Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Girard Township, Michigan

Girard Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Girard township (Branch County, MI) limits is governed by the Girard Township Zoning Ordinance, which the township administers under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act.

  • Ordinance text is a copy hosted at energyzoning.org; the township's own copy was not located and should be checked.
  • Latest amendment in the copy shows approval 09-07-2021, publication 09-21-2021, effective 09-28-2021 (section 6.02, 14.05 and related revisions).
  • A WTVB news item (June 2026) reports a planning commission hearing on proposed zoning amendments; outcome not verified.

  “girard township zoning ordinance page 16-3 article 16 – r-1 low density residential district”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning district classifications of Girard township, including AG Agricultural and R-1 Low Density Residential

  • Full district map and R-2 and other district schedules were not read in full.
  • Zoning map location and current version not verified.

  “article 16 r-1 low density residential district section 16.01 purpose”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Residential dwellings in the R-1 Low Density Residential district of Girard township

  • Applies to any residential dwelling in the R-1 district.

  minimum floor area of residential dwelling: >= 1000 square feet

  “the minimum floor area of any residential dwelling in the r-1 district shall be 1,000 square feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential dwellings in the AG Agricultural district of Girard township

    “minimum first floor area: the minimum floor area of any residential dwelling in the ag district shall be 1,000 square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  New lots created in the R-1 Low Density Residential district of Girard township

  • Lot size depends on whether the lot is served by public water and sewer.
  • Lots existing as of July 1, 2015 that are greater than 5,000 square feet and have at least 50 feet of width are conforming.

  minimum lot area, served by public water and sewer: >= 8500 square feet (with at least 85 feet of width) · minimum lot area, not served by public water and sewer: >= 15000 square feet (with at least 100 feet of width)

  “no lot may be created less than 8,500 square feet in area and/or with less than 85 feet of width when served with public water and sewer. no lot may be created less than 15,000 square feet in area and/or with less than 100 feet of width when not served by public water and sewer.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Lots carrying a building, dwelling, or structure in the AG Agricultural district of Girard township

    “lot area: no building, dwelling, or structure shall be established on any lot less than one (1) acre in area.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Buildings in the R-1 Low Density Residential district of Girard township (side and rear yard figures as captured)

  • Front yard setback for R-1 was not captured in the text read; see followups.
  • Quoted sentence sits in the yard requirements item of section 16.04; the phrase defined in section 2.02 precedes it in the ordinance.

  principal building setback from center lot lines: >= 10 feet (as captured; front yard not captured) · accessory structure setback from center lot lines: >= 7 feet (as captured; front yard not captured)

  “principal buildings must be set back at least 10 feet from all center lot lines and accessory structures much be set back at least 7 feet from center lot lines.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Buildings and structures on lots in the AG Agricultural district of Girard township, front yard

    “1. front yard. not less than fifty (50) feet from the road right-of-way line.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots in the R-1 Low Density Residential district of Girard township

  • Separate impervious surface cap in the same section is stated in the text as forty (40) percent; the lot-coverage cap is thirty (30) percent.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent

  “the maximum lot coverage shall not exceed thirty (30) percent.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Lots in the AG Agricultural district of Girard township

    “lot coverage: the maximum lot coverage shall not exceed thirty five (35) percent.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings and structures in the R-1 Low Density Residential district of Girard township

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (measured from the existing ground level) · maximum stories: <= 2.5 stories

  “no building or structure shall exceed a height of two and one half (2 ½) stories or thirty five (35) feet from the existing ground level.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles (motor home or camper) placed on private residential land inside Girard township; the rule speaks to residential, multiple family, and neighborhood business districts

  • Visitation basis only, not to exceed 21 days at any one time.
  • No unit may be placed on the same lot within 30 days of the last placement.
  • Unit must be self-contained for sewerage and waste water, or have access to sewer and water on the same lot.
  • Residential occupancy of an RV beyond visitation is not established by this text; the township's other occupancy rules were not located.

  maximum stay per visit: <= 21 days (per placement; no placement on the lot within 30 days of the last placement)

  “all such units must be a selfcontained unit, including a self-contained proper storage system for sewerage and waste water, or have access to sewer and water upon the same lot.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Motor homes, campers, or tents on private residential land inside Girard township, in the residential, multiple family, or neighborhood business districts

  • Visitation basis only, not to exceed 21 days at any one time.
  • No unit may be placed on the same lot within 30 days of the last placement.
  • Unit must be self-contained for sewerage and waste water, or have access to sewer and water on the same lot.

  maximum stay per visit: <= 21 days (per placement; no placement on the lot within 30 days of the last placement)

  “no more than one motor home, camper, or tent may be placed on property in a residential, multiple family, or neighborhood business district only on a visitation basis not to exceed a period of twenty one (21) days at any one time. no unit shall be placed upon said lot within 30 days of the last placement.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes placed on individual lots outside mobile home parks inside Girard township

  • Permitted in every zoning district where conventionally built single-family dwellings are a principal use.
  • Must comply with the minimum regulations and development standards of the district.
  • Must contain a minimum core living area, a minimum width of 20 feet along all exterior elevations, and a minimum interior floor to ceiling height of 7.5 feet.
  • Must be new and HUD-certified, or used, certified, and found by the zoning administrator and/or county building inspector to be in good condition.

  minimum width along exterior elevations: >= 20 feet · minimum interior floor to ceiling height: >= 7.5 feet

  “mobile homes shall be permitted in all zoning districts wherein conventionally on-site built single-family dwellings are a principal use, subject to the following standards, which are intended to establish township standards for such dwellings”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Limited — Mobile home parks (manufactured housing communities) inside Girard township

    “all mobile home parks must conform to all state of michigan regulations. a special use permit shall be required.”

Rules another office applies inside Girard Township

Girard Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building construction inside Girard township (state-administered Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code structural provisions)

  • Township administration of the state code under Act 230 of 1972 was not verified for Girard township; LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes is the enforcing agency where no local enforcing agency acts.

  “responsible for administration and enforcement of the michigan building code (mbc) and the structural provisions within the michigan residential code by performing inspections and issuing certificates of occupancy.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Girard Township or Branch County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a homeowner building their own dwelling inside Girard township
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes on private land inside Girard township
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units (second dwelling on the same lot) inside Girard township
• Septic permit — Septic system permit for a new home inside Girard township
• Septic inspection — Septic system inspection for a new home inside Girard township

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.