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

Reading Township’s own rules

• InspectionsRequired

  Projects for which Reading Township issues a zoning permit.

  • After the zoning permit is issued, the applicant must call for inspections of setbacks, footings, poles, and similar work, and must call for a final inspection when the project is finished.
  • The permit is good for 545 days under Township Ordinance Section 10.4(b) and must be renewed after expiration.

  zoning permit duration: 545 days (Renewal is required after the expiration date.)

  “AFTER ZONING PERMIT IS ISSUED YOU HAVE TO CALL FOR INSPECTION OF SET BACKS, FOOTINGS, POLES, ETC. CALL FOR A FINAL INSPECTION WHEN YOUR PROJECT IS FINISHED. YOUR PERMIT IS GOOD FOR 545 DAYS PER TOWNSHIP ORDIANCE (SECTION 10.4 b). YOU MUST RENEW AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Reading Township, Hillsdale County, Michigan.

  • The application requires compliance with applicable Reading Township, Hillsdale County, state, and federal ordinances and laws.

  “Reading Township Zoning Permit Application”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Reading Township zoning permits and zoning applications.

  • The published fee schedule is marked revised 3/14/2022.
  • The schedule lists the zoning-ordinance charge as TBD.

  zoning permit fee: 20 USD · conditional use fee: 225 USD · application for appeal fee: 225 USD · text amendment fee: 225 USD

  “PERMITS Zoning 20.00 Conditional Use 225.00 Application for Appeal 225.00 Text Amendment 225.00 Telecommunications (METRO ACT) N/A Zoning Ordinance $TBD”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Reading Township zoning-permit applications.

  • The applicant must provide site-plan and project drawing materials.
  • Applicants must check with the County Building Department, Health Department, and Road Commission for other permits before construction.
  • Inspection and permit-renewal conditions apply after a zoning permit is issued.

  “SITE PLAN: Need to show where on property the project will be located, show all roads, lot lines front, back and side. Show how far project is from the lot lines. Show all buildings, structures (See Example of a Site Plan). NEED TO HAVE A BLUE PRINT OR DRAWING OF PROJECT AS CLOSE TO SCALE AS POSSIBLE. Other permits may be needed before you start any construction, check with your County Building Department, Health Department and Road Commission.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential building construction inside Reading Township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential projects inside Reading Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption applicable inside Reading Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of completed buildings inside Reading Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Reading 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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Reading Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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