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

Garfield Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedPartial

  Flood-hazard provisions of the State Construction Code inside Garfield Township, Clare County, Michigan.

  • Ordinance No. 24 designates the Clare County Building Official as enforcing agency for the Township's responsibility under Act 230.
  • The ordinance states that Appendix G of the Michigan Building Code is enforced by the enforcing agency within Clare County.

  “Appendix G of the Michigan Building Code shall be enforced by the enforcing agency within the COUNTY of CLARE.”

Rules another office applies inside Garfield Township

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

• Building permitRequired

  Construction of a building or structure inside Garfield Township, subject to the State Construction Code's exceptions.

  • The State Construction Code Act excepts work as otherwise provided in the code.
  • Garfield Township Ordinance No. 24 designates the Clare County Building Official as enforcing agency for the Township under Act 230.

  “Except as otherwise provided in the code, before construction of a building or structure, the owner, or the owner's builder, architect, engineer, or agent, shall submit an application in writing to the appropriate enforcing agency for a building permit.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction undertaken under a building permit inside Garfield Township.

  • Applies to construction pursuant to a building permit issued by the enforcing agency.
  • Garfield Township Ordinance No. 24 designates the Clare County Building Official as enforcing agency for the Township under Act 230.

  “An enforcing agency shall periodically inspect all construction undertaken pursuant to a building permit issued by it to insure that the construction is performed in accordance with conditions of the building permit and is consistent with requirements of the code and other applicable laws and ordinances.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Work covered by a building permit inside Garfield Township after completion in accordance with the permit, code, and other applicable laws and ordinances.

  • The certificate is issued when permitted work is completed in accordance with the permit, code, and other applicable laws and ordinances.
  • Garfield Township Ordinance No. 24 designates the Clare County Building Official as enforcing agency for the Township under Act 230.

  “A building or structure hereafter constructed shall not be used or occupied in whole or in part until a certificate of use and occupancy has been issued by the appropriate enforcing agency.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Agricultural buildings inside Garfield Township that meet the statutory exemption.

  • The building must be incidental to agricultural use of the land.
  • The building must not be used in retail trade.

  “A building permit is not required for a building incidental to the use for agricultural purposes of the land on which the building is located if the building is not used in the business of retail trade.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building-permit applications for construction inside Garfield Township.

  • The application is submitted in writing to the appropriate enforcing agency.
  • Garfield Township Ordinance No. 24 designates the Clare County Building Official as enforcing agency for the Township under Act 230.

  “The application shall be on a form prescribed by the commission and shall be accompanied by payment of the fee established by the enforcing agency.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder licensing or permit exemption inside Garfield Township.
• Local zoning — Land inside Garfield Township, Clare County, Michigan.
• Zoning districts — Land inside Garfield Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Garfield Township.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Garfield 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.