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

Richfield Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Richfield township's limits (Genesee County). Richfield township administers its own zoning ordinance, Township Ordinance #120.

  • The ordinance is the 2000 base ordinance as reformatted with amendments through March 22, 2026; the effective date of individual amendments was not checked.
  • Parcels inside the township must comply with the zoning district that applies to them.

  “richfield township zoning ordinance township ordinance # 120 adopted september 12th, 2000 effective october 20th, 2000 reformatted with all previously approved amendments organized into the body of the document march 22, 2026”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Richfield township. Districts listed: RRA, SRA, SR, SRM, MH, OPB, CB, I-1, I-2, among others.

  • The district list is in Article III, section 300; the official zoning map is referenced in Article III and was not opened.

  “section 300. districts established for the purpose of this ordinance, the township of richfield is hereby divided into the following districts”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family residences in the RRA Rural Residential and Agricultural district inside Richfield township. Other districts were not checked.

  • The minimum excludes the garage and/or breezeway.

  minimum building size, single-family residence: >= 1050 square feet (not including garage and/or breezeway)

  “the minimum building size for a single- family residence not including garage and/or breezeway is 1050 square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Parcels in the RRA Rural Residential and Agricultural district inside Richfield township. Other districts (SRA, SR) were not checked.

  • Minimum lot width on a county or an approved private road is 105 feet; for parcels being created of 10 acres or more the width is 33 feet (see parameters).

  minimum lot and buildable area: >= 43560 square feet (1 acre) · minimum lot width on a county or approved private road: >= 105 feet (for parcels being created of 10 acres or more: 33 feet)

  “404-1 minimum lot and buildable area: a. 43560 square feet (1 acre) 404-2 minimum lot width on a county or an approved private road: a. 105 feet. for parcels being created of 10 acres or more 33’”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Residential principal buildings in the RRA Rural Residential and Agricultural district inside Richfield township. Setbacks are measured from the right-of-way for the front and from lot lines for the sides and rear as written. Other districts were not checked.

  • Accessory building setbacks are different (front 40 ft, side 10 ft, rear 5 ft) and are not included in this claim.
  • Farm animal setbacks are in a separate subsection (404-4 d).

  front setback from right-of-way: >= 40 feet · side lot line setback: >= 10 feet · rear lot line setback: >= 40 feet

  “404-4 minimum yard setbacks from rights-of-way: a. for residential principal buildings: 1. from front right of way line: 40’ 2. from side lot line: 10’ 3. from rear lot line: 40’”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures in the RRA Rural Residential and Agricultural district inside Richfield township. Other districts were not checked.

  • Nonresidential (including farm) uses have a 35-foot limit; residential accessory structures have a 15-foot limit (see parameters).

  maximum height, residential principal uses: <= 25 feet (or two (2) stories, whichever the ordinance states) · maximum height, nonresidential (including farm) uses: <= 35 feet · maximum height, residential accessory structures: <= 15 feet

  “404-3 maximum height of structures a. for residential uses: two (2) stories or 25 feet. b. for nonresidential (including farm) uses: 35 feet c. for residential accessory structures: 15 feet”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Richfield township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homes inside Richfield township
• Building code adopted — Building code in force for construction inside Richfield township
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Richfield township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Richfield 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.