The Michigan House of Representatives on Wednesday passed legislation introduced by Rep. DeBoyer (R-Clay Township) that would allow local governments to relax legal caps limiting how many parcels large properties can be divided into. DeBoyer’s House Bill 4081, which is a slightly modified version of legislation he sponsored last term, would amend the Land Division Act to allow municipalities to permit the first 10 acres of a parcel or parent tract to be split into up to 10 parcels. Currently, the statute prohibits a property from being divided into more than 4 parcels.

“My colleagues and I are all aware that we have a housing crisis in Michigan, and though my bill won’t fix this issue single-handedly, it marks a small step towards alleviating our housing stock shortage,” DeBoyer said. “Overly burdensome limits on parcel division prevent large property owners from turning their land into more lots for families to live on. My legislation helps fix that issue without mandating local governments change their policies.”

To help accommodate local governments, the bill includes a 1-year implementation delay that gives them extra time to address how to allow additional parcel splits in their local ordinances. The bill also allows local governments that want to permit land-splitting immediately to do so.

“Removing the barriers that prevent the construction of more homes is the best way to deal with our housing crisis.” DeBoyer said. “Our shortage in housing units will not be fixed through top-down solution and government subsidization. Increasing the identifiable units of land a property can be turned into will more effectively lead to more residential properties and more housing.”

House Bill 4081 passed the House of Representatives on a 96-6 vote. The bill now moves to the Michigan Senate for further consideration.

“I am grateful to my House colleagues who share my desire to lower the state’s restrictions here, allowing the people who want to build houses to build houses,” DeBoyer said. “My hope is that the Senate also sees the merit in reigning in the government regulation exacerbating our housing crisis.”