Bipartisan coalition of business, environment, real estate and advocacy groups urge Michigan Legislature to pass Housing Readiness Plan
Skyrocketing costs, shortage of supply require statewide solution to create stability, protect property rights, boost affordability
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, April 16, 2026
CONTACT: Mark Fisk, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, mfisk@byrumfisk.com and Azlan Ibrahim, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, aibrahim@byrumfisk.com
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan business groups joined environmental, real estate, housing advocacy, social service organizations, and diverse nonprofit groups today to call on the Legislature to pass the Housing Readiness Plan, a bipartisan, bicameral package of bills that can help rein in skyrocketing costs, boost housing supply and protect property rights. (See an outline of the plan and list of supporters below.)
Supported by Republican and Democratic legislators in both the House and Senate, the proposal comes as Michigan faces a severe housing crisis, with Michigan’s inventory of available housing half of what a balanced market should have, affordable housing short by hundreds of thousands, and the median housing price at $270,000 – a jump of $40,000 in just three years.
“What we’re seeing today is real momentum,” said State Rep. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids), a sponsor of the package. “This coalition brings together partners from across Michigan who may not always agree on everything, but are united in one thing: we need more housing options, and we need them now. The Housing Readiness package is about making it possible to build more homes Michiganders can actually afford, and it’s clear that there is growing, statewide support to get this done.”
“It's encouraging to see a broad coalition come together who all agree on one thing: Michigan needs more housing and we need to make it easier to build it,” said State Senator John Lindsey (R-Coldwater), a member of the Housing Readiness Plan coalition. “Michigan is facing a housing crisis. For too long, outdated regulations and unnecessary red tape have slowed down development and driven up costs for families. By cutting through bureaucracy and streamlining processes, we can make it so everyone in Michigan has a fair shot at a safe, more affordable place to call home.”
The Housing Readiness Plan modernizes outdated zoning rules while preserving public input, local planning authority, public hearings, planning commissions and local votes. The plan streamlines rules on residential building, parking requirements and dwelling and lot sizes. The plan also clarifies development study and petition processes.
“Michigan faces a serious housing crisis, and the Housing Readiness Plan is a clear solution that can boost homebuilding and provide families with an affordable place to call home,” said Lauren Strickland, executive director of Abundant Housing Michigan. “Across Michigan our affiliates and supporters know that it is long past time for statewide action to remove barriers to the kinds of homes our neighbors can afford, and this bill package makes that happen. Our independent polling shows that Michiganders overwhelmingly want statewide action on housing affordability now.”
“Realtors support the Housing Readiness Plan because we see firsthand the challenges Michigan families face when trying to buy a home or find an affordable place to rent,” said Brad Ward, vice president of public policy and legal affairs at Michigan Realtors. “States and communities both red and blue have passed reforms like those in the Housing Readiness Plan. In fact, these reforms are in the Michigan Association of Planning’s Zoning Reform toolkit as best practices to face our housing challenges and in the Michigan Municipal League’s own MI Home Program legislation. Since we all agree that outdated regulations and red tape are a barrier to getting more Michiganders into homes, let’s get them out of their way.”
“The Housing Readiness Plan can help lower costs by reducing land use, modernizing outdated laws and regulations, and cutting lag and costly delays,” said Dawn Crandall, executive vice president at the Home Builders Association of Michigan. “Michigan needs policies to keep up with real world conditions, and we know exactly what contributes to rising homebuilding and residential expenses. The bipartisan Housing Readiness Plan represents the best way to support families, boost the construction of attainable homes and move our economy forward.”
“Increasing housing density is a key element in establishing walkable, vibrant communities,” said Ross Gavin, urban land use and infrastructure policy director at the Michigan Environmental Council. “The Housing Readiness Plan is a step toward Michigan communities reducing carbon emissions, encouraging economic development, and promoting multi-modal forms of transportation. It is a vital effort in attracting and retaining Michigan’s future work force.”
Thomas Hutchison, Genesee County Habitat for Humanity director, said: “We are facing a massive housing shortage that requires bold solutions. By creating more flexibility, we can expand access to safe affordable housing for families across the state. This coalition and bill package reflects the kind of effort needed to build a Michigan where everyone has a safe, decent and affordable place to call home.”
“A lower cost of housing has long been a strategic advantage for Michigan, but that is becoming less and less true as rents and home prices go up faster than the rest of the nation,” said Jarrett Skorup, Mackinac Center vice president of marketing and communications. “President Trump and former President Biden disagreed on a lot, but both administrations agreed that local zoning rules are often too stringent. Michigan’s bipartisan Housing Readiness plan will modernize regulations, strengthen personal property rights, increase supply and lower housing costs.”
The Housing Readiness Plan enjoys the support of more than 30 diverse organizations, businesses and nonprofits from all backgrounds. Supporters include groups that represent every economic, social, demographic and political background.
