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

Genoa Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Genoa township's own zoning jurisdiction, administered by the township under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act

  • The ordinance is titled 'Genoa Township Zoning Ordinance' and states it governs the unincorporated portions of the township.
  • The adoption date of the ordinance was not captured; the page shows amendments through 10/04/21 and later, which are not effective dates.

  “this ordinance is enacted under michigan zoning enabling act (public act 110 of 2006) governing the unincorporated portions of the township of genoa, livingston county, michigan, for the regulation of land development”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Land inside Genoa township; the ordinance uses named zoning districts (for example an agricultural district and a lakeshore resort residential district)

  • The district list and map were not captured; only the district-level cross-references were verified.

  “each such dwelling unit shall comply with the minimum standards listed in article 3 for the zoning district in which it is located”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Dwelling units inside Genoa township, by zoning district

  • Minimum floor area is set in Article 3 for each district; the numeric figure was not captured.

  “each such dwelling unit shall comply with the minimum standards listed in article 3 for the zoning district in which it is located, including minimum lot area, minimum lot width, minimum floor area, required setbacks and maximum building height.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family dwelling units inside Genoa township, by zoning district (the main single-family residential district figure is not captured)

  • The minimum lot area is set in Article 3 for each zoning district; this claim does not supply the numeric value.
  • Buildable lot area is calculated under sec. 11.01.01 and wetlands and submerged lands are excluded per that section.

  “each such dwelling unit shall comply with the minimum standards listed in article 3 for the zoning district in which it is located, including minimum lot area, minimum lot width, minimum floor area, required setbacks and maximum building height.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal dwellings inside Genoa township, by zoning district

  • Required setbacks are set in Article 3 for each district; the numeric front, side and rear setbacks for the single-family district were not captured.

  “each such dwelling unit shall comply with the minimum standards listed in article 3 for the zoning district in which it is located, including minimum lot area, minimum lot width, minimum floor area, required setbacks and maximum building height.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Detached accessory buildings of 200 square feet or less total floor area on lots in Genoa township

    “detached accessory buildings with two hundred (200) square feet or less total floor area shall be at least four (4) feet from any principal building, and at least four (4) feet from any lot line.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Dwellings inside Genoa township, by zoning district

  • Maximum building height is set in Article 3 for each district; the numeric limit was not captured.

  “each such dwelling unit shall comply with the minimum standards listed in article 3 for the zoning district in which it is located, including minimum lot area, minimum lot width, minimum floor area, required setbacks and maximum building height.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Living use of a recreational vehicle or camping trailer on a lot with a single-family or two-family dwelling in Genoa township

  • Permitted only as an accessory use to a single-family or two-family dwelling.
  • Land in a designated RV park is governed by the seasonal rule in a separate claim.

  cumulative living use: <= 21 days per 12-month period

  “recreational vehicles or camping trailers may be used for living purposes when accessory to single-family or two-family dwellings, provided such use shall only be permitted for a cumulative total of no more than twenty-one (21) days in any twelve (12) month period. any such recreational vehicle parked in a front yard shall be parked in the driveway.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Temporary only (with conditions) — Recreational vehicles and trailers used as a temporary residence inside a designated recreation vehicle or trailer park in Genoa township

    “ry residence between may 1st and october 1st each year provided the vehicles and trailers are located in a designated recreation vehicle/trailer park, and that they are connected to appropriate sewer, water and electric facilities serving the park.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary camping with recreation vehicles or trailers in Genoa township

  • Allowed only in a designated recreation vehicle/trailer park, between May 1 and October 1 each year.
  • Camping outside a designated park is governed by the 21-day accessory-use limit for RVs in a separate claim.

  seasonal window: May 1 to October 1

  “ry residence between may 1st and october 1st each year provided the vehicles and trailers are located in a designated recreation vehicle/trailer park, and that they are connected to appropriate sewer, water and electric facilities serving the park.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Lots of 120 acres or more in the agricultural district of Genoa township

  • The additional principal building must be occupied by a family member of the principal building occupant, or by employees working on the property for farming purposes, raising livestock or training horses.
  • Each accessory dwelling unit must meet the minimum size for a one-bedroom unit in section 3.04.
  • Section 3.04 was not captured.

  minimum lot size for additional principal building: >= 120 acres

  “(b) for lots of 120 acres or more in the agricultural district, one additional principal building (a total of two) shall be permitted if the additional principal building is occupied by a member of the family who occupies the principal building, or employees working on the property for farming purposes, raising livestock or training horses, provided each accessory dwelling unit meets the minimum size for a one (1) bedroom unit as specified in section 3.04.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Prohibited — Using a detached garage, accessory building, or the basement of a partially completed building as a dwelling or sleeping space, in any zoning district in Genoa township

    “(c) the use of any portion of the basement of a partially completed building, or any detached garage or accessory build”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and rezonings in Genoa township, reviewed by the township under the zoning ordinance

  • Land divisions are listed among matters reviewed by the township under the zoning ordinance's application process.
  • The Michigan Land Division Act and township land division ordinance were not opened.

  “1.03.01 the process for application and review by the township for site plan review, special land use permits, planned unit developments (pud's), amendments to this zoning ordinance, rezonings of land, land divisions, appeals and variances is shown in figure 1.03.01.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  New lots created in Genoa township after the zoning ordinance's effective date

  • Each new lot needs public street frontage or a legally recorded access easement meeting the private road or shared driveway requirements of Article 15.
  • Article 15 was not opened; driveway construction standards are not recorded.

  “11.01.03 access to dedicated streets: any lot created after the effective date of this ordinance shall have frontage upon a public street right-of-way or legally recorded access easement meeting the private road or shared driveway requirements of article 15.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Residential land-use permits issued by Genoa township

  • Payment by check or cash only, per the township fee sheet.
  • The fee sheet is undated in the captured copy, so no effective date is recorded.
  • The fee table lists other categories (commercial/industrial, sign) that were cut off in the capture.

  mass grading land-use permit fee: 150 USD

  “land-use permit fees (payments accepted in check or cash only) mass grading..................................................$150.00 commercial / industrial...................................$150.00* sign..................................................................$75.00 residential new construction/addition.........$75.00* accessory building.........................................$50.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  New residential construction in Genoa township that needs a township land-use permit

  • Submit a completed land use permit application, three copies of plans, a site plan, and a reduced PDF to [email protected].
  • New construction requires a completed meter form and pays connection and meter fees.

  “completed land use permit application form completed meter form (new construction only requiring connection fees and meter fees) a reduced size.pdf file of all large/architectural plans, sent to [email protected]”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for new homes inside Genoa township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction exemption for homes in Genoa township
• Inspections — Building inspections in Genoa township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new homes in Genoa township
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage for dwellings inside Genoa 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.