Published by ChinaMNC · Dengfeng
Zhengzhou Streamlines Detailed Urban Planning Approvals for Industrial and Mixed-Use Projects
A policy interpretation of Zhengzhou's new Positive Optimization List for detailed urban planning, explaining which land-use conversions, mixed-use arrangements, planning indicators and linear infrastructure adjustments can skip full plan amendment procedures — practical reading for foreign founders setting up or expanding operations in the city.
What Zhengzhou's New Planning List Does
Zhengzhou has issued a trial Positive Optimization List for Detailed Urban Planning (《郑州市城镇详细规划正向优化清单（试行）》). The list is intended to support the implementation of a broader trial on market-based allocation of production factors and to accompany the city's trial measures for optimizing the implementation and management of detailed urban planning. According to the official interpretation, the goals are to make detailed planning more adaptable, improve the efficiency of planning approval services, and support urban renewal, industrial upgrading and the delivery of livelihood projects.
Why the list was created
The interpretation notes that the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Department of Henan Province have each issued documents clarifying different situations for approving and adjusting detailed plans, and introduced the concept of a positive list for land-use conversion that can simplify amendment procedures. Zhengzhou's list builds on that approach and on its own trial management measures, setting out clearly which situations can proceed directly under positive optimization.
For situations on the list, applicants are exempt from the detailed plan amendment procedure. Planning and land formalities can be handled on the basis of the original detailed plan plus the Positive Optimization List plus a plot plan (or a linear facility optimization drawing). The interpretation describes this as a classified handling mechanism: matters inside the list are simplified, matters outside the list follow normal procedures, and the rigid bottom line of higher-level plans is preserved while planning response becomes faster.
Legal and policy basis
The interpretation cites the State Council's approval of the trial implementation plan for market-based allocation of production factors in selected regions (Guohan [2025] No. 86), Zhengzhou's trial work plan for market-based allocation of production factors (Yuzheng [2025] No. 28), the national guideline for planning to revitalize and optimize urban stock space (TD/T 1111-2025), and a Henan notice on supporting urban renewal across the planning and land chain (Yu Ziran Zi Gui [2026] No. 4). It also references Zhengzhou policies on new-type industrial land, small and micro enterprise parks and new-type industrial use, together with national land and sea use classification guidance and related technical standards.
How the list was prepared
The Municipal Natural Resources and Planning Bureau began drafting in February 2026. The process included broad solicitation of comments, public announcement and expert review, and feedback was incorporated. The list was reviewed and approved at the 87th executive meeting of the municipal government on 1 September 2026, issued on 29 September 2026, and published in the name of the municipal government.
Structure and scope
The document covers purpose, scope of application, optimization principles, optimization situations and requirements, and other provisions. It is accompanied by five annexes: four list tables and an appendix. It applies to positive optimization of detailed plans and detailed plans for linear facilities within the urban development boundary of Zhengzhou's main urban area (the five inner districts and development zones). Counties and county-level cities, Shangjie District and the Airport Economy Zone may refer to it.
Key Optimization Categories for Businesses
Land-use conversion
- Industrial land: subject to compliance with industrial policy, conversion is allowed among new-type industrial, small and micro enterprise park, new-type industrial, Class I industrial, Class I logistics and warehousing, Class II industrial, and Class II logistics and warehousing land.
- Residential land: urban residential land may be converted to community service facility land.
- Public service and commercial land: conversion is allowed among culture, education, sports, medical and health, commercial, business and financial, and entertainment uses, and toward public-welfare public service uses.
The interpretation also clarifies the basis for land classification: industrial land must align with the city's specific policies on industrial and new-type industrial land. Other land does not include nuisance-type uses such as wholesale markets, petrol and gas stations, and infectious disease hospitals.
Mixed land use
The list identifies compatible mixed functions for urban residential, government and institutional, cultural, commercial, business and financial, entertainment, industrial, and logistics and warehousing land. For example, urban residential land may be mixed with cultural, sports and park green space functions. The dominant use must account for more than 50% of the floor area counted in the plot ratio; original core indicators must be strictly observed; and applicable standards must be met without negative impacts. Industrial and logistics and warehousing land may support mixed functions of the same type.
Planning control indicators
Positive optimization is set out for:
- floor area ratio and building density for industrial and logistics and warehousing land;
- building height for commercial, business and entertainment land and for public administration and public service land, with an adjustment limit of no more than 10% of the original plan;
- minor building height adjustments for urban residential land where floor area ratio, building density and green space ratio remain unchanged;
- floor area ratio and building height adjustments for municipal utility land.
Each situation carries constraints relating to standards, safety, sunlight and urban design.
Linear facilities
The list covers roads, pipelines and rail transit:
- Roads: without changing red line width, road grade or lane scale, local alignment optimization, channelization adjustments and cross-section optimization are permitted.
- Pipelines: without changing the upstream and downstream rainwater and sewage systems or other pipeline layouts, the position, diameter, slope and elevation of pipelines at local sections or nodes may be adjusted.
- Rail transit: without negative impacts on surrounding land, adjustments are permitted to passages, entrances and exits, elevator shafts, ventilation pavilions, air ducts, cooling towers, fire water tanks and other ancillary facilities of stations and sections.
Definitions
The document defines terms including detailed plans for linear facilities, detailed plan adjustment, plot plans and linear facility optimization drawings, to unify concepts for practical implementation.
What This Means for Foreign Founders
For foreign-invested companies choosing sites, expanding facilities or repurposing premises in Zhengzhou's main urban area, the list indicates where planning procedures may be simpler. Industrial conversions within the listed categories, compatible mixed uses and defined indicator adjustments can reduce procedural steps compared with a full plan amendment. However, the list is a planning instrument, not an approval guarantee: eligibility depends on the specific project, compliance with industrial policy and technical standards, and the location of the site, and matters outside the list still follow normal procedures.
This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.