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

Richland Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Richland township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan: the township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance

  • Ordinance is adopted under Act 110 of 2006, per its purpose clause (section 300.102).

  “that this ordinance shall be known as the "richland township zoning ordinance".”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Richland township

  • Districts named in the ordinance include r/os, ab, a-1, a, a-2, b-1, c, c-1, c-2, d, d-1, e, rp and the osp open space preservation overlay. Each district's site development table is in its own chapter (for example a single family residential district 5-1 and a-1 agricultural/residential district 4-4).
  • Township zoning map is linked from richlandtwp.net but was not opened; district boundaries per parcel are not confirmed here.

  “protecting the character and stability of the township through establishment of zoning districts which regulates the use and intensity of building through the creation of site development requirements”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family dwellings in the agricultural/residential district ("a-1", section 300.400) in Richland township

  • For two-story dwellings, the first floor must be at least 600 square feet.
  • The minimum floor area for the single family district ("a") was not captured in the extracted text and is not stated here.

  minimum floor area, single-family dwelling: >= 1000 square feet (two-story dwellings: first floor at least 600 square feet)

  “6. minimum floor area: the minimum floor area for a single-family dwelling shall be 1,000 square feet. for two story dwellings, the minimum floor area of the first floor shall be at least 600 square feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Any building counted as a single family dwelling under the zoning definition in Richland township

    “b. it has a core area at some place within the structure of at least 24 feet by 24 feet in size.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single family residential district ("a", section 300.500 series) in Richland township

  • Lot width is 100 feet where connected to public wastewater, 132 feet for platted or site condominium developments not served by public wastewater, and 165 feet for unplatted lots not served by public wastewater.
  • Density statement in section 300.501 ties one-to-two units per acre to connection to a public wastewater collection system.

  minimum lot area, connected to public wastewater: >= 20000 square feet (where connected to a public wastewater system) · minimum lot area, platted or site condominium not served by public wastewater: >= 30000 square feet (not served by a public wastewater system) · minimum lot area, unplatted lot not served by public wastewater: >= 1 acre (not served by a public wastewater system)

  “the minimum lot area shall be 20,000 square feet where connected to a public wastewater system; 30,000 square feet for platted or site condominium developments not served by a public wastewater system; and one acre for unplatted lots not served by a public wastewater system.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Agricultural/residential district ("a-1", section 300.400) in Richland township

    “1. lot area: the minimum lot area shall be one acre.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Agricultural/residential district ("a-1", section 300.400) in Richland township: principal building yard setbacks

  • Waterway setback footnote (below) can increase setbacks for dwellings and principal buildings on waterfront lots.
  • Side and rear limits for the "a" single family district (section 300.504 item 4) were cut off in the extracted text and are not stated here.

  front yard setback: >= 50 feet (measured from the road right-of-way) · side yard setback: >= 20 feet · rear yard setback: >= 30 feet

  “b) side yard: each side yard setback shall be at least 20 feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Dwellings and other principal buildings on waterfront lots or lots within 75 feet of a waterway, in all districts of Richland township that carry the zoning footnote

    “dwellings and other principal buildings on a waterfront lot or a lot any portion of which abuts or is within 75' of a waterway, shall at a minimum be setback from the high-water line of the waterway the greater of: (1) 50', or (2) the average setback of the existing dwellings or other principal buildings on each side of the lot at the time of application for a building permit.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Agricultural/residential district ("a-1", section 300.400) in Richland township

  • Lot coverage for the single family district ("a") was not captured in the extracted text and is not stated here.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 15 percent

  “5. lot coverage: the maximum lot coverage shall not exceed 15 percent.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Single family residential district ("a", section 300.500 series) in Richland township, for structures not otherwise regulated

  • Height limit for structures not otherwise regulated in the "a" district.

  maximum height: <= 35 feet (structures not otherwise regulated)

  “3. height: the maximum height for structures not otherwise regulated shall be 35 feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Agricultural/residential district ("a-1", section 300.400) in Richland township, for structures not otherwise regulated

