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

Richmond Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Richmond Township, Marquette County, Michigan.

  • The township page publishes two Richmond Township zoning ordinance files.

  “Richmond Township Zoning Ordinance Posted on May 7, 2020 by richmond Zoning Ord 2012-1 Zoning Ord 2012-2”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Richmond Township.

  • The township documents page labels the map as the official Richmond Zoning Map.

  “(R-1) Residential 7500 50 30 15 25 3 15 5 35% 600 (RR-1) Rural Residential 1 Acre (A) 150 30 30 25 10 20 35 35% 600”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning-compliance permits inside Richmond Township.

  • The opened source publishes forms and a plot-plan form, but does not state the complete application review process or criteria.

  “Zoning Compliance Permit Application Forms Area. Lot Size Requirements Plot Plan Form”

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.

• Building permitRequired

  Construction of a building or structure inside Richmond Township, submitted to the appropriate enforcing agency.

  • A permit is also required for a change in use or occupancy.
  • Ordinary repairs are excepted, subject to the limitations stated by the State.

  “Before construction of a building or structure, an owner, or the owner's builder, architect, engineer, or agent, shall submit an application in writing to the appropriate enforcing agency for a building permit. A permit is also required when the use or occupancy of a structure or portion thereof is changed.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building construction inside Richmond Township, subject to the appropriate enforcing agency.

  • The source states that one- and two-family dwellings are covered by the Michigan Residential Code.
  • conditions apply through the appropriate enforcing agency.

  “The Michigan Building Code controls all matters concerning the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy, and maintenance of all buildings and structures and their service equipment. Presently, provisions for one- and two-family dwellings are included in the Michigan Residential Code.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Rural Residential (RR-1) district inside Richmond Township.

  • A two-family dwelling has a two-acre minimum lot-size exception.
  • Agricultural-related structures are exempt from height limits where no portion is used for human occupancy.

  minimum floor area: 600 square feet

  “Rural Residential 1 Acre (A) 150 30 30 25 10 20 35 35% 600”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential (R-1) district inside Richmond Township.

    “(R-1) Residential 7500 50 30 15 25 3 15 5 35% 600”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Rural Residential (RR-1) district inside Richmond Township.

  • Two-family dwelling units require a two-acre minimum lot size.

  minimum lot area: 1 Acre (Two-family dwelling units: 2 acres.) · minimum lot width: 150 feet

  “A. Two acre minimum lot size for two-family dwelling unit.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential (R-1) district inside Richmond Township.

    “(R-1) Residential 7500 50 30 15 25 3 15 5 35% 600”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Rural Residential (RR-1) district inside Richmond Township.

  front setback: 25 feet · side setback, at least one: 10 feet · total side setbacks: 20 feet · rear setback: 35 feet

  “Rural Residential 1 Acre (A) 150 30 30 25 10 20 35 35% 600”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Residential (R-1) district inside Richmond Township.

  • The percentage is for all buildings combined.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent (All buildings combined.)

  “(R-1) Residential 7500 50 30 15 25 3 15 5 35% 600”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Rural Residential (RR-1) district inside Richmond Township.

    “Rural Residential 1 Acre (A) 150 30 30 25 10 20 35 35% 600”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential (R-1) district inside Richmond Township.

  • Specified exceptions apply to structures listed in Section 4.9 where no portion is used for human occupancy.

  maximum structure height: <= 30 feet · maximum accessory-structure height: <= 15 feet

  “(R-1) Residential 7500 50 30 15 25 3 15 5 35% 600”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Rural Residential (RR-1) district inside Richmond Township.

    “Rural Residential 1 Acre (A) 150 30 30 25 10 20 35 35% 600”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Richmond Township.
• Inspections — Building work inside Richmond Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or changed building occupancy inside Richmond Township.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Richmond Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Richmond 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.