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

Leslie Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New dwellings, additions, alterations and accessory buildings on private property inside Leslie township

  • Construction may proceed only after the permit is issued and all required inspections are completed.
  • Permit applications must include a site plan with distances from lot lines, legal description or survey for new builds on vacant land, and a current tax parcel number.
  • The permit becomes void one year after it is granted.

  building permit application fee (non-refundable): 60 USD (per the township page; schedule of fees also lists $60 for dwelling)

  “penalty for starting work without a permit is a $300.00 fine”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  New homes and other residential structures on private property inside Leslie township

  • The township page names only 'the township building code' and does not name the code edition or date.
  • Anchorage devices must be constructed in accordance with state building code regulations, per the same page.

  “the leslie township building code is based on the building code of the state of michigan (sect. 8 of the state construction code act). the code used is the icc and irc code.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Building permits issued by Leslie township inside its limits

  • Permit holder must notify the building inspector 24 hours in advance when construction is ready for inspection.
  • Failure to request inspections automatically cancels the permits and requires a new permit before occupancy.
  • Fee schedule lists inspection counts per permit (for example, new single-family dwelling: 5 building inspections at the greater of $400 or $0.30 per sq ft for commercial/industrial; electrical, plumbing and mechanical new dwelling 3 inspections each).

  “building permits shall be subject to inspections as per code, the first one prior to the issuance of a building permit, and the last one when the building is completed”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New homes in Leslie township before the owner moves in

  • An LP tank mechanical permit is required first if applicable.
  • All permit inspections must pass, including a blower door test on new homes, and the septic and well final inspections must be approved.

  “an occupancy permit will not be issued for new homes until a mechanical permit for lp tank has been acquired (if applicable) and all permit inspections have passed including blower door test on new homes”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Leslie township limits (Ingham County, MI) where the township administers its own zoning ordinance through a zoning enforcement official

  • The zoning ordinance text itself was not located on the township website; this claim rests on the township's own requirements page and building departments page naming a zoning administrator.
  • Zoning amendments, special use permits and board of appeals fees are listed on the township fee schedule (zoning amendment $550; special use application $550; appeals to the board of appeals $450).

  “provide any other information deemed necessary by the zoning enforcement official to determine and provide enforcement of the leslie township zoning ordinance”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family (1 family) dwelling on private property inside Leslie township; the zoning district name is not stated on the township page

  • Area excludes the basement.
  • Each structure must have a minimum width of 20 feet per side in the initial unit.

  minimum living area, initial unit: >= 960 sq ft (excluding the basement)

  “1 family 1 acre minimum - frontage 165', 50' set back, 15' side lot, 40' rear, maximum height 2.5 stories or 35', 960 square feet living space (excluding the basement)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Two-family (2 family) dwelling on private property inside Leslie township; the zoning district name is not stated on the township page

    “850' square feet living space (excluding the basement) is required for each unit”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family (1 family) dwelling on private property inside Leslie township; the zoning district name is not stated on the township page

  • Shortest sideline in all districts is 264 ft (lot depth), per the same page.
  • Frontage minimum is 165 ft.

  minimum lot area: >= 1 acre (none stated)

  “1 family 1 acre minimum - frontage 165', 50' set back, 15' side lot, 40' rear”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Two-family (2 family) dwelling on private property inside Leslie township; the zoning district name is not stated on the township page

    “2 family 1.21 acre minimum - 200' frontage, set back, side lot, rear, and height requirements are the same as 1 family dwelling”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal dwelling (1 family; the same setbacks apply to 2 family) on private property inside Leslie township

  • A distance of 33 ft is added to all minimum front yard setbacks when measured from the roadway centerline.
  • Front or side yards abutting a state truck line or major roadway require a minimum 50 ft setback.
  • On a corner lot the side yard abutting the street is not less than the front yard requirement.

  front setback: >= 50 ft (plus 33 ft if measured from roadway centerline) · side setback: >= 15 ft (none stated) · rear setback: >= 40 ft (none stated)

  “a distance of 33' shall be added to all minimum front yard setbacks if measured from the roadway centerline”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Accessory buildings, including detached garages, on private property inside Leslie township

    “no accessory building, including detached garages, shall be closer than ten (10) feet to any lot line”

  • Specified — Paved areas (driveways, patios and similar) on private property inside Leslie township

    “no portion of any paved area may be closer than five (5) feet from any lot line”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  All structures on a lot inside Leslie township

  • The page places this line after the 2 family entry and says it applies generally; the zoning district it governs is not stated.

  maximum lot coverage by all structures: <= 20 percent (none stated)

  “maximum coverage of lot by all structures is 20%.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Principal dwellings (1 family and 2 family) inside Leslie township

