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

Ogden Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction of a building or structure inside Ogden township limits. The township page does not name which agency issues the permit.

  • Construction may proceed after the permit is issued.
  • The page names only the 'appropriate enforcing agency'; the enforcing agency was not confirmed.
  • A permit is also required when the use or occupancy of a structure is changed.

  “before construction of a building or structure, an owner, or the owner's builder, architect, engineer, or agent, shall submit an application in writing to the appropriate enforcing agency for a building permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Ogden township limits.

  • The ordinance refers to an Ogden Township building code but does not name the code edition; the code text was not located.

  “the ogden township building code shall remain in full force and effect.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Ogden township limits, under the Ogden Township Interim Zoning Ordinance adopted and administered by the township.

  • The ordinance is titled an interim zoning ordinance and stays in effect unless repealed (section 1.05).
  • The copy reviewed states no adoption date; section 1.07 says it takes effect 7 days after publication as provided by law.

  “this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect henceforth unless repealed.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts defined in the Ogden Township Interim Zoning Ordinance, inside Ogden township limits.

  • The ordinance text defines AA agricultural (article X), RA residential (article XI, not currently applied to any property), C commercial (article XII) and industrial (article XIII) districts. No zoning map was located or opened.

  “note: no properties are currently zoned ra but may be pursuant to this ordinance and the standards set forth in the master plan.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  RA residential district; applies only if land is rezoned RA. The ordinance states no properties are currently zoned RA.

  • On public water and public sewer, minimum lot size is 10,000 square feet.
  • Otherwise the lot must meet Lenawee County Health Department well and septic space requirements.

  minimum lot size with public water and public sewer: >= 10000 square feet (otherwise determined by Lenawee County Health Department on-site well and septic requirements)

  “no building or structure shall be established in this district on any lot unable to comply with space requirements for onsite water well and septic systems as regulated by the lenawee county health department except where a lot is served with a public water system and a public sanitary sewerage system in which case the minimum lot size shall be 10,000 square feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — AA agricultural district inside Ogden township limits.

    “lot area: minimum lot size shall be determined by lenawee county health department regulations for onsite water well and septic systems.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  RA residential district; applies only if land is rezoned RA. The ordinance states no properties are currently zoned RA.

  • Setbacks are minimums for every lot, building or structure in the district.

  front yard minimum: >= 15 feet · side yard minimum: >= 5 feet · rear yard minimum: >= 50 feet

  “3. yard requirements: a. front yards: not less than fifteen (15) feet. b. side yards: not less than five (5) feet. c. rear yard: not less than fifty (50) feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  RA residential district; applies only if land is rezoned RA.

  • RA is not currently applied to any property.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent

  “the maximum lot coverage shall not exceed thirty-five (35) per cent.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Dwellings and non-farm buildings and structures in the AA agricultural district inside Ogden township limits.

  • On-site and utility-scale wind energy systems and met towers have separate height limits (section 10.04).

  maximum height, dwelling and non-farm building: <= 4 stories · maximum height, dwelling and non-farm building: <= 50 feet

  “a. for dwelling and non-farm buildings and structures: no dwelling or non-farm building or structure shall exceed a height of four (4) stories or fifty (50) feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — RA residential district; applies only if land is rezoned RA. The ordinance states no properties are currently zoned RA.

    “for buildings and structures: no building and no structure, except as permitted by this ordinance, shall exceed a height of three (3) stories or fifty (50) feet.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Mobile homes on lots inside Ogden township limits where single-family dwellings are allowed.

  • Only one dwelling or one mobile home per lot, except farm labor camps.
  • Must meet the ordinance's minimum square footage for the zone (figure not located).
  • Must comply with the Michigan Residential Building Code and be anchored per Michigan Mobile Home Commission rules.
  • Must be connected to public sewer and water or to private facilities approved by the local health department.

  “mobile homes shall be permitted in any zone within the township where single family dwellings are allowed, provided that they meet the following requirements:”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit application process inside Ogden township limits.

  • The township page describes the application duty but names no agency, form, fee or review steps.

  “before construction of a building or structure, an owner, or the owner's builder, architect, engineer, or agent, shall submit an application in writing to the appropriate enforcing agency for a building permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Ogden township limits.
• Inspections — Inspections for construction inside Ogden township limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Ogden township limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Ogden township limits.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Ogden township limits.

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.