Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Standish, Michigan

Standish’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New buildings constructed under the Standish city zoning ordinance

  • Occupancy requires a zoning permit and certificate of occupancy issued by the zoning administrator or the building inspector.

  “no building that is to be constructed under this ordinance can be inhabited without the issuance of a zoning permit and certificate of occupancy by the zoning administrator or the building inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Standish city limits (City of Standish, Arenac County, Michigan). Not Standish Township and not unincorporated Arenac County.

  • The ordinance on the city site is dated April 2002 (prepared by Gove Associates). The text opened does not state an adoption or effective date; later amendments are listed on the city ordinance index and were not checked clause by clause.
  • Zoning permit and zoning map apply to construction or expansion inside any district of the city.

  “this ordinance shall be known as the "standish city zoning ordinance: and may be referred to herein as”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts of Standish city

  • Districts named in the ordinance include R-1, R-2, O-R, C-1, C-2, IND, GC, C-O, MHP and PD; the zoning map is a separate city document not opened.

  “the r-1 district is established to provide areas of general residential development. desired development centers on single family related activities.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family detached dwellings in the R-1 low density residential district inside Standish city

  • Minimum dwelling unit size 1,400 sf as read from the extracted R-1 schedule; the table text is garbled in extraction and should be verified against the PDF table image before publication.
  • Figures are from the April 2002 ordinance; later amendments not checked.

  minimum dwelling unit size: >= 1400 sq ft

  “minimum dwelling unit size 1,400 sf 10,000 sf 80 ft. 25 ft. 30 ft. 10 ft. 1,400 sf maximum height 35 ft. 35 ft.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family detached dwellings in the R-2 medium density residential district inside Standish city

    “principal uses area width front rear side minimum dwelling unit size 1. single-family detached 8,000 sf 66 ft. 25 ft. 30 ft. 8 ft. 960 sf 35 ft.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family detached dwellings in the R-1 low density residential district inside Standish city

  • Minimum lot area 10,000 sf and minimum lot width 80 ft per the R-1 schedule (table extracted in garbled form; verify against PDF).

  minimum lot area: >= 10000 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 80 ft

  “schedule of r-1 district regulations principal uses minimum lot size 1. single-family detached 2. state licensed residential facilities 3. public parks 502 minimum yard setback area width front rear side 10,000 sf 80 ft. 25 ft. 30 ft. 10 ft.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family detached dwellings in the R-2 medium density residential district inside Standish city

    “principal uses area width front rear side minimum dwelling unit size 1. single-family detached 8,000 sf 66 ft. 25 ft. 30 ft. 8 ft. 960 sf 35 ft.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family detached dwellings in the R-1 low density residential district inside Standish city

  • Front yard 25 ft, rear yard 30 ft, side yard 10 ft per the R-1 schedule (extracted table; verify against PDF).

  minimum front yard: >= 25 ft · minimum rear yard: >= 30 ft · minimum side yard: >= 10 ft

  “minimum yard setback area width front rear side 10,000 sf 80 ft. 25 ft. 30 ft. 10 ft.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family detached dwellings in the R-2 medium density residential district inside Standish city

    “principal uses area width front rear side minimum dwelling unit size 1. single-family detached 8,000 sf 66 ft. 25 ft. 30 ft. 8 ft. 960 sf 35 ft.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures in the R-1 low density residential district inside Standish city

  • Maximum height 35 ft per the R-1 schedule (extracted table; verify against PDF).

  maximum height: <= 35 ft

  “minimum dwelling unit size 1,400 sf 10,000 sf 80 ft. 25 ft. 30 ft. 10 ft. 1,400 sf maximum height 35 ft. 35 ft.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Structures in the R-2 medium density residential district inside Standish city

    “principal uses area width front rear side minimum dwelling unit size 1. single-family detached 8,000 sf 66 ft. 25 ft. 30 ft. 8 ft. 960 sf 35 ft.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Larger multi-lot developments inside Standish city

  • Multi-lot development may be proposed as a site condominium under the requirements of Article 7 (preliminary and final approval, engineering plans, monuments, public improvements).

  “persons proposing larger scale, multi-lot developments may submit their proposal as a site condominium under the requirements and procedures identified in article 7.”

• Permit processPublished

  Zoning permit and zoning amendment procedures in Standish city

  • Procedures are defined in Article 8 (sections 804 and 805); those sections were not opened, and building-permit process was not found.

  “the procedures for obtaining a zoning permit or for requesting a change in the zoning designation of a property or for amending the ordinance are defined in article 8 (sections 804 and 805).”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Standish or Arenac County directly.

• Building permit — State-code building permits (residential construction) in Standish city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home in Standish city
• Building code adopted — State construction codes for new homes in Standish city
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes in Standish city
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage for residential lots in Standish city

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.