    “3. height: the maximum height for structures not otherwise regulated shall be 35 feet.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Travel trailers, motor homes, campers and similar vehicles used as a dwelling anywhere in Richland township

  • Permitted only as temporary dwelling for not more than 30 days in any one year, and only on premises with running water and sewage facilities.
  • Use inside duly licensed camps is governed by the camp requirements (see temporary camping claim).

  maximum temporary dwelling period: <= 30 days (per year; premises must have running water and sewage facilities)

  “tents, travel trailers, motor homes, tent trailers, campers and/or automobile trailers shall not be used for dwelling purposes within the township limits, provided, however, that same may be used for temporary dwelling for a total period of not more than 30 days in any one year, when located upon premises having running water and sewage facilities”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Limited — Parking or storage of campers, trailers, recreational vehicles and motorized homes in the front yard of residences in the a, a-1, a-2 and b-1 residence districts

    “in the "a", "a-1", "a-2" and "b-1" residence district classifications, the parking or storage of campers, trailers, recreational vehicles, boats, jet skis, motorized homes and similar items shall not be allowed in the front yard of residences in these zoning classifications except as set forth below:”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Tents, travel trailers, motor homes and campers used for dwelling purposes in Richland township

  • Outside a duly licensed camp, use is limited to 30 days in any one year on premises with running water and sewage facilities.
  • Use inside duly licensed camps is allowed subject to the requirements imposed on the camp.

  maximum temporary dwelling period outside licensed camps: <= 30 days (per year)

  “and provided further that such tents, travel trailers, motor homes, tent trailers, campers and/or automobile trailers may be used for dwelling purposes within duly licensed camps and subject to the requirements thereon imposed.”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Small dwellings in Richland township that must meet the single family dwelling definition to be occupied as a dwelling

  • Must meet the single family dwelling definition: core area at least 24 feet by 24 feet, permanent foundation, storage and compatibility standards.
  • A dwelling below that definition is not addressed by the opened text; see followups.

  “it is firmly attached to a permanent foundation constructed on the site in accordance with the township building code”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes used as single family dwellings in Richland township

  • Mobile homes must also meet the dwelling definition: installed to manufacturer setup instructions, anchored under Michigan Mobile Home Commission rules, wheels removed, and built to HUD standards (24 CFR 3280) with the zoning administrator's compatibility review.
  • Mobile home parks are not addressed in the opened text.

  “in the event that the dwelling is a mobile home, as defined herein, such dwelling shall, in addition thereto, be installed pursuant to the manufacturer's setup instructions and shall be secured to the premises by an anchoring system or device complying with the rules and regulations of the michigan mobile home commission.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Parent/grandparent accessory apartment (PGAA) attached to a single family dwelling in Richland township, by special exception

  • Occupancy limited to a parent or grandparent of an occupant (or the spouse or widow/widower of such parent or grandparent), and no more than two persons may reside in the PGAA.
  • The apartment must be physically attached and internally accessible to the principal dwelling, with no external evidence of the apartment other than a separate entrance/exit.
  • Special exception use permit required in the r/os, ab, a-1, a and a-2 districts.

  “32. parent/grandparent accessory apartment "r/os", "ab", "a-1", "a", "a-2"”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Single family dwellings in Richland township

  • Non-public sewage must be a private facility approved by the local health department (Kalamazoo County Environmental Health) to meet the dwelling definition.
  • Off-grid use outside the dwelling definition is not addressed in the opened text.

  “e. the dwelling is connected to a public sewer and water supply or to such private facilities approved by the local health department.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Single family dwellings in Richland township under the zoning definition of dwelling, single family

  • A dwelling must be connected to a public sewer and water supply or to private facilities approved by the local health department to meet the definition.
  • Whether a new home must connect to available public water or sewer is not stated here; see followups.

