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

LaGrange Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building construction inside LaGrange Township

  • Building and zoning applications must be approved by the zoning official before the building permit is issued.
  • Starting construction before permits are issued doubles all fees.
  • Electrical permits go to the township electrical inspector; plumbing and mechanical permits go to the plumbing/mechanical inspector.

  “the completed building and zoning permit applications must be approved by the zoning official before the building permit can be issued.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside LaGrange Township, Cass County, Michigan

  • Ordinance text carries amendments through April 20, 2020; later amendments not checked.

  “lagrange township, cass county, michigan is hereby divided into the following zoning districts, which are described in subsequent chapters”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts in LaGrange Township (A-P, A-G, R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, I-1, water quality overlay)

  “a-p prime agricultural district a-g general agricultural district r-1 low density residential district r-2 medium density residential district r-3 lake residential district c-1 commercial district i-1 industrial district wq water quality overlay district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  A-G General Agricultural district, LaGrange Township (single-story dwellings)

  • Multi-story dwelling floor area standard is stated in the text after the excerpt and was not captured.

  minimum floor area, single story: >= 1000 sq ft

  “3. minimum floor area for single story buildings - each and every residential dwelling unit shall have a minimum floor area of one-thousand (1000) square feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 Low Density Residential district, LaGrange Township

    “2. minimum floor area - all dwelling units and principal buildings shall have a minimum floor area of a thousand (1000) square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family lots in R-1 Low Density Residential district, LaGrange Township

  • Lot size depends on whether public sanitary sewer serves the lot.
  • Other uses: 17,000 sq ft with sewer, 20,000 sq ft without.

  lot area, public sewer: >= 10000 sq ft · lot area, no public sewer: >= 15000 sq ft · lot width, public sewer: >= 70 ft · lot width, no public sewer: >= 100 ft

  “1. lot area - the minimum area for lots served by a public sanitary sewer shall be ten-thousand (10,000) square feet. the minimum area for lots that are not served by a public sanitary sewer shall be fifteen-thousand (15,000) square feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — A-G General Agricultural district, LaGrange Township

    “1. lot area - the minimum lot area shall be two (2) acres. 2. lot width - the minimum lot width shall be two-hundred (200) feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  A-G General Agricultural district, LaGrange Township

  front yard: >= 40 ft · rear yard: >= 40 ft · side yard: >= 40 ft

  “1. front yard - any and all front yards shall be at least forty (40) feet in depth. 2. rear yard - any and all rear yards shall be at least forty (40) feet in depth. 3. side yard - any and all side yards shall be at least forty (40) feet in depth.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 Low Density Residential district, LaGrange Township

    “1. front yard - any and all front yards shall be at least twenty-five (25) feet in depth. 2. rear yard - any and all rear yards shall be at least twenty-five (25) feet in depth. 3. side yard - any and all side yards shall be at least ten (10) feet in depth.”

• Building heightSpecified

  A-G General Agricultural district, buildings used or intended for human use, LaGrange Township

  • Other structures such as silos are 'as is necessary and customary'.

  max height: <= 35 ft (or 2.5 stories, whichever is less)

  “1. height for buildings used or intended for human use - no building or structure shall exceed two and one-half (2 ½) stories or thirty-five (35) feet whichever is less.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 Low Density Residential district, LaGrange Township

    “1. height - no building or structure shall exceed two and one-half (2 ½) stories or thirty-five (35) feet in height, whichever is less.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Using a recreational vehicle as a dwelling inside LaGrange Township

  • Definition says recreational vehicle includes tents and boats.
  • Campgrounds are defined separately with a use limit of 150 days.

  “in no case shall a travel trailer, motor home, motor vehicle, tent or any portable building defined as a recreational vehicle be used as a dwelling.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions, splits and combinations inside LaGrange Township

  • Land division/combination application is required to split or combine parcels.

  “property line adjustments, splits, combinations, etc. must also be approved by the zoning official.”

• Short-term rentalsAllowed (with conditions)

  Short-term rentals (under 28 days) inside LaGrange Township

  • Permitted in all areas of the township where residences are permitted.
  • Owner must register within 45 days of operating.
  • Must meet smoke/CO alarm, parking, occupancy, and street-number requirements.
  • More than two violations in a calendar year are investigated by the zoning administrator.

  registration fee: 100 USD (one time per residence)

  “hereby expressly permits short-term rental properties. as defined as rental periods of less than 28 days. a) permissible zoning districts. short-term rentals are permitted in all areas of the township, where residences are permitted.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building and zoning permits inside LaGrange Township

  • Site plan with an aerial view of the parcel showing existing and proposed structures and distances to all property lines is required with the zoning permit.

  “with the zoning permit there must also be an aerial view of the entire parcel showing all existing structures and proposed structures with the distance from all of them to all property lines.”

Rules another office applies inside LaGrange Township

LaGrange 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

  Septic systems on land in Cass County, including inside LaGrange Township

  • Page names Cass County and Van Buren County as the service area but does not name LaGrange Township specifically.

  “the van buren/cass county district public health department and its duly appointed employees shall have jurisdiction throughout van buren and cass counties in all areas incorporated and unincorporated, which includes cities, villages and townships for the administration and enforcement of these regulations.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption in LaGrange Township
• Building code adopted — Building code in LaGrange Township
• Inspections — Building inspections in LaGrange Township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy in LaGrange Township
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage in R-1 and A-G districts

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.