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

Washington Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Washington township's limits, Gratiot County, Michigan. The township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (O-2024), not county zoning.

  • Ordinance adopted under Michigan Act 184 of 1943 (township zoning act), per its preamble.
  • Original effective date July 22, 1971; most recent revision adopted May 16, 2024.
  • Use and dimensional rules vary by district (agricultural, residential, commercial).

  “washington township zoning ordinance gratiot county, michigan effective date: july 22, 1971 revision adopted: may 16, 2024”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  All land inside Washington township's limits: three zoning district classes.

  • Agricultural district regulations are in chapter III; residential in chapter IV; commercial in chapter V.
  • Zoning district map is included in the ordinance PDF (township map, page 52 of 53).

  “washington township is hereby divided into three classes of zoning districts: 1. agricultural 2. residential 3. commercial”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Residential buildings in the agricultural district (chapter III) inside Washington township.

  • Floor area excludes basement, porches, garages, breezeways, and attics on first floor.
  • Stated in the agricultural district section; no equivalent figure was found in the residential district section (chapter IV).

  minimum floor area: >= 720 square feet (exclusive of basement, porches, garages, breezeways, and attics on first floor)

  “d. residential buildings shall have a minimum floor area of at least 720 square feet exclusive of basement, porches, garages, breezeways, and attics on first floor.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Agricultural district (chapter III) land inside Washington township.

  • Applies to every lot in the agricultural district.
  • Lot area and building-line width are both required minimums.

  minimum lot area: >= 43560 square feet · minimum width at building line: >= 200 feet

  “4) an area of 43,560 square feet and a width of the building line of at least two hundred (200) feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential district (chapter IV) land inside Washington township.

    “4) an area of at least 21,780 square feet and a width at the building line of at least one hundred (100) feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Agricultural district (chapter III) land inside Washington township.

  • Front and rear yards must be kept clear across the full lot width except for permitted accessory buildings (section 3.2(b)).
  • Front yard is measured from the road right of way.

  front yard: >= 75 feet (from road right of way) · side yards combined: >= 60 feet (where a side lot line adjoins a side road or highway, minimum 75 feet) · each side yard: >= 30 feet · rear yard: >= 50 feet

  “3) a rear yard of at least fifty (50) feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential district (chapter IV) land inside Washington township.

    “3) a rear yard of at least fifty (50) feet.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Motor homes and trailer coaches used as dwellings inside Washington township, only while a permanent dwelling or building is under construction.

  • Requires an occupancy permit from the township zoning officer.
  • Occupancy permit valid one year; renewal only on evidence of reasonable progress toward completion of the permanent dwelling or building.
  • Must comply with safety and sanitation requirements of county and state health departments.

  occupancy permit validity: 1 year (renewal only upon evidence of reasonable progress toward completion)

  “said occupancy permit to be valid for a period of one (1) year, subject to renewal only upon evidence of reasonable progress toward completion of the permanent dwelling or building.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary occupancy of motor homes or trailer coaches inside Washington township, only incidental to construction of a permanent dwelling.

  • Not a general camping allowance; the section addresses construction-period occupancy only.
  • Occupancy permit required from the township zoning officer.

  “temporary dwellings, including motor homes and trailer coaches and other structures intended for use and occupancy incidental to the construction of a permanent dwelling or building may be used provided an occupancy permit is obtained from the township zoning officer”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes and trailer parks inside Washington township.

  • Requirements of Michigan Act 172 of 1958 are made part of the ordinance.
  • No certificate of occupancy until those requirements, and sanitary facilities approval, are met.

  “no certificate of occupancy shall be issued until they have been met, and until the sanitary facilities of the mobile home, or the mobile home or trailer park shall have been approved by the michigan department of health, gratiot county district health department and the township zoning officer.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Farms in the agricultural district (chapter III, section 3.1 permitted uses) inside Washington township.

