developed at a net density to 87.1 dwelling units per acre.
Permitted Uses: High density multiple dwellings with minimum lot area per unit:
- Efficiency - 500 square feet
- 1 bedroom - 700 square feet
- 2 bedroom - 950 square feet
- 3+ bedroom - 1,400 square feet
"D-1" Professional Office District
The intent of the "D-1" Professional Office District is to permit the construction or conversion of structures for office uses and multiple dwelling uses.
- Permitted Uses: Professional and business offices (i.e., doctor, lawyer, architect), banks, parks.
- Use by Special Condition: Funeral homes, clinics, multiple dwelling at same density as "DM-1" Residential District.
- Use by Special Land Use Permit: Churches, trade union hall, fraternities, sororities.
"D-2" Residential / Office District
The intent of the "D-2" Residential / Office District is to permit the construction of structures for combined office and residential use, primarily in the central area, provided that the residential character of the structure and the parcel is retained.
- Permitted Uses: Professional Offices (see "D-1" Professional Office District permitted uses listed above) when at least 50 percent of the gross floor area of the building is maintained for residential purposes. Multiple dwellings at same density as "DM-1" Residential District.
- Use by Special Condition: Child care facility.
- Use by Special Land Use Permit: Office use in 70 percent of the building; planned residential developments.
"E-1" Apartment Shop District
The intent of the "E-1" Apartment Shop District is to permit a structure to be utilized in a combination of commercial, office, and residential uses, although single usage of structures is also permitted. Density ranges for residential uses in an "E-1" Apartment Shop District range to 87.1 dwelling units per acre.
- Permitted Uses: Mixed residential/commercial or office development. Single use structures also permitted (i.e., motels, convenience stores).
- Use by Special Condition and Special Land Use Permit: The same as "D-1" District, except residential density same as "DM-4."
"E-2" Local Shopping District
The intent of the "E-2" Local Shopping District is to provide convenience retail stores.
- Permitted Uses: Convenience retail (i.e., post office, bar, restaurant, hardware, laundromat, gas station.)
- Use by Special Condition and Special Land Use Permit: The same as "D-1" District except residential uses not permitted.
"F" and "F-1" Commercial Districts
The intent of the "F" and "F-1" Commercial Districts is to allow general retail commercial uses.
- Permitted Uses: General retail uses (i.e., comparison retail, theater, hotel) as well as convenience retail and office uses.
- Use by Special Condition: Accessory residential uses at "DM-3" density, hospital, clinic, animal hospital, kennel, vehicle sales.
- Use by Special Land Use Permit: Similar to "D-1" District.
"G-1" Business District
The intent of the "G-1" Business District is to allow for a general retail commercial district for the downtown area.
- Permitted Uses: The same as "F" Commercial; however, since this district is only found in the downtown area, there are no parking or setback requirements, or height restrictions.
- Use by Special Condition and Special Land Use Permit: The same as "D-1" Professional Office District, residential uses at "DM-4" density. An off street parking facility by special permit.
"G-2" Wholesale District
The intent of the "G-2" Wholesale District is to permit the wholesale and warehousing of products, and to permit the packaging, assembly or treatment of products within an enclosed structure.
- Permitted Uses: Wholesome and warehouse activities within an enclosed structure, as well as general retail and public garages.
- Use by Special Condition and Special Land Use Permit: The same as "D-1" Office District, except residential uses are not permitted.
- First district which permits heavy auto repair uses.
"H" Light Industrial District
The intent of the "H" Light Industrial District is to permit the construction or conversion of structures and the use of land for the purpose of manufacturing, processing, compounding, packaging, assembling or treatment of items permitted by this section within an enclosed structure.
- Permitted Uses: Manufacture of already processed components such as bakeries, cosmetics, candies, tool, die and machine shops, manufacture of toys, furniture, appliances, truck terminals, metal forging, dry cleaning plants, laundries, laboratories, lumber yards, and contractor storage yards.
- Use by Special Condition: Trade school, child day care, museum, library, animal hospital, kennel, car trailer and RV sales, heliport, heavy auto repair.
- Use by Special Land Use Permit: Church, drive-in theater, other storage yards, research laboratory, and residential uses.
"I" Heavy Industrial District
The intent of the "I" Heavy Industrial District is to permit the construction or conversion of structures and the use of land for the purpose of manufacturing, processing, and compounding of semi-finished or finished products from raw materials, as well as from previously prepared materials.
- Permitted Uses: Power plants, manufacture of automobile parts and car assembly, industrial scrap metal processing, cleaning, processing, servicing, or repair of any product.
- Use by Special Condition: Same as "H" Light Industrial District, adding all outdoor storage yards and salvage yards.
- Use by Special Land Use Permit: Church, drive-in theater, sanitary land fill, mining, junk yard, research laboratory, and residential uses.
"J" Parking District
The intent of the "J" Parking District is to permit the establishment of areas to be used solely for the off-street parking of private passenger vehicles as a use incidental to a principal use.
- Permitted Uses: Off-street parking areas for private passenger vehicles.
- Use by Special Condition: Attendant building.
- Use by Special Land Use Permit: Commercial uses in first floors of parking structures and vehicle sales. Residential uses not permitted.
-
Planning Office
Physical Address
316 N Capitol Avenue
Suite D-1
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: 517-483-4066Fax: 517-483-6036
Hours
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.