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

Fredonia Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Fredonia township limits; the township administers its own zoning ordinance

  • The ordinance copy was located on energyzoning.org, not on the township's own domain; the township's zoning and ordinances page was linked from the home page but was not opened within the research budget.
  • The copy states its most recent amendments were adopted in 2010; no later amendment was located.

  “fredonia township zoning ordinance:(most recent amendments adopted by township board: september 20, 2010 published in community advisor: september 25, 2010 { effective date: october 3, 2010”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts established by the Fredonia township zoning ordinance, including the AA agricultural and RA low density residential districts

  • District boundaries are on the official zoning map referenced in article V; the map itself was not opened.

  “article xii- "ra" - low density residential district section 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 purpose permitted uses conditional uses regulations”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Accessory buildings on lots in Fredonia township (section 6.02 supplemental rules)

  • Accessory buildings must be at least 10 feet from other principal or accessory buildings.
  • Detached garages are 10 feet from the rear lot line; other detached accessory buildings are 5 feet from the rear lot line.
  • Accessory buildings may not project into a front yard setback; corner lots have front setbacks on both street-facing sides.

  accessory building separation from other buildings: >= 10 feet · detached accessory building rear setback: >= 5 feet (garage: 10 feet)

  “d. no accessory building shall project into any front yard setback, with corner lots requiring front yard setback for both yards facing the street.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Accessory buildings plus principal building floor area in Fredonia township; the cap is set by each district

  • Combined floor area of all accessory buildings and the principal building may not exceed the lot coverage standard for the district.
  • Any one accessory building may not exceed 1,500 square feet.

  maximum single accessory building floor area: <= 1500 square feet

  “the maximum size of any one (1) accessory building shall not exceed 1,500 square feet.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory buildings on residential lots in Fredonia township

  • A detached accessory building may not be used as a dwelling.
  • The area above an attached accessory building may be used for dwelling purposes if access can be established from the principal residence.

  “no detached accessory building shall be used for dwelling purposes. the area above an attached accessory building may be utilized for dwelling purposes so long as access to such floor area can be established from the principal residence.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Structures for human occupancy in Fredonia township that are not connected to public sewer

  • Every structure for human occupancy must have a safe potable water supply and an effective means of waste collection, treatment and disposal.
  • Drain fields for septic tanks may not be closer than 150 feet to the normal high water line of a surface water body or in ground less than 4 feet above the normal high water table.

  drain field setback from surface water: >= 150 feet · minimum separation of drain field above high water table: >= 4 feet

  “b. no drain field for a septic tank system shall be located nearer than one hundred fifty (150) feet from the normal high water line of any sruface body of water nor located in an area where the ground sruface is less than four (4) feet above the normal high water table level.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Private roads in Fredonia township serving multiple lots; individual driveways are not addressed in the text captured

  • Private roads must follow Calhoun County Road Commission standards for paved roads and cul-de-sacs.
  • A private road may not dead-end without a cul-de-sac.

  private road right-of-way width: >= 66 feet

  “having a right-of-way of no less than sixty-six (66) feet in width, shall be established where three (3) or more residential lots or units or two (2) or more commercial or industrial lots are accessed.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit applications filed with Fredonia township

  • The application list in section 2.05 covers the contents of the application; the full review steps and the issuing officer were not captured.

  “b. the location of the proposed constrnction upon the lot, lots or acreage affected.”

Rules another office applies inside Fredonia Township

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site water and sewage systems for structures in Fredonia township, administered by the Calhoun County health department

  • Applies to water supply systems and sanitary sewerage facilities; the township defers the standards to the county health department.
  • The ordinance names the Calhoun County health department; the township ordinance does not state a separate township septic code.

  “requirements for water supply systems and sanitary sewerage facilities shall be established by the calhoun county health department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Building permit applications for structures in Fredonia township that rely on an on-site septic system

  • The application must include a certified permit from the county health department stating the on-site water and sewer system conforms to the county sanitary code.
  • The lead-in sentence of the application list was not captured; the item is located via the ordinance table of contents as section 2.05 (application for building permit).

  “k. certified permit from the county health depruiment stating that the proposed on-site water and sewer system is in conformance with the county sanitruy code.”

• Well permitRequired

  Structures in Fredonia township served by an on-site water system (private well)

  • The certificate covers the on-site water and sewer system together; a separate well permit form was not located.

  “k. certified permit from the county health depruiment stating that the proposed on-site water and sewer system is in conformance with the county sanitruy code.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New construction in Fredonia township requiring a building permit
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction in Fredonia township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes in Fredonia township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Fredonia township residential districts
• Minimum lot size — Main single-family residential district (RA low density residential) in Fredonia 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.