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

Armada Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Residential and commercial construction, additions and detached accessory buildings inside Armada township, issued by the Armada Township building department

  • A permit is required for all detached accessory buildings over 200 square feet; the July 2026 fee schedule says one building of 200 square feet or less needs no permit.
  • Permits are required for demolitions, pools, ponds, decks and similar work per the township building department page.
  • Building permit issuance requires proof of ownership, two sets of plans, a plot plan, septic permit, and builder license and insurance (building application requirements).

  “a permit is required for all detached accessory buildings over 200 square feet and all buildings must comply with zoning requirements.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work inside Armada township

  • Typical residential building inspections include footing, basement, rough, insulation, and final; the inspector may add or remove inspections.
  • Inspections are by appointment, with 24-hour notice, scheduled at 586.784.5200 Monday through Thursday.
  • No final or occupancy permit issues without all required approvals, including county permits.

  “inspections are required after obtaining building, electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy of any building or portion of a building in Armada township

  • Issued the next business day after the last inspection is approved, by calling the township office.
  • Grading certification by a licensed surveyor or engineer is required before an occupancy permit for new construction; temporary occupancy is 30 days at a time, up to 90 days, with a bond (building application requirements).

  “no building or portion of a building may be occupied until a certificate of occupancy has been issue and obtained.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Armada township's limits: the township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Ordinance #114)

  • Ordinance #114 was amended through 10/2/2019 and Ordinance 114-48 was amended 7/8/2026 per the township ordinances index; the 2024-posted PDF predates 114-48.
  • Zoning applies in addition to septic, well, building and other township and county rules.

  “zoning ordinance #114 amended 10/2/2019 zoning ordinance #114-48 amended 7/8/2026”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts of Armada township's Zoning Ordinance #114

  • The zoning text opened names the R-1, RM, AG, B-1, B-2, M-1 and other districts; the district map and full permitted-use table were not opened.
  • The ordinances index lists a zoning districts table of permitted uses adopted 5-10-2023.

  “zoning district table of permitted uses – adopted 5-10-2023”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family dwelling in the R-1 residential zoning district inside Armada township

  • Minimum first-floor area is 1,000 sq ft for a one-story home, 800 sq ft for a one-and-one-half-story home and 650 sq ft for a two-story home; the extracted table is jumbled, so the 2nd-floor/total column values (1,000 / 1,200 / 1,300) need verification against the printed table.
  • Where a single-family home has no basement, 100 sq ft is added to the first-floor minimum for utilities.

  minimum first-floor area, one-story: >= 1000 square feet · minimum first-floor area, one-and-one-half-story: >= 800 square feet · minimum first-floor area, two-story: >= 650 square feet (no-basement homes add 100 sq ft)

  “1st floor 1,000 sq. ft. 800 sq. ft. 650 sq. ft. total one (1) story one and one-half (1½) story: two (2) story: 2nd floor 1,000 sq. ft. 1,200 sq. ft. 1,300 sq. ft.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family dwelling in the AG agricultural district inside Armada township

    “e. minimum floor area in square feet: 1st floor total total one (1) story: 1,000 sq. ft. 1,000 sq. ft. one and one-half (1½) story: 800 sq. ft. 1,200 sq. ft. two (2) story: 650 sq. ft. 1,300 sq. ft.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lots in the R-1 residential zoning district inside Armada township where there is no public sewer

  • Also minimum lot width 165 feet (corner lots 215 feet) and minimum lot depth 200 feet.
  • Lots that legally existed and were recorded before the amended ordinance may be developed if they meet the yard setbacks.
  • The extracted text gives only the without-public-sewer size; the with-sewer size was not located.

  minimum parcel size without public sewer: >= 43560 square feet (applies only without public sewer)

  “in the r-1 district, the following area, height, density, bulk and placement regulations shall apply: without public sewer minimum parcel size: 43,560 square fee”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Parcels in the AG agricultural district inside Armada township

    “minimum parcel size: one and three quarter (1.75) acres (76,230 square feet)”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal buildings in the R-1 residential zoning district inside Armada township

  • Front yard is measured from the road centerline; the extracted table lists 125 ft (32 Mile, Capac, Wolcott, Old Farm Trail), then 110, 93 and 80 ft by road class (major, collector, local), but the column mapping should be verified.
  • Corner lots fronting two streets must keep the front setback on each street.
  • The setback block is tagged to amendment 2011-114-24 effective 08/03/11.

  minimum least side yard: 15 feet · minimum total of both side yards: 30 feet · minimum rear yard: 60 feet

  “least side yard: total of both sides: rear yard: lot coverage: e. minimum floor area in square feet: 15 feet 30 feet 60 feet 25 percent”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Principal buildings in the AG agricultural district inside Armada township

    “a. least side yard: 25 feet b. total of both sides: 50 feet c. rear yard: 60 feet d. lot coverage: 25 percent”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal buildings on AG lots inside Armada township

  • Lot coverage is 25 percent per the AG block.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 25 percent

  “a. least side yard: 25 feet b. total of both sides: 50 feet c. rear yard: 60 feet d. lot coverage: 25 percent”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Principal buildings on R-1 lots inside Armada township

    “least side yard: total of both sides: rear yard: lot coverage: e. minimum floor area in square feet: 15 feet 30 feet 60 feet 25 percent”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal buildings in the R-1 residential zoning district inside Armada township

  • Maximum structure height is two stories or 35 feet.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet · maximum building height: <= 2 stories

  “c. maximum height of structures: two (2) stories; thirty-five (35) feet.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Living or housekeeping use of a recreational vehicle that is parked or stored on a residential lot in Armada township

  • Recreational vehicles may be stored only in the rear or side yards of residential lots; open storage in front of the front yard setback is prohibited.
  • Stored vehicles must be owned by the lot resident, except one non-owned recreation vehicle.
  • Storage restriction is in the zoning ordinance provision immediately before section 2.25; the text was read via search excerpt, not in full.

