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

Leroy Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction of dwelling units in Leroy township under the section 408 dwelling standards

  • Construction may begin only after a building permit is obtained; this is a permit-before-construction rule, not a prohibition.
  • The ordinance does not state the permit fee, the issuing office or a process for permit applications; those were not found.

  “all construction required herein shall be commenced only after a building permit has been obtained in accordance with the township building code and other building regulations.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Leroy township's limits (Ingham County) is governed by the township's own zoning ordinance

  • The ordinance cited is the 2022 text (effective May 8, 2022). A later update titled 'Leroy Zoning Ordinance Updated 4 14 26' is posted on the same domain but exceeds the size limit of the open-page tool and was not read.
  • The township's homepage was not opened, so the official status of leroytwp.com as the township's own site is inferred from the ordinance and search results, not confirmed.

  “zoning ordinance leroy township ingham county, michigan zoning ordinance effective may 8, 2022”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts of Leroy township (per the 2022 ordinance; the 2026 update may differ)

  • The official zoning map is incorporated by reference (section 302) and was not opened.

  “ag agricultural enterprise district ra residential agricultural district r-1 low density residential district rm-1 low density multiple family residential district”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in the R-1 low density residential district of Leroy township

  • The table text reads 'r-1, low density residential 1 acre' but the column labels are garbled in the text layer; verify in the 2026 update.
  • Open space preservation developments have a separate r-1 minimum of 13,000 sq. ft. (section 1106) and are not covered here.

  minimum lot area: 1 acre

  “ra, residential agricultural 1 acre 165 2 25(d) r-1, low density residential 1 acre 165 2 (f) 100 2.5 minimum lot rear”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Lots in the RA residential agricultural district of Leroy township

    “ra, residential agricultural 1 acre 165 2 25(d) r-1, low density residential 1 acre 165 2 (f) 100 2.5 minimum lot rear”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Recreational vehicles parked or stored outdoors on private land in Leroy township

  • Outdoor parking of recreational vehicles, snowmobiles and boats for more than 24 hours is prohibited except within approved recreational vehicle storage yards.
  • Stored recreational vehicles must sit within the rear or side yard behind the front building line and meet side and rear setbacks.

  “all recreation vehicles parked or stored, shall not be connected to sanitary facilities and shall not be occupied.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured and mobile homes used as dwellings outside a licensed mobile home park in Leroy township

  • Such homes must meet the section 408 dwelling standards and the township building code.
  • Non-conforming mobile homes may not be used as dwellings outside a mobile home park or mobile home subdivision district, unless used as a temporary residence as the ordinance otherwise provides.

  “mobile homes which do not conform to the standards of this section shall not be used for dwelling purposes within the township unless located within a mobile home park or a mobile home subdivision district for such uses, or unless used as a temporary residence as otherwise provided in this ordinance.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Buildings used for human habitation in Leroy township

  • Habitable buildings must be furnished with water supply and sewage disposal under the township building code; this sets a standard rather than banning private systems.
  • The ordinance does not name holding tanks, privies or other off-grid options; those were not found.

  “every building used or intended to be used for human habitation or human occupancy, including but not limited to dwellings, industrial, commercial, office and institutional uses, shall be furnished with water supply and sewage disposal as provided for in the township building code.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Dwelling units built in Leroy township

  • Dwellings must connect to a public sewer and water supply, or to private facilities approved by the local health department.
  • No distance or availability rule for public water or sewer was found, and it was not verified which public systems serve the township.

  “each such dwelling unit shall be connected to a public sewer and water supply or to such private facilities approved by the local health department.”

Rules another office applies inside Leroy Township

Leroy 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)

  On-site septic systems for land inside Leroy township; the township requires engineering approval and the Ingham County Health Department sets the design standard

  • Township engineering approval is required before a building permit issues (utilities provision, subsection b).
  • Design of on-site septic systems follows the standards of the Ingham County Health Department.
  • Authority is recorded as 'other' because the schema does not allow a township-specific geography under the county or health-district kinds; the health department is the named rule-maker.

  “on-site septic systems shall be designed in accordance with the standards of the ingham county health department.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homeowners building in Leroy township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings in Leroy township
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in Leroy township
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in Leroy township
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units in Leroy 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.