  • The 2 family entry states its height requirements are the same as the 1 family dwelling.
  • Maximum height is 2.5 stories or 35 ft, as stated for the 1 family dwelling.

  maximum building height: <= 35 ft (or 2.5 stories)

  “1 family 1 acre minimum - frontage 165', 50' set back, 15' side lot, 40' rear, maximum height 2.5 stories or 35', 960 square feet living space (excluding the basement)”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Residential dwellings on private land inside Leslie township, applied to a tiny home as a dwelling

  • Inference: the township does not name tiny homes. A dwelling under 960 sq ft in its initial unit does not meet the township's minimum dwelling standard, so a tiny home would need to meet that minimum.
  • Structure must be placed and secured on a permanent 42-inch frost-free foundation.

  minimum initial unit living area: >= 960 sq ft (excludes basement)

  “each structure shall have a minimum of 960 square feet in the initial unit, with a minimum width of 20 feet per side”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile and manufactured homes used as a dwelling on private property inside Leslie township

  • Must be placed and secured on a permanent 42-inch frost-free foundation with anchorage per state building code regulations (supplemented by Michigan Mobile Home Commission rules).
  • Must meet the same minimum living area and pitched-roof standards as other dwellings.
  • Unit must meet the township dwelling standards cited, including minimum 960 sq ft initial unit.

  manufacture date: > January 1, 1994 date (or otherwise comply with HUD standards for mobile homes manufactured after January 1, 1994)

  “all mobile homes used, as a dwelling shall have been manufactured later than january 1, 1994 or otherwise comply with all standards promulgated by the united state department of housing and urban development for mobile homes manufactured after january 1, 1994.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Homes in Leslie township before a final occupancy permit is issued

  • The township requires an approved final inspection including septic before occupancy; the page does not name who performs the septic inspection.

  “before a final occupancy permit is issued and owner is allowed to move in, all other permit inspections must have an approved final inspection including well & septic”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and plats inside Leslie township

  • Land division review fee is $100 base plus $25 for each new parcel over one; land adjustment fee is $100.
  • Subdivision plat fee is $250 per the same schedule.
  • State land division statute not reviewed in this pass.

  land division review base fee: 100 USD (plus $25 for each new parcel over one)

  “land division review - $100 base plus $25 for each new parcel over one.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and zoning permits issued by Leslie township

  • Fee schedule is effective May 15, 2022 per the township page.
  • Penalty for starting work without a permit is a $300 fine.
  • Other listed fees include zoning amendment $550, special use application $550, appeals to the board of appeals $450, zoning inspection $35, mobile home park permit $1,000 and compliance bond $200,000.

  penalty for work started without a permit: 300 USD (fine) · building application fee (non-refundable): 60 USD (dwelling application line; commercial and industrial listed as $400 or $0.30 per sq ft, whichever is greater)

  “penalty for starting work without a permit is a $300.00 fine ** building application fee (non-refundable) - $60 dwelling”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit applications for work inside Leslie township

  • Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
  • Property must be staked and address posted for inspection.
  • Miss Dig call (811) before excavation; soil erosion permit or waiver from Ingham County Drain Commission.
  • Permit holder must notify building inspector 24 hours in advance.

  “be sure to include all structures on the site plan drawing as well as footage from lot lines to all structures and footage from one structure to another (existing and proposed)”

Rules another office applies inside Leslie Township

Leslie 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 septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic systems on private land inside Leslie township, which is handled by Ingham County Environmental Health (county health department), not the township

  • Schema enum does not allow geography township-specific for county authority; unincorporated-only is used because Leslie township is unincorporated.
  • Applies only 'if applicable' per the township page.

  “copy of the septic and well permit from ingham county health department (517)887-4312”

• Septic permitRequired

  New homes and other buildings needing wastewater service on private land inside Leslie township; issued by Ingham County

  • Required 'if applicable'; the township page does not state when it does not apply.
  • Must be submitted with the township building permit application.

  “septic and well permit from ingham county environmental health department if applicable”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private water supply and sanitary facilities for a dwelling inside Leslie township; approval by Ingham County

  • Dwelling water and sanitary facilities must be approved by the county health department; the township page does not state a sewer or water connection mandate.

  “the structure's water supply and sanitary facilities must be approved by the ingham county health department”

• Well permitRequired

  Private wells on land inside Leslie township; issued by Ingham County

  • Required 'if applicable'; issued together with the septic permit.

  “septic and well permit from ingham county environmental health department if applicable”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveways for a lot inside Leslie township; permit from Ingham County Road Department

  • Required only if there is no existing driveway, per the township page.

  “driveway permit from ingham county road department (517)676-9722 if no existing driveway”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Leslie township
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for Leslie township
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Leslie township
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Leslie township
• Accessory dwellings — Second dwelling units (accessory dwellings) on a residential lot inside Leslie 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.