  “recreational vehicles which are parked or stored shall not be used for living or housekeeping purposes”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured home placed within a manufactured housing community in Armada township

  • Applies to manufactured homes in a licensed manufactured housing community; the district where those communities are allowed was not verified.
  • The ordinance also requires a preliminary plan submitted to the planning commission and a 24-foot minimum width (text reads 'twenty four (24) square feet').

  minimum manufactured home size in a manufactured housing community: >= 1100 square feet (applies only inside a manufactured housing community)

  “the minimum size of any manufactured home placed within a manufactured housing community shall be one thousand one hundred (1,100) square feet.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Creation of new lots or condominium subdivisions inside Armada township

  • The township's ordinances index lists a subdivision control ordinance (r1993) and a land division regulations ordinance (r2015-18); the text of those was not opened.
  • The zoning ordinance cross-references the Armada Township subdivision ordinance for condominium street standards.

  “all streets and roads in a condominium subdivision shall conform to the standards of the armada township subdivision ordinance.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit fees for residential house construction and additions up to 2,000 sq ft in Armada township

  • The township board sets all fees; the schedule in the July 2026 building application requirements is the current one reported here.
  • Other bands are published in the same document: homes 2,001-3,000 sq ft, 3,001-3,500 sq ft, over 3,501 sq ft; pole buildings, garages and sheds; decks; pools; ponds; commercial.
  • Fees are due when the permit is issued; re-inspection fees apply after a rejected inspection.

  plan review fee, house up to 2,000 sq ft: 120 USD · administration fee, house up to 2,000 sq ft: 100 USD · base permit fee, house up to 2,000 sq ft: 250 USD · per inspection fee: 75 USD · bond for new homes: 1000 USD

  “plan review fee: $120.00 administration fee: $100.00 base permit fee: $250.00 per inspection required: $75.00 bond for new homes: $1,000.00”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permit applications for work in Armada township

  • Applications can be filed online through fillable forms, or in person during normal business hours.
  • Plans must be submitted for all commercial and residential construction; inspections are requested by phone, voicemail or email with address, permit number and contact.
  • A permit that is not started within six months, or is abandoned for six months, becomes invalid; renewal costs half the original fee.

  typical residential/commercial permit processing time: 10 days (approximately)

  “residential and commercial permits take approximately 10 days to process due to the review time needed before approval is granted.”

Rules another office applies inside Armada Township

Armada 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 code adoptedAdopted

  New residential and other building construction inside Armada township, under the Michigan building code that the township applies through its building department

  • The township building requirements cite both 'the current michigan building code' and the '2015 michigan building code' / '2015 michigan residential building code'; the edition in force should be confirmed.
  • The ordinances index also lists a 'state construction code' ordinance and 'state construction code amendment 06-02a' (not opened).

  “all building code plans shall comply with the current michigan building code.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private on-site septic systems for homes inside Armada township, permitted by the Macomb County Health Department

  • The township building requirements name the county health department as the permit issuer for Armada township properties.
  • The township does not issue septic permits itself under these requirements.

  “septic permits are issued by: macomb county health department”

• Septic permitRequired

  New homes in Armada township served by a septic system, permitted by the Macomb County Health Department (43525 Elizabeth Road, Mt. Clemens)

  • Septic permits must be current and engineering plans approved and presented before the township building permit is issued.
  • Any grade change required by health department rules must be approved before the building permit issues.

  “septic permits must be current, and all engineering plans must be approved and presented prior to the building permit being issued.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private water well serving a new home in Armada township, approved by the Macomb County Health Department

  • Approval is tied to final occupancy; the township text does not state a well-drilling permit before construction.
  • Listed as the 'well log' item in the township's building application requirements.

  “well approval must be obtained from the macomb county health department prior to final occupancy”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Culvert work for access to a new home site in Armada township, permitted by the Macomb County Road Commission

  • The township text does not say whether the culvert is a driveway culvert or a ditch crossing; the road commission permit is the township's stated requirement before a building permit.
  • Culvert permit issued by the Macomb County Road Commission, 117 South Groesbeck Highway, Mount Clemens.

  “culvert permits must be obtained prior to issuing a building permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residence on owner-held land in Armada township
• Camping on your land — Tent or camping-trailer camping on private land in Armada township
• Tiny homes — Tiny home used as a dwelling in Armada township
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling unit on a residential lot in Armada township
• Septic inspection — Septic system inspection for homes inside Armada 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.