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

Richmond Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New residential and commercial construction, additions, alterations and accessory structures in Richmond township.

  • Construction may proceed only after the permit is issued.
  • Agricultural buildings for farm animals or farm machinery and sheds under 200 sq. ft. do not need a building permit, but must comply with township zoning.
  • Commercial construction (new or altered) requires planning commission approval before the township issues a permit.

  “permits are required for any new building construction (residential or commercial), additions, alterations, demolition, garages, pole barns, decks, sheds (over 200 sq. ft.)”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work inside Richmond township limits.

  • The page says the township complies with its zoning ordinance and the Michigan Building Code; the Michigan Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing Codes are named for electrical, mechanical and plumbing work.
  • No township code-adoption ordinance text was located; the adoption is stated only on the township permits page.

  “the township complies with township zoning ordinance and the michigan building code.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Richmond township limits.

  • Inspections are scheduled by calling the township office; 24-48 hour notice is required for the inspectors.
  • Inspectors leave a sticker showing approval or non-approval; failed items must be corrected and re-inspected, and a re-inspection fee applies (amount not stated on the page).
  • A final building inspection is performed only after the health department approves the well and septic.

  “a final building inspection will only be performed by the building inspector once the township receives an approval done by the health department for the well & septic.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New or altered buildings receiving final approval in Richmond township.

  • Issued by the building inspector after all applicable permits are approved and final approval is complete.
  • Final building inspection waits for health department approval of the well and septic.
  • Page also requires an approved culvert, an insulation certificate showing R-value, and blower door test approval on file; the address must be posted under the ordinance; an as-built for the septic field if the building inspector requires one; and, for new construction, an egress other than through the garage of at least 3 ft x 3 ft (approval copy on file).
  • Gutters, final grading and debris removal are required before final approval.

  “a certificate of occupancy will be issued when all applicable permits have been approved before the final building approval.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Richmond township limits (Macomb County, MI): the township administers its own zoning ordinance and zoning map.

  • The township's planning and zoning department regulates land use by zoned areas, and the planning commission reviews site plans and special land use requests (planning page).
  • The zoning ordinance page lists 24 documents: articles 1 through 23 plus Appendix 1 (height, bulk, density, area and setback summary).
  • Only the ordinance table of contents was read; district text was not opened in this research pass.

  “article 7 residential districts document seq 0.00 article 8 office and commercial districts”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts and zoning map for land inside Richmond township

  • The ordinance table of contents lists Article 6 (zoning districts and zoning map), Article 7 (residential districts), Article 8 (office and commercial districts), and Article 9 (industrial districts).
  • District-by-district text and the zoning map itself were not opened.

  “article 6 zoning districts and zoning map document seq 0.00 article 7 residential districts”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family dwellings in the R-1 single family residential district of Richmond township (section 7.02, subsection D3 of the township zoning ordinance).

  • Figures are as quoted on the township permits page citing the ordinance; the ordinance text itself was not opened.
  • Only the R-1 district is stated; other districts (including any agricultural district) were not read.

  minimum first-floor area, 1-story: >= 1200 sq ft (R-1 district only) · minimum total floor area, 1-story: >= 1200 sq ft (R-1 district only) · minimum first-floor area, 1-1/2 story: >= 960 sq ft (R-1 district only) · minimum total floor area, 1-1/2 story: >= 1340 sq ft (R-1 district only) · minimum first-floor area, 2-story: >= 750 sq ft (R-1 district only) · minimum total floor area, 2-story: >= 1500 sq ft (R-1 district only)

  “per the richmond township zoning ordinance, section 7.02 single family residential district r-1, subsection d3 building requirements, minimum floor area (square feet): 1-story: first floor/total: 1,200/1,200, 1-1/2 story: first floor/total: 960/1,340, 2-story: first floor/total: 750/1,500.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural buildings for farm animals or farm machinery in Richmond township: a building permit is not needed, but zoning compliance is still required.

  • Exemption is from the building permit only; the page says these buildings must comply with township zoning requirements.
  • A declaration of agricultural zoning compliance for an accessory building must be filled out and filed with the township.
  • Sheds under 200 sq. ft. are also exempt from the building permit under the same sentence.

  “a building permit is not needed for an agricultural building for the use of farm animals or machinery but must comply with township zoning requirements. a declaration of agricultural zoning compliance for an accessory building needs to be filled out and filed with the township.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permit fees for work inside Richmond township limits

  • Fees are set after the building official's plan review, including final grade inspection fees.
  • Commercial projects include township and ICC plan review charges.
  • The township fee schedule page (community section) was seen in search results but not opened; no dollar amounts are recorded here.

  “once the building permit is submitted, depending on what type of construction, the building official will do a plan review and determine the fees (including final grade inspection fees).”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building and trade permit process for work inside Richmond township limits

  • Electrical, mechanical and plumbing work may not begin until the permit application is filed with the township.
  • Commercial building work requires planning commission approval before township permit issuance.
  • Process is published on the township permits page with downloadable applications.

  “electrical work shall not be started until the application for permit has been filed with the township.”

Rules another office applies inside Richmond Township

Richmond 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)

  Onsite septic systems for homes inside Richmond township, administered by the Macomb County Health Department (county rule applies inside the township).

  • The township permits page says the township waits for a health department approval for the well and septic before final inspection.
  • The county page describes the health department's septic permit, soil evaluation and inspection services for single family dwellings and for commercial or industrial buildings generating less than 10,000 gallons per day; 10,000 to 20,000 gallons per day also requires an EGLE permit.
  • The county page does not name Richmond township; the township's own page is the link.

  “macomb county health department conducts the following services: evaluation of proposed building sites conduct soil evaluations ("perc" tests) issue septic system permits conduct inspections of septic systems”

• Septic permitRequired

  New home septic systems inside Richmond township (issued by the Macomb County Health Department).

  • Permit follows evaluation of the proposed site and soil evaluation (perc test), per the county services list.
  • Applies to single family dwellings and to commercial or industrial buildings under 10,000 gallons of sewage per day.
  • Permit procedure pages linked from the county page were not opened.

  “issue septic system permits conduct inspections of septic systems”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for a home inside Richmond township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for single-family residential lots in Richmond township (R-1 and any agricultural or rural district)
• Setbacks — Yard setbacks for residential buildings in Richmond township (R-1 and any agricultural or rural district)
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage in Richmond township (R-1 and any agricultural or rural district)
• Building height — Maximum building height in Richmond township (R-1 and any agricultural or rural district)

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.