For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases beginning with the letters “Aa” through “Ag,” shall have the meaning respectively ascribed to them by this section:
| Term | Definition |
| Abut or abutting | Having a common border with. |
| Access drive | A paved surface that provides vehicular access from a public street to a parking area or parking garage or pedestrian pick-up/drop-off area. |
| Accessory building or accessory structure | A building or structure that:
(1) Is subordinate to and services a principal building or a principal use legally existing on the same zoning lot; (2) Is subordinate in area, extent and purpose to the principal building or principal use; and (3) Contributes to the comfort, convenience or necessity of the occupants, business or principal use served. |
| Accessory parking | See “Parking, accessory.” |
| Accessory use | A use that:
(1) Is incidental and subordinate to and devoted exclusively to a principal building or a principal use legally existing on the same zoning lot; (2) Is subordinate in area, extent and purpose to the principal building or principal use; and (3) Contributes to the comfort, convenience or necessity of the occupants, business or industry of the principal structure or principal use served. |
| Addition | Construction or alteration that increases the square footage, number of dwelling units, bulk or other extent of a building or structure, but the term "addition" does not apply in a situation
where, for example, all but one wall of an existing building is demolished for the purposes of reconstructing the building with a larger footprint and containing a greater gross floor area. For regulatory purposes, such a situation is considered as demolition and new construction. |
| Adjacent | Same as “abut or abutting” |
| Adult-use marijuana establishment | A location where a licensee operates one of the following commercial entities or activities under the authority of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act, Initiated Law 1 of 2018, MCL 333.27951, et seq. (MRTMA”): grower,
processor, retailer, secure transporter, safety compliance facility, marijuana microbusiness, excess marijuana grower, marijuana event organizer, temporary marijuana event, or designated marijuana consumption establishment, or any other type of marijuana-related business licensed to operate in accordance with the MRTMA. |
| Adult bookstore or adult video store | A commercial establishment which, as one of its principal business activities, offers for sale or rental for any form of consideration any one or more of the following: books, magazines, periodicals or other printed matter, or photographs, films, motion pictures, video cassettes, compact discs, digital video discs, slides, or other visual representations, which are characterized by their emphasis upon the display of "specified sexual activities" or "specified anatomical areas;" or instruments, devices, or paraphernalia, which are designed or marketed primarily for stimulation of human genital organs or anus, including but not limited to dildos, vibrators, penis pumps, cock rings, anal beads, butt plugs, and physical representations of the human genital organs; but not including condoms or other items primarily intended for protection against sexually transmitted diseases or for preventing pregnancy. A “principal business activity” exists where the commercial establishment meets any one or more of the following criteria:
(1) At least 35 percent of the establishment's displayed merchandise consists of said items; or (2) At least 35 percent of the establishment's revenues derive from the sale or rental, for any form of consideration, of said items; or (3) The establishment maintains at least 35 percent of its floor space for the display, sale, and/or rental of said items (aisles and walkways used to access said items shall be included in "floor space" maintained for the display, sale, or rental of said items); or (4) The establishment maintains at least 500 square feet of its floor space for the display, sale, and/or rental of said items (aisles and walkways used to access said items shall be included in “floor space” maintained for the display, sale, or rental of said items) and regularly advertises itself or holds itself out, by using “adult,” “adults-only,” “XXX,” “sex,” “erotic,” “novelties,” or substantially similar language, as an establishment that caters to adult sexual interests; or (5) The establishment maintains an “adult arcade,” which means any place to which the public is permitted or invited wherein coin-operated or slug-operated or electronically, electrically, or mechanically controlled still or motion picture machines, projectors, or other image-producing devices are regularly maintained to show images to five or fewer persons per machine at any one time, and where the images so displayed are characterized by their emphasis upon matter exhibiting “specified sexual activities” or “specified anatomical areas.” |
| Adult cabaret | A nightclub, bar, juice bar, restaurant, bottle club, or similar commercial establishment, regardless of whether alcoholic liquor is served, which regularly features live conduct characterized by semi-nude persons. An establishment shall not avoid classification as an adult cabaret by offering or featuring nudity. |
| Adult day care | A facility, whether in a private home or institutional setting, providing temporary care and supervision for persons 18 years of age or older. Care is provided for periods of less than 24 hours a day. |
| Adult foster care facility | An establishment that provides supervision, assistance, protection or personal care, in addition to room and board, to seven or more adults. An adult foster care facility is other than a nursing home, a home for the aged, a mental hospital for mental patients, or a pre-release adjustment center. |
| Adult motion picture theater | A commercial establishment where films, motion pictures, videocassettes, slides, or similar photographic reproductions, which are characterized by their emphasis upon the display of “specified sexual activity” or “specified anatomical areas” are regularly shown to more than five persons for any form of consideration. |
| Adult use or adult use/sexually-oriented business (use category) | Sexually-oriented businesses, including the following:
• Adult bookstore or adult video store • Adult cabaret • Adult motion picture theater • Semi-nude model studio (See Section 50-16-381) |
Codified by Ord. No. 28-19 (JCC 7/23/2019, Passed 9/10/2019, Approved 9/11/2019, Published 9/20/2019, Effective 10/1/2019); Amended by Ord. No. 2021-9 (JCC 2/16/2021, Passed 3/16/2021, Approved 3/17/2021, Published 3/26/2021, Effective 4/3/2021).
