A site plan, area plan or conceptual PUD plan is required along with a rezoning application.
Development Review
Special Notice: Effective August 10, 2025, legislative, discretionary, appeals, and variance actions need public hearings. Administrative actions do not require public hearings.
On July 21, 2025, City Council passed an ordinance to amend the Public Notices and Hearing requirements, and an ordinance to amend the Community Participation requirements pursuant to sections 5.28 and 5.29 of the UDC. Please note these recent changes that may affect your project moving forward.
All public hearings need published notices. Public hearings for zoning map changes, appeals, variances, and discretionary actions need mailed notices, too. Public hearings by Planning Commission for site-specific legislative or discretionary actions (rezoning, SEU) require posted notice on the site as well.
Community participation changes include amendments to which projects require a public hearing, required timing of community participation meetings, required accompanying reports, and changes to the community participation meeting invitation.
Refer to Sections 5.28 and 5.29 of the UDC for updated requirements. All unaffected items may proceed to be scheduled with the assigned planner as usual.
Development Review Actions
| Legislative Action | Amendment to zoning map, amendment to chapter text |
| Appeals and Variances | Appeals and Variances to Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) |
| Discretionary Action | Special Exception Use (SEU) |
| Administrative Action | Site Plans |
Jump to Site Plan Review Process | Application Deadlines | Forms and Applications | Project Fees
All development projects listed in Table 5.29 ‐1 of the Unified Development Code (UDC) are required to undergo the site plan review and approval process. In the City of Ann Arbor all site plans are reviewed and approved by either the Planning Manager, the City Planning Commission , or the City Council depending on the scope of work/work program/proposed activity. This process ensures that the proposed development, land use, or activity meets the standards for approval in the UDC. The site plan review process was recently amended and is effective January 30, 2022.
Summary of Development Projects that Require Site Plan Review
For a complete/detailed list see UDC Table 5.29 ‐1 (PDF)
Before you begin to conceptualize your project, please visit the Planning for Sustainability page to consider those aspects of development that can be considered early to make your project resilient and efficient.
Site Plan Review Process
The table below outlines the Site Plan Review Process steps to take before submitting a project application. See the Site Plan Review Process (PDF) for information on the entire review process from pre-submittal through approval.
2026 Application Deadlines
Applications that have a public hearing prior to approval such as site plans, rezoning petitions, and special exception use petitions for either Planning Commission or City Council approval, will be processed for review at noon on the third Thursday of each month. Applications that do not need Planning Commission review (ex: petitions for Planning Manager approval, such as land divisions/transfers) are processed upon submittal. Exceptions may also be made for projects that achieve City goals, such as 100% affordable developments.
- January 15
- February 19
- March 19
- April 16
- May 21
- June 18
- July 16
- August 20
- September 17
- October 15
- November 19
- December 17 - applications submitted in December will have an extended first review cycle.
Forms and Applications
301 E. Huron Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734.794.6265
Brett Lenart AICP,
Planning Manager
734.794.6000 x42606
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Payment questions:
Please reach out to the Planner assigned to your project with any questions about payments.