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

Wayne Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, addition or alteration of buildings inside Wayne Township (township zoning permit; building permits referenced in Section 1806)

  • Exempt: normal maintenance activities and minor repairs and alterations that do not structurally change a building or structure.
  • Permit issued only on payment of the required zoning fee.
  • Permit lapses if work is not commenced or completed within the stated timetable; reinstatement may be sought within 120 days, once.

  “a zoning permit is required prior to the erection, addition, or alteration of any buildings or portion thereof”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Buildings inside Wayne Township; the ordinance states the Michigan building code is adopted and enforced in the township

  • Quoted in the accessory-building section; the specific code edition and enforcing agency were not found.

  “all accessory buildings shall comply with the michigan building code, as adopted and enforced in wayne township.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction or use under a zoning permit inside Wayne Township (zoning-compliance inspections)

  • Inspections occur at staking out of the foundation and upon completion of the work.
  • Permit holder must notify the zoning administrator when the project is ready for inspection.

  “the construction or usage affected by any zoning permit shall be subject to the following inspections:”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Wayne Township, Cass County, Michigan

  • Ordinance administered by the township zoning administrator, planning commission and township board under Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, PA 110 of 2006.

  “section 101. short title this ordinance shall be known as the wayne township zoning ordinance.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Accessory buildings in the R-1, R-2, LR-1 and LR-2 districts of Wayne Township

  • Principal-building setbacks for R-1 and A-1 were not located.
  • Corner-lot side yard minimums are in Section 1814.

  accessory building distance from other structures and property lines: >= 10 feet

  “no accessory building or structure shall be erected in any required front yard. accessory buildings shall be at least ten (10) feet from other structures and the property lines.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Garden sheds and accessory buildings in the R-1, R-2, LR-1 and LR-2 districts of Wayne Township

  • Accessory buildings on parcels under 2 acres may not exceed the height of the primary building; on 2 acres or more, the district maximum.
  • Section 1810 allows greater height by conditional use permit with added yards and fire department approval.
  • District maximum heights for R-1 and A-1 were not located.

  garden shed height: <= 14 feet · accessory side wall height, parcels under 2 acres: <= 10 feet · accessory side wall height, parcels 2 acres or more: <= 12 feet

  “a garden shed not exceeding 150 square feet and fourteen (14) feet in height is allowed in addition to one accessory building in these zoning districts.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Travel trailers used as accessory buildings or dwellings in the R-1, R-2, LR-1 and LR-2 districts of Wayne Township

  • Rule appears in the accessory-building section for those four districts; rules for other districts and for RV parks were not found.

  “semi-trailers, van boxes, travel trailers, and mobile homes without alterations are not permitted to be used as accessory buildings or for dwellings.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Tents and other substandard structures used for dwelling inside Wayne Township

  • Camping regulations as such were not found.

  “no basement dwelling, cellar dwelling, tent, guardhouse, or other substandard structure shall hereinafter be erected or moved upon any premises and used for dwelling purposes.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Used mobile homes and trailers placed inside Wayne Township

  • Applies to used mobile homes/trailers; district-level manufactured-home rules not found.

  “used mobile homes and/or trailers shall not be considered for placement within the township without prior inspection and/or approval of the township building inspector”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  Accessory structures and premises in the R-1, R-2, LR-1 and LR-2 districts of Wayne Township

  • Same rule appears for the A-1, A-2, C-1, I-1 and I-2 districts in Section 1803.B.

  “accessory use of structures and premises shall not include use of the same for dwelling purposes, either temporary or otherwise”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Buildings inside Wayne Township without public sewer or water

  • Evidence of Cass County Health Department compliance must accompany the building permit application.

  “in the absence of public sewer and/or water, no building permit shall be issued for any building to be occupied by human beings in whole or in part for residential, commercial, industrial or recreational purposes unless adequate provisions have been made for a safe water supply sewage disposal system.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Buildings to be occupied inside Wayne Township where municipal utility services are available

  • Applies only where municipal utility services are available; no distance threshold stated.
  • Where public sewer and/or water is absent, adequate provision for safe water supply and sewage disposal is required.

  “where municipal utility services are available, no building permit shall be issued for any building or be occupied by human beings, in whole or part, for commercial, residential, industrial or recreational purposes unless provisions have been to install public sewers and water service to such buildings.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Lots of record inside Wayne Township

  • Public access to commercial, industrial or recreational uses may not pass through residential neighborhoods.

  minimum access easement or right-of-way width: >= 20 feet

  “no lot of record shall be occupied except where access to a public street or way is provided by a public or private easement or other right-of-way no less than twenty (20) feet in width.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permit applications inside Wayne Township

  • Application in writing on a form from the zoning administrator, with two copies, and a site plan if requested.
  • Fees must be paid before issuance.

  “application for a zoning permit shall be made in writing upon a blank form furnished by the zoning administrator.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Wayne Township
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Wayne Township
• Minimum dwelling size — R-1 and A-1 districts of Wayne Township
• Minimum lot size — R-1 and A-1 districts of Wayne Township
• Lot coverage — R-1 and A-1 districts of Wayne 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.