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

Stockbridge Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction inside Stockbridge township's limits (outside the Village of Stockbridge)

  • A zoning compliance permit from the township zoning administrator must be obtained before a building permit issues.
  • The zoning book notes that zoning is needed even if a building permit is not required for structures under 200 sq. ft.: (need zoning even if a building permit is not required if it’s under 200sq. ft.)

  “prior to the issuance of any building permit in the township, it shall be necessary for any applicant for construction under the provisions of the construction ordinance to first apply for and obtain a zoning compliance permit from the zoning administrator of the township”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Stockbridge township's limits, outside the incorporated Village of Stockbridge (which has its own ordinance)

  • The township's own Zoning Ordinance Book (revised November 27, 2024) is posted on the township ordinances page; the ordinance text itself states its adoption as January 2009 (rev. August 2019) in its page headers.
  • Zoning compliance is required before building permits (see building_permit_requirement claim).

  “zoning ordinances stockbridge township zoning ordinance book table of contents - revised 2024 click above to view ordinance”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwellings subject to the Section 4.15 dimensional table footnote e inside Stockbridge township; the district rows the footnote covers were not confirmed in the captured text

  • Footnote e applies to the dimensional table, with a separate 600 sq ft first-floor minimum for two-story dwellings (total 960 sq ft).

  minimum first floor area, one-story dwelling unit: >= 960 sq ft · minimum first floor area, two-story dwelling: >= 600 sq ft (with 960 sq ft total)

  “e= min. first floor of 960 sq ft for each 1 story dwelling unit and 600 sq ft for a 2 story dwelling (with 960 sq ft total)”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Non-farm single-family dwellings in the Rural Residential (RR) district, Section 4.08, inside Stockbridge township

  • Lot must also meet Section 7.03.04 and the county health department septic and well requirements.

  minimum parcel area: >= 1 acre (on-site water and wastewater systems must meet county health department requirements)

  “non-farm single family dwellings meeting the requirements of section 7.03.04 on a minimum of one (1) acre parcel, if on-site water supply and wastewater disposal systems meet the requirements of the county health department.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Setbacks from the M-52 right-of-way under Section 4.15 dimensional table footnote j, inside Stockbridge township

  • Footnote j is a table footnote; which districts it covers was not confirmed in the captured text.
  • Setbacks from other roads and general side and rear setbacks were not captured.

  minimum setback from M-52 right-of-way: >= 80 ft

  “j= all setbacks from the m-52 right-of-way shall be at least 80 ft”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Structures measured from established shorelines of surface water bodies, under Section 4.15 dimensional table footnote d (the district rows carrying footnote d were not confirmed)

    “d= 75 ft min. from established shorelines for surface water bodies”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for homes inside Stockbridge township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes inside Stockbridge township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Stockbridge township
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage for residential lots inside Stockbridge township
• Building height — Maximum building height for residential districts inside Stockbridge 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.