According to the National Association of Realtors, Michigan has only three months of available housing. A balanced housing market typically has six months of inventory. Michigan families face a shortfall of at least 115,000 housing units. The median Michigan home sale price is $270,000 as of March 2026, with prices jumping by $40,000 in just three years. Tariffs added about $17,000 to the cost of building a home, and high 6% interest rates keep home ownership out of reach for too many families. The income-to-affordability gap is another factor: The average income of a first-time home buyer is $97,000, but the average Michigan household income is $73,000.
Michigan voters overwhelmingly want their lawmakers to act to make housing more affordable. Nearly 7 in 10 Michiganders say their local government is not doing enough to reduce the cost of renting or buying a home, according to a 2025 poll. By a 3-to-1 margin (64% to 22%), voters say the Michigan Legislature should take the lead in making housing more affordable and available. And 69% of voters say building affordable housing is more important to Michigan than protecting the character of local neighborhoods.
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THE MICHIGAN HOUSING READINESS PLAN
Michigan communities are experiencing a housing crisis driven by a shortage of homes that affects affordability and limits options for residents of all ages. The common-sense reforms in this package set reasonable statewide guardrails while preserving meaningful local input and oversight. Because of the national scope of the housing crisis, reforms in the Housing Readiness Plan have been adopted in both red and blue states. The majority of these reforms apply within or adjacent to metropolitan areas across the state, where housing demand is the highest.
KEY REFORMS
Minimum Lot Size: House Bills 5529 & 5530 (Reps. Kristian Grant and Jennifer Wortz)
HB 5529 and 5530 set a 1,500-square-foot minimum lot size for single-family homes in metro areas, preventing overly large land requirements that make housing more expensive.
Clarifying Development Study Requirements: HB 5531 (Rep. Cynthia Neeley)
HB 5531 creates a clear timeline and fair standards for local governments to review development proposals and make timely decisions. The timeline creates certainty while preserving necessary environmental reviews and includes:
A shot clock for municipalities to review the initial application and respond with any questions, requests for clarification, and any studies needed to ensure the health and safety of the community related to the project.
Once all requested information is submitted, municipalities have 60 days to review the final materials and issue approval or denial.
Protest Petition Process: HB 5532 (Rep. Joseph Aragona)
HB 5532 clarifies and modernizes the local protest petition process to better reflect community sentiment and provide consistency for local decision-makers. The bill expands the petition area to 300 feet while setting a clear 60% signature threshold, helping ensure that petitions represent broad neighborhood input before a supermajority vote is required by the local council.
Reasonable Dwelling Size: HB 5581 (Rep. Tom Kunse)
HB 5581 caps minimum dwelling size requirements at 500 square feet in metropolitan statistical areas statewide. This makes it easier to build smaller, more affordable starter homes and apartments where large land parcels may not be abundant.
Smarter Parking Rules: HB 5582 (Rep. Kristian Grant)
HB 5582 caps mandatory parking requirements at no more than one space per dwelling unit. This lowers costs for builders and families, encourages more walkable neighborhoods and prevents outdated rules from limiting new housing.
Setback Requirements: HB 5583 (Rep. Matt Longjohn)
HB 5583 defines setback requirements in metropolitan statistical areas at 15 feet from the front property line and five feet from the sides and rear. This helps use land more efficiently, while still allowing exceptions for sensitive areas like marshes or waterways.
Duplex Expansion: HB 5584 (Rep. Joey Andrews)
HB 5584 permits duplexes in single-family residential zones within or adjacent to metropolitan statistical areas, while providing a clear statewide definition of a duplex.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): HB 5585 (Rep. Luke Meerman)
HB 5585 defines ADUs and allows them on parcels with single-family homes. It caps setbacks at five feet, prohibits additional parking mandates and allows ADUs to be built on- or off-site. This expands options for seniors, students and families.
The following organizations support the Housing Readiness Plan:
Americans for Prosperity
Communities First Inc
Michigan Environmental Council
Abundant Housing Michigan
Home Builders of Michigan
Flywheel
Michigan Manufactured Housing Association
Rental Property Owners Association of Michigan
Michigan Sierra Club
Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan
Strong Towns Grand Rapids
Climate Cabinet
Michigan Realtors Association
Welcoming Neighbors Network (WNN)
MI Association of Planners
Small Business Association of Michigan
Institute for Justice
Housing North
Strong Towns Flint
Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Michigan League of Conservation Voters
Business Leaders for Michigan
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Mortgage Lenders Association of Michigan
Apartment Association of Michigan
Pacific Legal Foundation
Disability Advocates of Kent County
YIMBY Action
Natural Resources Defense Council
AirBnB
Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM)
Pew Charitable Trusts
YIMBY Oakland County
YIMBY Plymouth
Genesee County Habitat for Humanity
Neighborhood Institute
