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

Marion Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Marion township limits (Livingston County, MI) is regulated by the township's own zoning ordinance, which establishes zoning districts and a zoning district map.

  • Uses and dimensional standards vary by district; see the district-specific claims.
  • The ordinance text is the March 2026 combined version posted by the township; effective date not stated in the captured text.

  “section 7.01 establishment of districts for the purpose of this ordinance, the township is hereby divided into the following zoning districts, which shall be known by the following respective symbols and names.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts and district map for land inside Marion township

  • Districts listed in the ordinance table of contents include RR rural residential, SR suburban residential, UR urban residential, ERS existing residential subdivision, MHP manufactured home park, and industrial districts.
  • The zoning district map is section 7.02; the map itself was not opened.

  “section 7.01 establishment of districts for the purpose of this ordinance, the township is hereby divided into the following zoning districts, which shall be known by the following respective symbols and names.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Structures, wells, septic systems, parking and roads near natural or artificially created lakes in Marion township, measured from the ordinary high-water mark

  • Septic-system setback may be waived by the Livingston County health department.
  • Roads and driveways may be closer than 50 feet only where no alternatives exist, and must be designed to minimize adverse impacts.
  • Waterfront development must also comply with the township boat regulation ordinance adopted February 13, 1992.

  principal structure setback from ordinary high-water mark: >= 50 ft · well or septic system setback from ordinary high-water mark: >= 100 ft (unless waived by the livingston county health department)

  “a. fifty (50) feet for any principal structure. b. one hundred (100) feet for any well or septic system, unless waived by the livingston county health department.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Occupancy of recreational vehicles or motor homes on private land inside Marion township, outside an approved recreational vehicle park or campground

  • Limit is 30 days in one year.
  • Does not apply inside an approved recreational vehicle park or campground.
  • Found in the temporary-use provisions (item d); the captured text does not state the zoning districts in which item d applies.

  occupancy period: <= 30 days per year (unless in an approved recreational vehicle park or campground)

  “recreational vehicles or motor homes may be occupied for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days in one (1) year unless in an approved recreational vehicle park or campground.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary occupancy by recreational vehicles and motor homes outside an approved recreational vehicle park or campground inside Marion township. Tent camping is not addressed in the captured text.

  • Limit is 30 days in one year.
  • Campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks are a separate special use (section 17.09).

  occupancy period: <= 30 days per year (unless in an approved recreational vehicle park or campground)

  “recreational vehicles or motor homes may be occupied for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days in one (1) year unless in an approved recreational vehicle park or campground.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Family accessory apartment attached to an owner-occupied single-family dwelling inside Marion township

  • The property must meet the single-family minimum lot size in section 7.10.
  • The single-family dwelling must be owner occupied and larger than the minimum dwelling unit floor area in section 7.10.
  • No more than two bedrooms in the apartment.
  • Appearance of the building must remain similar to the single-family dwelling.

  apartment living area: >= 400 sq ft (maximum 800 sq ft)

  “the living area of the family accessory apartment shall be a minimum of four hundred (400) square feet and a maximum of eight hundred (800) square feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Prohibited — Garages, barns, other accessory buildings, and cellars in Marion township used as a dwelling

    “no garage, barn, other accessory building, or cellar, whether fixed or portable, shall be used or occupied as a dwelling.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New land uses and land development inside Marion township within the urban residential district or highway service district (per the township master plan), where municipal infrastructure abuts the property.

  • Requirement applies only where the municipal infrastructure abuts the property in question.
  • The captured text ties this mandatory connection to the urban residential and highway service districts; it does not state a connection rule for rural residential or suburban residential land.
  • Public water is addressed by the same sentence, so a connection obligation covers sewer and water only where the infrastructure abuts.

  “all new land uses and land development projects within the urban residential district or highway service district, as delineated in the marion township master plan, must be serviced by a municipal sewerage treatment and water supply if the infrastructure abuts the property in question.”

• Permit processPartial

  Special land use and site plan review applications inside Marion township

  • Covers only the site plan step; the zoning permit and building permit steps are not described in the captured text.
  • The zoning administrator forwards copies to reviewing agencies, including the county health department.

  “upon certification by the zoning administrator that the necessary site plan information and application form are complete, one (1) complete copy of the site plan and related information shall be forwarded to the planning commission and the zoning administrator.”

Rules another office applies inside Marion Township

Marion 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)

  On-site sewage disposal (septic) systems on land inside Marion township; the Livingston County public health department sets the standards.

  • Applies where the lot is not served by public sanitary sewer.
  • Other applicable local, county, state, or federal agencies also apply.

  “all on-site sewage disposal and potable water facilities shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with the requirements and standards of the livingston county public health department as well as those of other applicable local, county, state, or federal agencies.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private on-site sewage disposal and water on land inside Marion township not served by public sewer

  • Must be constructed and maintained to Livingston County public health department standards.
  • Structures for institutional, mercantile or storage purposes may not be used or occupied without a potable water supply and waste water disposal system (general provisions item e).

  “all on-site sewage disposal and potable water facilities shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with the requirements and standards of the livingston county public health department”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permit requirement for new homes inside Marion township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits inside Marion township
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption inside Marion township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes inside Marion township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Marion 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.