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

Woodstock Township’s own rules

• InspectionsRequired

  Zoning inspection by the Woodstock township zoning administrator before construction starts on land inside the township. This is a land-use inspection; building-code inspections were not verified.

  • Applicant agrees to notify the zoning administrator before construction starts and when proposed locations are marked on the ground.
  • Inspection by township, county and state officials is also agreed to on the permit form.

  “further, i agree to notify the zoning administrator of woodstock township for inspection before the start of construction and when locations of proposed uses are marked on the ground.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Manufactured homes in a manufactured housing park in Woodstock township only. A general certificate of occupancy for site-built or other dwellings was not located.

  • Issued by the Woodstock township zoning administrator after state approvals are obtained.

  “a manufactured home in a manufactured housing park shall not be occupied until all required approvals have been obtained from the state of michigan and a certificate of occupancy is issued by the woodstock township zoning administrator.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Woodstock township's limits: the township administers its own zoning ordinance (Woodstock Township Zoning Ordinance Book, Rev. 1-24-23)

  • Zoning compliance permit required by the township zoning administrator per the permit form; Section 2.4 defines the building inspector as the person designated to enforce the state construction code.

  “the township of woodstock is hereby divided into the following zoning districts”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Woodstock township: agricultural (ag), recreation open space (ro), residential (rnf, rl, rs, rm, mh), local commercial (c-1), general commercial (c-2), highway service commercial (c-3), general industrial (i)

  • District names are taken from the ordinance text and table headings; the official zoning map was not opened.

  “open districts include the following districts: a ag: agricultural district b ro: recreation open space district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Each dwelling unit erected on any lot or parcel in Woodstock township (Section 16.15, general provisions)

  • Only area used for living quarters is counted.
  • Garages, carports, non-walled and non-roofed porches, and basements are excluded from floor area.
  • The source does not say whether the table also governs manufactured homes; not verified.

  minimum floor area per dwelling unit, 0-2 bedrooms: >= 860 sq ft · minimum floor area per dwelling unit, 3 bedrooms: >= 1000 sq ft · minimum floor area per dwelling unit, 4 bedrooms: >= 1100 sq ft · minimum floor area per dwelling unit, 5 bedrooms: >= 1200 sq ft

  “the floor area per dwelling unit erected on any lot or parcel shall not be less than that established by the following table. in determining floor area, only area used for living quarters shall be counted. garages, carports, non-walled and non-roofed porches, and basements are to be excluded. number of bedrooms in each dwelling unit minimum floor area per each dwelling unit (sq. ft.) 0-2 860 3 1,000 4 1,100 5 1,200”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lot area needed to place a freestanding accessory structure on a lot with no principal structure. This is not the minimum lot for a dwelling.

  • Applies only where no principal structure is on the lot; the ordinance says the accessory structure must be subject to the maximum lot coverage provisions of Article XV.
  • Figures for rl and rs are in the third quoted passage; the rm figure is in the fourth.

  minimum lot area, freestanding accessory structure, ag and ro districts: >= 2 acres · minimum lot area, freestanding accessory structure, rnf district: >= 1 acres · minimum lot area, freestanding accessory structure, rm district: >= 0.5 acres · minimum lot area, freestanding accessory structure, rl and rs districts: >= 10000 sq ft

  “freestanding accessory structures. notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, subject to the maximum lot coverage provisions of article xv, on lots with a minimum lot area of: a two (2) acres in the agricultural (ag) and recreation open space (ro) zoning districts. b one (1) acre in the rural non-farm residential (rnf) zoning district, suburban residential. c ½ acre in the multiple family residential zoning district; and 43 d section 15.5 ten thousand (10,000) square feet in lake residential (rl) and suburban residential zoning districts, a freestanding accessory structure may be erected or placed on a single lot of record, without the necessity of a principal structure being located on such lot, if said lots are otherwise in compliance with this ordinance.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes located outside a manufactured home park or subdivision in Woodstock township

  • An enclosed storage structure of at least 144 sq ft is required, placed on at least a 3.5 inch concrete slab, and suitably anchored.
  • The source's text reads 'three and one half (31/2) inch concrete slab'.

  minimum enclosed storage structure area: >= 144 sq ft · concrete slab thickness: >= 3.5 inch

  “all manufactured homes located outside of a manufactured home park or subdivision shall have an enclosed storage structure suitable for the storage of goods and the usual effects of the inhabitants of the manufactured home. such structure shall be a minimum of one hundred forty four (144) square feet in area, and placed on at least a three and one half (31/2) inch concrete slab, and be suitably anchored.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Limited — Manufactured homes inside a manufactured housing park in Woodstock township only

    “10.3.15 occupancy. a manufactured home in a manufactured housing park shall not be occupied until all required approvals have been obtained from the state of michigan and a certificate of occupancy is issued by the woodstock township zoning administrator.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning compliance permit application for land use or buildings inside Woodstock township

  • Fee shown on the zoning compliance permit form; the current fee schedule was not located.
  • Other permits (building, septic, driveway) carry their own fees from other agencies.

  zoning compliance permit fee: 80 USD

  “attach fee, $80.00 ❏ attach copy of ownership and legal property description.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning compliance permit process for construction in Woodstock township

  • The form lists required plot plans and specifications, a fee, ownership proof, a driveway permit, owner consent and a health department permit.
  • Review timing, the decision body and appeals were not verified.

  “attach required plot plans and specifications for the proposed land use and/or buildings, according to section 20.4.2.of woodstock township zoning ordinance.”

Rules another office applies inside Woodstock Township

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic systems for land inside Woodstock township are handled under the Lenawee County Health Department's environmental health code

  • The source names the Lenawee County Health Department and its Environmental Health Code, chapter 2 section 1(e).

  “copy of lenawee county health department well and/or septic permits, as required by lc environmental health code, chapter 2 section 1(e).”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic permit from the Lenawee County Health Department for a new home or other construction inside Woodstock township, submitted with the township zoning compliance permit

  • A copy of the health department septic permit must be attached to the township zoning compliance application.

  “copy of lenawee county health department well and/or septic permits, as required by lc environmental health code, chapter 2 section 1(e).”

• Well permitLimited

  Well permit from the Lenawee County Health Department, submitted with the township zoning compliance permit where a well is involved

  • The form lists 'well and/or septic permits', so a well permit applies only where a well is part of the project. The well-permit trigger was not verified.

  “copy of lenawee county health department well and/or septic permits, as required by lc environmental health code, chapter 2 section 1(e).”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New construction in Woodstock township needs a driveway permit from the Lenawee County Road Commission (LCRC) or MDOT, depending on the road

  • Required for new construction, and for any driveway the township considers questionable.

  “copy of driveway permit from lcrc/mdot for new construction or for any driveway which may be questionable.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permit for new construction in Woodstock township under the state construction code
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permit or licensing rules for work inside Woodstock township
• Setbacks — Front, side and rear yard setbacks by district in Woodstock township
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage by district in Woodstock township
• Building height — Maximum building height by district in Woodstock 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.