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

Penn Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, enlargement, alteration or moving of buildings inside Penn Township

  • Accessory buildings valued at less than $500 and portable structures necessary to an agricultural operation need no permit if they conform to setback and height requirements.
  • Minor repairs or alterations that do not change use, occupancy, area, structural strength, fire hazard, fire protection, exits, light and ventilation need no permit.

  accessory building exemption value: < 500 USD (must conform to setbacks and height)

  “a building permit is required for and shall be obtained after the effective date of this ordinance from the office of the building inspector or his agent by the owner or his agent for the following conditions”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Penn Township, Cass County, Michigan

  • Ordinance last revised October 10, 1983 and amended as listed in Appendix A (amendments through at least 2003 seen); current consolidated version not confirmed.

  “penn township zoning ordinance penn township planning commission adopted: february 9, 1976 revised: october 10, 1983 amended: as listed in appendix a”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Penn Township (A, A-R, R-1, R-2, R-3, C, I-1, I-2, Lake Commercial/Residential)

  • Official zoning map not reviewed.

  “article 11 "a-r" agricultural-residential district section 11.01 purpose 11.02 permitted uses 11.03 conditional uses 11.04 height regulations 11.05 area, width and yard regulations”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  A-R Agricultural-Residential district inside Penn Township

  • A lot of record of at least 10,000 sq ft and 70 ft width may be developed for single family residential use.
  • Depth of lot may not exceed three times width.

  minimum lot area: >= 2 acres (lot of record 10,000 sq ft for single family) · minimum lot width at building line: >= 200 feet (70 ft for lot of record)

  “a lot area of not less than two (2) acres, with no dimension less than two hundred (200) feet at the building line, shall be provided for every building or other structure erected or used for any use permitted in this district”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 Low Density Residential district inside Penn Township, single family dwelling

    “where a lot is not so served, there shall be provided a minimum of twelve thousand (12,000) square feet of lot area for each single family dwelling unit”

• SetbacksSpecified

  A-R Agricultural-Residential district inside Penn Township

  • Interior lots: aggregate side yards at least 30% of lot width.
  • Corner lot: street-side yard at least 85 ft from road centerline; other side yard at least 20 ft.
  • Rear yard not reviewed.

  front yard from road centerline: >= 85 feet · front yard from right-of-way: >= 50 feet · minimum each side yard, interior lot: >= 30 feet

  “there shall be a front yard not less than eight-five (85) feet in depth from the centerline of the road nor less than fifty (50) feet from the right-of-way line”

• Building heightSpecified

  A-R Agricultural-Residential district inside Penn Township (Section 11.04 height regulations)

  • Dwelling limit of 35 ft / 2.5 stories appears in the preceding clause (a).
  • Nonresidential height up to 65 ft only with added yard width for each foot over 35 ft.

  accessory building to dwelling: <= 14 feet (one story) · other nonresidential building or structure: <= 35 feet (up to 65 ft with added yards)

  “for any building accessory to a dwelling use, fourteen (14) feet, not exceeding one (1) story. c. for any other nonresidential building or other structure, thirty-five (35) feet”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Individual mobile homes and manufactured homes, Type II, in districts where they are a conditional use inside Penn Township

  • Owner must obtain certificate of approval and building permit.
  • Lot size, living area and front and side setbacks same as A-R residences.
  • Applicant and occupant must own or have land contract for the property.
  • Maximum-age and further provisions follow in section 6.24 (not reviewed).

  “owner shall make application and obtain certificate of approval and building permit for said residence and accessory building.”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  Second dwelling in an accessory building on a lot with a principal building inside Penn Township

  • Only one principal building per lot in residential districts.

  “section 6.04 accessory building as dwelling no building on the same lot as a principal building shall be used for dwelling purposes.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Penn Township
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Penn Township
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Penn Township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Penn Township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Penn 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.