Home Bible Study + Zoning Codes = Prison

A Phoenix man serves time for holding prayer gatherings in his home, part of what attorney and author John W. Whitehead sees as a larger trend toward zoning out home services.

1 minute read

August 7, 2012, 12:00 PM PDT

By rachelproctormay


NIMBY? That is so yesterday. When it comes to home religious services, the trend appears to be Not In Your Yard Either. See one Michael Salman, a Phoenix resident who was fined $12,000 and sentenced to 60 days in one of Arizona's famously no-frills tent city jails for breaking a variety of city codes (67, to be exact) by having groups of 20 to 45 family and friends gather for worship in his rec room.

Although the worshippers parked on Salman's 4.6-acre property, the neighbors complained. After three years of unsuccessful attempts to meet code requirements (such as installing sprinklers) Salman finally faced charges. As a condition of his probation, he cannot have more than 12 guests in the house at a time, and is subject to unannounced inspections by the city.

The codes that made Salman's gatherings illegal are not unusual in the United States. To deal with illegal synagogues, one community in New York adopted codes that make it difficult to hold any sort of Orthodox prayer meeting in a residence.

Thanks to Rachel Proctor May

Monday, August 6, 2012 in The Huffington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

5 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of new neifhborhood under construction with enpty lots in foreground.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won

A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

6 hours ago - CALmatters

Low-rise Pearl Sreet mall in Boulfer, Colorado.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide

Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

7 hours ago - Boulder Reporting Lab

Two-story buildings with porches in walkable Florida neighborhood.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code

The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.

July 2 - CNU Public Square