  “e. the dwelling is connected to a public sewer and water supply or to such private facilities approved by the local health department.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Sewer (with conditions) — New residential development in the single and two-family residential district ("a-2", section 300.600) in Richland township

    “connection to a public wastewater collection system shall be required for new residential development within this district.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions, plats and site condominium developments inside Richland township

  • Development must meet the township subdivision/site condominium ordinance, land division ordinance and/or zoning ordinance, as applicable.
  • The subdivision/site condominium ordinance (ordinance no. 187, as amended) is referenced but its text was not opened.

  “to the requirements for development within the township's subdivision/site condominium ordinance, land division ordinance and/or zoning ordinance, as applicable.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Overnight paid lodging in a dwelling in Richland township, as a bed and breakfast inn

  • Bed and breakfast inn is a special exception use in the a-1 district (special exception list), and the dwelling must be the primary residence of the owner/operator.
  • No township short-term rental ordinance (general nightly rental regulation) was located in the opened text.

  “bed and breakfast inn: a dwelling in which overnight lodging is provided to transient guests for compensation, including the provision that breakfast is included and served to only such overnight guests.”

• Permit processPartial

  Single family and two-family residential building or use in Richland township, zoning sketch plan step

  • Building permit issuance itself is through KABA; the township zoning sketch plan step is in addition to that.
  • Special exception uses for single-family and two-family residential require the sketch plan process under section 300.1803a.

  “prior to the issuance of a building permit or the creation of a use, a sketch plan shall be submitted in accordance with this section and approved by the zoning administrator.”

Rules another office applies inside Richland Township

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

• Building permitRequired

  Building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits for construction inside Richland township, issued by KABA

  • Construction may begin only after the permit is issued (building permits) and after the application is filed (plumbing, mechanical and electrical work).
  • Separate permits are needed for electrical, mechanical and plumbing work.

  “kaba has authority for issuance of all building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits within richland township.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building construction inside Richland township, enforced by the Kalamazoo Area Building Authority (KABA)

  • KABA administers the Michigan construction code and the plumbing, mechanical and electrical codes for Richland township; the codes themselves are state codes.

  “currently kaba regulates and controls building construction within comstock township, kalamazoo township, city of parchment, pine grove township, and richland township, and has the power to administer and enforce the state construction code within the boundaries of each such unit.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical work inside Richland township, inspected by KABA

  • Call KABA for each inspection with as much advance notice as possible; work must not be concealed before inspection.

  “no work shall be concealed until it has been inspected.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private septic systems on land inside Richland township, administered by the Kalamazoo County Environmental Health Department

  • Scope is recorded as countywide because the schema does not allow township-specific geography for a county rule-maker; the Richland township building page places the county EH office in service to the township.
  • Permit requirement and conditions are in the septic-permit claim.

  “well and septic (private utilities) permits are issued through the kalamazoo county environmental health department, 3299 gull road, 269-373-5210.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of private septic systems inside Richland township, through the Kalamazoo County Environmental Health Department

  • Permit is required for the private utility installation; the fee schedule and application details were not opened (see followups).

  “well and septic (private utilities) permits are issued through the kalamazoo county environmental health department, 3299 gull road, 269-373-5210.”

• Well permitRequired

  Installation of private wells inside Richland township, through the Kalamazoo County Environmental Health Department

  • The page groups wells and septic under one permit statement; the well-only application is not opened here.

  “well and septic (private utilities) permits are issued through the kalamazoo county environmental health department, 3299 gull road, 269-373-5210.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New construction on a vacant parcel in Richland township; the driveway permit is issued by the Road Commission for Kalamazoo County (MDOT for parcels off M-89 and M-43)

  • Parcels off M-89 and M-43 are governed by MDOT rather than the county road commission.

  “a driveway permit is required when new construction begins on a vacant parcel.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for a homeowner building on their own land inside Richland township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Richland township
• Septic inspection — Septic system inspection inside Richland township
• Agricultural exemption — Agricultural exemption from building or zoning rules for farm structures in Richland township
• Building in a floodplain — Development inside a mapped floodplain in Richland 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.