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

Orange Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Excavation, construction, parking areas, and structural alterations regulated by the Orange Township Zoning Ordinance.

  • A zoning permit must be obtained first from the Township Zoning Administrator.
  • Agricultural buildings are excepted.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to commence excavation for, or construction of, any building or structure, parking area or to make structural alterations in any existing building or structure, without first obtaining a Zoning Permit from the Township Zoning Administrator as hereinafter provided except for agricultural buildings.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in all Orange Township zoning districts.

  • Exceptions are subject to other provisions of law and include specified appurtenances and farm-related structures.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Subject to listed exceptions.)

  “ALL DISTRICTS. No building shall exceed 35 feet.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  A mobile home, motor home, or travel trailer used for living accommodations while a permanent structure is under construction in Orange Township.

  • Use is limited to one year.
  • Ionia County Health Department approval is required.
  • The Township Board may grant an extension when the permanent structure will be completed within a reasonable period.

  temporary occupancy period: 1 year (While a permanent structure is under construction.)

  “A temporary shelter such as a mobile home, motor home or travel trailer may be used for one year for living accommodations while a permanent structure is under construction, upon approval of the Ionia County Health Department.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Agricultural buildings subject to the Orange Township zoning-permit provision.

  • The exemption is from the township zoning-permit requirement stated in §20.02(a).

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to commence excavation for, or construction of, any building or structure, parking area or to make structural alterations in any existing building or structure, without first obtaining a Zoning Permit from the Township Zoning Administrator as hereinafter provided except for agricultural buildings.”

• Shed and accessory-building permit exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Accessory buildings in Orange Township with an area below 200 square feet.

  • The building must conform to accessory-building setback requirements.

  accessory-building area: < 200 square feet (The structure remains subject to accessory-building setback requirements.)

  “Accessory buildings less than two hundred (200) square feet in area do not require a zoning permit but shall conform to the setback requirements for accessory buildings.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Orange Township zoning-permit applications.

  • The process described is an outline.
  • The permit appointment includes an inspection and payment of the appropriate fees.

  “The zoning permit process in outline is: fill out a zoning application form, stake corners of the building(s), call for an inspection and permit appointment and pay the appropriate fees.”

Rules another office applies inside Orange Township

Orange Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction in Orange Township undertaken pursuant to a building permit issued by a Michigan enforcing agency.

  • The duty applies to construction undertaken pursuant to a building permit issued by the enforcing agency.

  “An enforcing agency shall periodically inspect all construction undertaken pursuant to a building permit issued by it”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family and two-family dwelling units in the R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  minimum floor area per unit: >= 800 square feet (Single-family and two-family dwelling units.)

  “For single family and two family dwelling units, the minimum floor area shall be 800 square feet per unit.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Principal buildings and structures in the Agricultural District.

  • The lot area may include road right-of-way if it is noted in the legal description for the lot.

  minimum lot area: >= 1 acre · minimum lot width at front lot line: >= 150 feet

  “LOT AREA - The minimum lot area shall be one acre with a minimum of 150 feet of lot width at the front lot line. The lot area may include road right-of-way if it is noted in the legal description for the lot.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residential buildings and normally accessory buildings in the R-1 Low Density Residential District.

  front setback: >= 30 feet (Residential buildings and buildings normally considered accessory thereto.)

  “FRONT YARD - For residential buildings and buildings normally considered accessory thereto, there shall be a front setback of 30 feet.”

• Camping on your landAllowed (with conditions)

  Campgrounds in the Agricultural District of Orange Township.

  • Planning Commission approval as a special land use is required.
  • The use is subject to Chapter 15 and applicable stated provisions.

  “The following uses may be permitted as a special land use in the Agricultural District when approval is granted by the Planning Commission. Such uses are subject to the provisions of Chapter 15 contained herein and the provisions noted below where applicable.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction in Orange Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption and enforcing-agency arrangement inside Orange Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered structures in Orange Township.
• Lot coverage — Lots in Orange Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in Orange 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.