  • Only for farm or domestic employees of the owner or his lessees.
  • Only one tenant house in addition to the main dwelling per ten acres of farmland.

  tenant houses per farm: per 1 tenant house per 10 acres of farmland (in addition to the main dwelling)

  “additional dwellings on any farm for the use of farm or domestic employees of the owner of his lessees, provided there is only one (1) such tenant house in addition to the main dwelling for each ten (10) acres of farmland.”

Rules another office applies inside Washington Township

Washington 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

  New or altered residential structures inside Washington township, handled by the Gratiot County permits office.

  • The county guide covers all of Gratiot County and does not separately name Washington township; the county office is the issuing contact for building permits.
  • A township zoning permit or letter of township approval must be obtained first.
  • A septic and well permit is required when applicable.
  • Residential structures under 3,500 square feet of calculated floor area use the lighter plan set; larger structures need sealed plans.

  “documents required for obtaining building permits o township zoning permit (a copy of zoning permit or letter of township approval is required before a building permit can be issued.)”

• InspectionsRequired

  Building work inside Washington township under a Gratiot County building permit.

  • Footing inspection after formwork and before pouring concrete; backfill inspection before backfill.
  • Rough inspection after roof, framing and rough electrical, mechanical and plumbing, before insulation.
  • Final inspection upon completion and before occupancy.
  • The permit holder is responsible for all inspections.

  “the permit holder is responsible for any and all inspections necessary.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New or altered buildings inside Washington township under a Gratiot County building permit.

  • Permit holder or agent must request the certificate at completion; the request may be verbal, though written is recommended with building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permit numbers.
  • Cannot be issued until all fees are paid, permits finaled, and work completed per the permit, code and other applicable laws.

  “a new building or altered building shall not be used/occupied until a certificate of occupancy is issued by the code official.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic systems for homes inside Washington township, when a septic permit applies.

  • The county guide directs septic and well permit questions to the Mid-Michigan Health Department, 151 Commerce Dr., Ithaca, MI.
  • Whether the health district's service area includes every part of Washington township was not separately confirmed.

  “contact the mid-michigan health department at (989) 875-3681 or visit their office located at 151 commerce dr., ithaca, mi 48847. a copy of the well and septic permit is required.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic systems for homes inside Washington township, when applicable.

  • A copy of the well and septic permit must be provided before the building permit is issued.
  • Existing septic systems may be used, but a septic evaluation must be submitted if the system is older than 10 years and has not been in use.

  “existing well and septic systems may be used, however, a copy of the well or septic evaluation must be submitted if the system is older than 10 years and has not been in use.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private wells for homes inside Washington township, when applicable.

  • Well and septic permit is a prerequisite to the building permit when applicable.
  • The county guide gives no well construction detail; the Mid-Michigan Health Department is the named contact.

  “contact the mid-michigan health department at (989) 875-3681 or visit their office located at 151 commerce dr., ithaca, mi 48847. a copy of the well and septic permit is required.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveway or curb-cut work on or affecting county roads in Gratiot County, including Washington township.

  • Driveway permit applies only when applicable.
  • Covers county roads; the township's own driveway rules were not found.

  “contact gratiot county road commission at (989) 875-3811 for information on these permits, curb cuts, or any activity affecting county roads.”

• Permit processPartial

  Permit sequence for a residential building project inside Washington township, as described by the Gratiot County permits office.

  • Sequence on the county page: township zoning permit first, then septic and well permit when applicable, then building permit, inspections, and certificate of occupancy.
  • The township's own zoning permit steps and forms were not read; the page is county guidance only.

  “documents required for obtaining building permits o township zoning permit (a copy of zoning permit or letter of township approval is required before a building permit can be issued.)”

Still unanswered

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

• Lot coverage — Lots inside Washington township.
• Building height — Agricultural district (chapter III) land inside Washington township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Washington township.
• Septic inspection — Septic system inspections for homes inside Washington township.
• Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid or non-connected sanitation inside Washington 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.