Land use: zoning and growth management; non-fire rated windows on accessory dwelling units; prohibit local governments from restricting. Amends 2006 PA 110 (MCL 125.3101 - 125.3702) by adding sec. 205c.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by David Martin and 1 co-sponsor

Local zoning cannot ban non-fire rated windows in ADUs more than 12 feet from other structures, expanding design flexibility for eligible ADUs.

bill electronically reproduced 06/16/2026

#landuse:zoningandgrowthmanagement

Summary: HB 6083 (2025-2026) – Michigan

Purpose and intent

This bill amends the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (2006 PA 110) to address the use of windows in accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

The core intent is to prevent local zoning ordinances from restricting the use of non-fire rated windows in ADUs under certain spatial conditions.

Key provisions and changes

New section added: Sec. 205c (part of the zoning act)

Restriction on local regulation: A zoning ordinance may not restrict the use of a non-fire rated window in an ADU if the window is located more than 12 feet from all other structures.

Definitions (for clarity):

Accessory dwelling unit (ADU): A secondary dwelling unit on the same parcel as another dwelling unit, which can be on-site or off-site and is incidental to the primary dwelling unit.
Non-fire rated window: A window that has not been tested, certified, or rated by an independent laboratory for fire exposure duration.

The provision focuses on ADUs that are sufficiently physically separated from other structures (more than 12 feet), ensuring that certain fire-safety-rated window requirements do not apply in the same way as closer structures.

Who/what is affected

Local governments (cities, townships, villages): They are constrained from enforcing or enacting ordinances that would ban or restrict non-fire rated windows in ADUs when the ADU is more than 12 feet from any other structure.

ADU developers and homeowners: They gain increased flexibility to use non-fire rated windows in qualifying ADUs without additional local restrictions, potentially reducing costs and expanding design choices for ADUs meeting the distance criterion.

Property parcels with ADUs: Parcels satisfying the >12 feet distance rule from other structures may see changes in permitted window requirements for ADUs.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and status: Introduced June 16, 2026, by Representative Luke Meerman, with co-sponsors Rep. Luke Meerman and Rep. David Martin.

Referral: Referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

Effective date: Not specified in the text provided. If enacted, the bill would become law according to Michigan’s standard process for approval and enactment (e.g., after passage by both houses of the Legislature and signature by the Governor, with any effective date specified in the enacted statute).

Practical considerations

The bill creates a narrow exception to local zoning authority by tying the permissibility of non-fire rated windows to a distance threshold (12 feet) from other structures.

It does not alter other fire safety or energy efficiency standards for ADUs beyond the specified non-fire rated window allowance when the distance condition is met.

Potential impacts include changes to construction costs, design options for ADUs, and the balance between local safety requirements and streamlining permitting for detached or off-site ADUs.

If you’d like, I can add a brief comparison to current Michigan law or map out a sample compliance checklist for jurisdictions and property owners.