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Livonia council approves 12-month car-wash moratorium, sends one-mile restriction to committee

Livonia City Council · January 15, 2026

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Summary

After heated public comment, the council approved a substitute moratorium and referred an ordinance to limit new car washes within one mile of existing facilities to the law department and the Economic Development committee. The move passed unanimously and will be studied for corridor-specific distance limits and potential ordinance language.

The Livonia City Council voted unanimously to adopt a substitute motion imposing a short-term moratorium on new car-wash approvals and to refer a proposed ordinance — limiting new car washes within one mile of existing facilities along corridors — to the law department and the Economic Development & Strategic Planning Commission for drafting and study.

Councilmember Tashnik introduced an ordinance amendment seeking a one-mile restriction for approving new car washes along corridors, saying the standard is common in other municipalities. Several residents and council members argued for a full moratorium to prevent a rush of last-minute applications; Councilmember McCullough offered a substitute for a 12-month moratorium that the council adopted and then sent the corridor-distance language to committee for a longer study.

City Attorney Fisher said moratoria typically need a defined timeline and that an indefinite ban would be treated like a prescriptive prohibition. Councilmembers said the committee process will allow staff and commissioners to evaluate the scope, look at cross-border effects with neighboring cities and craft clear ordinance language.

Supporters of restrictions cited over-saturation concerns and cited comparative studies from nearby municipalities; opponents urged careful consideration of different types of car-wash facilities and the need for precise definitions. The council vote on the substitute moratorium and referral was 7-0.

Next steps: the ordinance language will be drafted by the law department and studied by the Economic Development & Strategic Planning Commission; committee hearings will be open to public comment.