Can a church locate in a residential district in Rochester Hills?

Yes, but in most residential districts a church needs conditional use approval from City Council. Places of worship are marked C, conditional, in RE, R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4, with use standards in § 138-4.427 (§ 138-4.300, Table 4). In the R-5 district, places of worship are permitted by right (§ 138-4.300, Table 4).

The conditional use process (§ 138-2.301):

• The Planning Commission holds a public hearing and makes a recommendation.
• City Council decides, with written findings against the standards in § 138-2.302.

An approval lapses after 365 days unless the use is established, with one 180 day extension available, and a denial carries a 365 day resubmission bar absent new evidence (§ 138-2.301). The Zoning Board of Appeals cannot hear an appeal of the Council's decision (§ 138-2.301.F).