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases beginning with the letters "An" through "As," shall have the meaning respectively ascribed to them by this section:
| Term | Definition |
| Antenna | Any system of wires, poles, rods, reflecting discs, or similar devices, together with any supporting structure, used for the reception and/or transmission of electromagnetic waves. |
| Antenna – Category A | Television antennas not twenty-eight (28) square feet in area or six (6) feet in dish diameter, customarily though not exclusively erected from residential use, such as microwave-receiving antennas, and dipole “rod and mast.” VHFUHF antennas, hereinafter referred to as “conventional” television antennas |
| Antenna – Category B | Radio antennas and antenna towers, such as amateur radio antennas for ham/shortwave operations, and fixed station antennas for business-band radio, citizens band radio, general mobile radio service and two-way radio. |
| Antenna – Category C | Dish antennas, such as satellite television antennas, also known as satellite dishes, earth stations, television receive only (TVRO) antennas, earth terminals, and earth terminal antennas; other parabolic dish antennas and parabolic reflectors exceeding six (6) feet in diameter including, but not limited to, microwave-receiving antennas and studio-to-transmitter-link (STL) antennas. |
| Antennas – Category D | Antenna towers and poles exceeding seventy-five (75) feet in height from established grade, customarily though not necessarily housing multiple antennas, such as radio broadcasting towers, television broadcasting towers, microwave antenna towers, studio-to-transmitter links, and other communications, antennas including antennas for cellular telephone systems. |
| Approach Surfaces | [1} Instrument approach surfaces and non-instrument approach surfaces having a runway at least five thousand (5,000) feet in length; and [2] non-instrument approach surface having a runway with a length of two thousand (2,000) feet or more up to, but not including, five thousand (5,000) feet in length. Instrument Approach Surface and Non-Instrument Approach Surfaces are defined in Section 50-16-262 and Section 50-16-322 of this Code. |
| Aquaculture | The cultivation of marine or freshwater food fish, shellfish, or plants under controlled conditions. |
| Aquaponics | The integration of aquaculture with hydroponics, in which waste products from fish are treated and then used to fertilize hydroponically growing plants. |
| Arcade | A place, premises or establishment or room set aside in a retail or commercial establishment where three (3) or more coin-operated amusement devices are located, defined herein as a machine or device operated by means of the insertion of a coin, token or similar object, for the purpose of amusement or skill and for the playing of which a fee is charged. The term does not include vending machines in which are not incorporated gaming or amusement features, nor coin-operated mechanical music devices; nor mechanical motion picture devices. The definition shall not apply to coin-operated amusement devices owned or leased to establishments that are properly licensed for sale of beer or intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises. |
| Arena | An enclosed structure with tiers of seats rising around a sports field, playing court or public exhibition area. Arenas are typically used for sports, entertainment and other public gathering purposes, such as athletic events, concerts, conventions, circuses and conferences. |
| Ash | The residue from the burning of wood, coal, coke or other combustible materials including incinerator ash and residue. |
| Assembly (Use Category) | Activities or structures, generally or a commercial nature that draw members of the general public to specific events or shows.
Examples include the following uses: • Assembly hall • Banquet hall • Dance hall, public • Private club • Private lodge • Rental hall |
| Assembly hall | An enclosed place of assembly for the exclusive use of the owners of the facility or by the members of the association or organization controlling the premises. Such facility shall not be available for rental to the general public. Assembly halls are typically accessory to private clubs and private lodges and are located in a non-residential building. |
| Assessed Valuation | Assessed valuation means the assessed valuation in the records of the Assessor of the City of Detroit. With respect to exempt properties for which the assessed valuation is zero, an independent valuation from a reputable source, subject to review and acceptance by the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department, may be presented by the owner as the basis for determination required by this Chapter. |
| Assisted Living Facility | A residential care facility designed primarily for older people who typically have no serious health problems but who may have chronic or debilitating conditions requiring assistance with daily activities. Permitted services include but are not limited to staff-supervised meals, housekeeping and personal care, medication supervision, and social activities. Both private and shared sleeping rooms may be provided. Facilities providing regular care under supervision of physicians are not considered assisted living facilities. |
Amended by Ord. No. 18-18 (JCC 6/21/2018, Passed 7/24/2018, Approved 7/30/2018, Published 8/22/2018, Effective 8/30/2018); Saved From Repeal by Ord. No. 28-19 (JCC 7/23/2019, Passed 9/10/2019, Approved 9/11/2019, Published 9/20/2019, Effective 10/1/2019).