The term ‘spot zoning’ does not appear in the compiled laws of the State of Michigan, and is rarely mentioned in local zoning ordinances.  Spot zoning is a legal concept determined by judges or juries ruling on individual cases, so the meaning and interpretation of the concept can vary considerably from place to place.

Justice Potter Stewart, U.S. Supreme Court

The most common response I’ve heard to the question “What is spot zoning?” is an echo of Justice Potter Stewart’s quote about pornography:  “I can’t tell you exactly what spot zoning is, but I know it when I see it.”

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