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

Dafter Township’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New or changed buildings and uses inside Dafter township under the township zoning ordinance

  • This is a zoning certificate of occupancy certifying compliance with the township zoning ordinance; the opened text does not show whether a separate building-code certificate applies.
  • The township zoning administrator must grant or deny the occupancy permit within thirty days of a written application.

  decision deadline: 30 days

  “21.503 it shall be unlawful to use or permit the use of any building or premises or part thereof hereafter created, located, erected, change, converted, or enlarged wholly or partly until a certificate of occupancy has been issued for that premises certifying that the structure or use complies with the provisions of this ordinance. such occupancy permits shall be granted or denied within thirty (30) days from the date that a written application is filed with the township zoning administrator.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Dafter township limits; the ordinance covers the unincorporated portions of Dafter township, which is the whole township

  • Adopted under Michigan Act 184 of 1943 (Township Rural Zoning Act).
  • No effective or amendment date was confirmed on an opened page; the companion index is labeled Revised September 2005 in a search snippet only, so the version in force is unverified.
  • Zoning permits are issued by the township zoning administrator (see permit_process claim).

  “an ordinance enacted pursuant to the authority contained in act 184 of the public acts of michigan for 1943, as amended”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts inside Dafter township named in the ordinance text

  • The ordinance text names a residence district (R1), a Rural Residential Commercial district, a Forestry/Recreational district, and commercial (C1) and industrial (I1) districts.
  • The district map (zoning maps, labeled not to scale on the township page) was not opened; district boundaries are not verified.
  • The full district schedule was not confirmed from the opened text.

  “such lot may be used for the erection of a one-family dwelling in district r1, rural residential commercial, and forestry/recreational.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  One-family and two-family dwellings in the Rural Residential Commercial district inside Dafter township, in areas the Chippewa County Health Department has determined appropriate for septic and drain field systems

  • Applies only in areas determined by the Chippewa County Health Department to be appropriate for septic and drain field systems.
  • A lot on record before the effective date may be used for a one-family dwelling even if narrower than required (same exception as R1).

  minimum lot area: >= 15000 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 100 feet (or a depth of 150 feet) · minimum lot depth: >= 150 feet (alternative to 100-foot width)

  “20.144 – minimum lot area for rural residential commercial in areas determined by the chippewa county health department to be appropriate for septic and drain field systems every one-family or two-family dwelling here after erected shall be located on a lot not less than fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet in area, and not less than one hundred (100) feet in width or a depth of one hundred fifty (150) feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — One-family and two-family dwellings in the R1 residence district inside Dafter township

    “20.124 – minimum lot area for residence district (r1) every one-family or two-family dwelling hereafter erected shall be located on not less than fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet in area, and not less then one hundred (100) feet in width or a depth of one hundred fifty (150) feet.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Class C1 commercial and I1 industrial districts inside Dafter township

  • Parking or storage of vehicles outside buildings must keep a minimum setback of 25 feet (per the same section).
  • The section contains a proviso for districts with existing commercial and industrial buildings that was not verified in full.

  minimum setback from street right-of-way: >= 75 feet (street right-of-way lines abutting the property)

  “20.602 in class c1 – commercial districts, and i1 – industrial districts, the minimum setback line for commercial and industrial buildings shall be 75 feet from all street right-of-way lines abutting the property”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permits for construction, alteration or excavation inside Dafter township

  • Zoning permit applications go to the township zoning administrator, appointed by the township board.
  • Special exception uses are forwarded to the zoning board; appeals go to the zoning board of appeals.
  • This describes the zoning permit only; the building permit, septic, and well processes are not covered by this claim.

  “21.502 no structure shall be erected, altered, or excavation started until a zoning permit for such erection, alteration or excavation shall have been issued.”

Rules another office applies inside Dafter Township

Dafter 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)

  Rural Residential Commercial lots inside Dafter township in areas the Chippewa County Health Department determines are suitable for septic and drain field systems

  • The township ordinance defers septic suitability to the Chippewa County Health Department; the county department's own septic permit process was not opened within the research budget.

  “20.144 – minimum lot area for rural residential commercial in areas determined by the chippewa county health department to be appropriate for septic and drain field systems”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Dafter township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for residential construction inside Dafter township
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Dafter township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Dafter township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Dafter 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.