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

Tompkins Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Tompkins township limits, Jackson County, Michigan: the township's own zoning ordinance governs use and district rules there.

  • Ordinance adopted by the township board on February 6, 1990 and given immediate effect from and after March 8, 1990 (official Articles 15-16 text).
  • The footer 'revised 05/2019' is a revision stamp, not an effective date.
  • Ordinance states it is adopted and enforced under PA 184 of 1943 and its successor PA 110 of 2006.
  • Zoning compliance permit is handled through the township supervisor per the township zoning page.

  “this ordinance was adopted and is enforced pursuant to the authority of michigan public act no. 184 of 1943, as amended, and its successor act, being michigan public act 110 of 2006”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts of Tompkins township, Jackson County, Michigan (all land within township limits, per the official zoning map).

  • Section 3.01 lists the districts: agos (agriculture and open space), ag (agriculture), rs (suburban residential), rmh (mobile home park), b4 (general business), osp (open space preservation overlay).
  • The official zoning map is adopted by reference as part of the ordinance; the map itself was not opened.
  • District article pages 6.01 (agriculture) through 6.05 (open space preservation overlay) are linked from the zoning page; their text was not retrieved.

  “for the purpose of this ordinance the township of tompkins is divided into the following districts: agos - - agriculture and open space ag - - agriculture district rs - - suburban residential district rmh - - mobile home park district b4 - - general business district osp - - open space preservation overlay district”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits in Tompkins township.

  • Schedule effective March 25, 2021.
  • Fees: additional inspections at fail status $65.00; a $25.00 base fee is added to each permit; renewals are 50% of the original fee.
  • The PDF's table columns do not align cleanly in text extraction; only the stick-built house figure is recorded as a parameter. Verify all amounts with the township.

  building permit fee, stick-built house: 400 USD (text extraction does not align table columns; verify with township) · base fee added to each permit: 25 USD · additional inspection fee at fail status: 65 USD

  “renewals 50% of original fee *$25.00 base fee added to each permit *additional inspections at fail status $65.00”

• Permit processPartial

  Permit application process for land inside Tompkins township.

  • Zoning compliance permit applications are linked from the township zoning page; the form itself was not opened.
  • Building permits are directed to the township office by phone; no written step-by-step process was found.
  • Zoning compliance contact is listed as supervisor John Tuttle on the zoning page but as Chuck Woodburn on the contacts page; confirm current contact.

  “for building permits contact township office 517-569-2463 or 517-420-1056”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption in Tompkins township.
• Building code adopted — Building code in force for construction inside Tompkins township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new construction inside Tompkins township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in the AG (agriculture) district of Tompkins township.
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot area in the AG (agriculture) district of Tompkins 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.