Board of Zoning Appeals

General Information 

• The BZA meets the first Wednesday of the month.  The public is welcome to attend. 
• Meetings are held at 7 p.m. at City Hall - Council Chambers, 215 W. Main Street, Northville, Michigan, 48167, unless time or location are otherwise noted.
• Meeting dates or application submission deadlines may be moved due to holidays and holiday newspaper publication.  Follow the posted schedule.
• Applications are due by 4 p.m. on the posted submission deadline. 
• Due to publication requirements, submission deadlines are firm.

Note:  Meeting the submission deadline does not ensure the case will be heard at the next BZA meeting. The community development director will review your application, supporting documentation, and determine if the case has the information needed to properly notice the public hearing. Follow the application instructions. If your application is deficient, the case will be deferred to a future meeting. 

• Note: To apply for a variance, you must first apply for a building permit. The building official reviews the plans to determine the type and extent of variance (or variances) needed. Do not file a BZA application until you have fulfilled this requirement. 
  
  
• BZA applications are reviewed by the building official and community development director to determine if they are complete. Incomplete applications are deferred to a future meeting.  
  
  
• For complete applications, city staff prepares a public hearing notice for publication in the newspaper and mails notification to the applicant and property owners located within 300 feet of the property in which the request is located.
  
  
• Complete applications are provided to BZA members prior to the meeting.
  
  
• Staff reviews are provided to the petitioner by email prior to the scheduled meeting.

The petitioner appears on his/her own behalf, or by representation. Failure to do so will result in the petition being tabled and the petitioner responsible for covering all fees associated with rescheduling the meeting.

Meeting format is as follows: 

• City official introduces the petition  
• Petitioner presentation
• Public hearing
• Deliberation
• Motion and vote

BZA members have the authority to grant a lesser variance than requested upon finding justice shall be served. In addition, the BZA may require conditions related to the site, operation, and/or use to mitigate the impact of any variance.

Approval of a Non-Use (Dimensional) Variance is valid for one year.  The application for a building permit or zoning/compliance permit must be submitted within this period. 

Approval of a Use Variance is valid for one year, during which time the use must be established on the subject site or a building permit obtained.