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

Benton Township’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A building in Benton Township with a well or septic system, before issuance of an occupancy certificate.

  • Documented final approval of the well or septic system by the Barry-Eaton District Health Department is required before the occupancy certificate.
  • The cited checklist states this requirement began June 1, 2004.

  requirement start date: 2004-06-01

  “Beginning June 1, 2004, if the building has a well and/or septic system, documented final approval of the well and/or septic system by the Barry-Eaton District Health Department will be required before an occupancy certificate will be issued.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in the unincorporated area of Benton Township, Eaton County, Michigan.

  • The ordinance divides Township land into zoning districts.

  “For the purpose of this Ordinance, all of the unincorporated areas in the Township of Benton are hereby divided into the following types of districts, to be known as, and having the following symbols:”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Uses and structures in Benton Township zoning districts.

  • A corner-lot side yard adjoining a road must equal the minimum front-yard setback.
  • The minimum setback increases to 50 feet where a yard abuts a residential district.
  • Animal/feed/manure buildings may not be closer than 100 feet to any lot line.

  residential-abutment setback: >= 50 feet (Where the yard abuts a Residential District.) · animal/feed/manure building lot-line distance: >= 100 feet (Irrespective of other setback requirements.)

  “For a corner lot, the minimum side yard setback of the side yard along the road shall equal the minimum front yard setback for the lot. 3. The minimum setback shall be increased to 50 feet where the yard abuts a Residential District. 4. Irrespective of any other requirements of this Ordinance pertaining to setbacks, under no conditions shall buildings housing animals, feed or manure be closer than one hundred (100) feet to any lot line.”

Rules another office applies inside Benton Township

Benton 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 septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private septic tanks and drain fields serving land inside Benton Township.

  • The Township zoning ordinance separately refers to the Barry-Eaton District Health Department for well and septic construction permits on nonconforming lots.

  “a review of the existing sanitary facilities, or a permit for a septic and/or well permit, issued within the last twelve months from the Barry-Eaton District Health Department, or a letter of commitment from a municipal water and/or sewer provider, is required.”

• Septic permitLimited

  New buildings, bedroom additions, other additions, accessory buildings, pools, and other structures occupying additional land area in Benton Township.

  • A review of existing sanitary facilities or a septic and/or well permit issued within the last 12 months by the Barry-Eaton District Health Department is required.
  • A letter of commitment from a municipal water and/or sewer provider is an alternative.

  permit or review age: <= 12 months (A letter of commitment from a municipal water and/or sewer provider is an alternative.)

  “For all new buildings, and buildings that are adding bedrooms, or other additions (including porches), accessory buildings (pole barns, garages, sheds, etc.), swimming pools (above and below ground) or other structures that occupy additional land area must have a review of the existing sanitary facilities, or a permit for a septic and/or well permit, issued within the last twelve months from the Barry-Eaton District Health Department, or a letter of commitment from a municipal water and/or sewer provider, is required.”

• Well permitLimited

  New buildings, additions, accessory buildings, pools, and other structures occupying additional land area in Benton Township.

  • The requirement may be met by sanitary-facility review, a septic and/or well permit issued within the last 12 months, or a municipal water/sewer commitment letter.

  permit or review age: <= 12 months (A letter of commitment from a municipal water and/or sewer provider is an alternative.)

  “For all new buildings, and buildings that are adding bedrooms, or other additions (including porches), accessory buildings (pole barns, garages, sheds, etc.), swimming pools (above and below ground) or other structures that occupy additional land area must have a review of the existing sanitary facilities, or a permit for a septic and/or well permit, issued within the last twelve months from the Barry-Eaton District Health Department, or a letter of commitment from a municipal water and/or sewer provider, is required.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Benton Township.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Benton Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings in Benton Township zoning districts.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots in Benton Township zoning districts.
• Lot coverage — Lots in Benton Township zoning 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.