HB 5530
Updating Zoning Law to Allow Smaller Residential Lots
House Bill 5530 updates Michigan’s Zoning Enabling Act to make it possible to build detached single-family homes on smaller lots—down to 1,500 square feet—when public water and sewer service are available.
Today, many local zoning ordinances require much larger minimum lot sizes, even in fully serviced urban areas. Those requirements increase land costs per home and limit housing supply. HB 5530 sets a statewide cap to prevent overly restrictive lot size mandates where infrastructure already exists.
What the bill does
Prohibits local zoning ordinances from requiring a minimum parcel size greater than 1,500 square feet for land zoned for a detached single-family residence if the parcel:
Is accessible, and
Will be served by public water and public sewer.
Maintains local authority to regulate:
Height
Bulk
Number of stories
Building placement
Other traditional zoning standards
Ensures uniform application of zoning regulations within districts while clarifying that minimum lot size caps apply in serviced areas.
Why this matters
Large minimum lot size requirements are one of the most significant drivers of housing scarcity and rising land costs. Even in areas with full urban infrastructure, zoning rules often mandate far more land per home than is necessary for safety or public services.
HB 5530 makes it easier to:
Build smaller, more affordable single-family homes
Support infill development in established neighborhoods
Use existing public infrastructure more efficiently
Lower land costs per home
By limiting minimum lot sizes only in areas with sewer and water service, the bill balances local planning authority with a clear statewide standard that expands housing opportunity.
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2/18/2026: Introduced by Representative Jennifer Wortz
Referred to Committee on Regulatory Reform
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Jennifer Wortz (District 35)
Stephen Wooden (District 81)
Kristian Grant (District 82)
Joseph Aragona (District 60)
Carrie Rheingans (District 47)
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