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

Berlin Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Excavation, construction, structural changes, and structural repairs to buildings or structures inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • A permit application must show compliance with the ordinance, building codes, and other applicable ordinances.
  • Minor repairs or changes not involving structural, mechanical, or electrical modifications are excepted.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to commence excavation, construct any building or structure, incorporate structural changes, or structural repairs in any existing building, without first applying for and obtaining a building permit from the Building Official.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work performed under a building permit inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • The permit holder must notify the Building Official immediately when authorized work is complete for final inspection.

  “The holder of every building permit for the construction, erection, alteration, repair or moving of any building, structure or part thereof, shall notify the Building Official immediately upon the completion of the work authorized by such permit, for final inspection.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings, structures, or premises created, erected, changed, converted, or enlarged inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • Accessory buildings or structures to dwellings do not require separate certificates of occupancy.
  • A temporary certificate may be issued for part of a building for no more than six months and no more than five days after the entire building is ready for occupancy.

  “It shall be unlawful to use or permit the use of any building, structure, and/or premises, or both, or part thereof, created, erected, changed, converted, or enlarged until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the Building Official.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • The Zoning Official administers and enforces the ordinance and is appointed by the Township Board.

  “Berlin Charter Township is hereby divided into districts having the following name and symbols:”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • The official zoning map bounds and defines the listed districts.

  districts: RC; AG; R-1; R-2; RM; MH; C; MU; WM; I

  “RC Recreation Conservation District AG Agricultural District R-1 Single-Family Rural Non-Farm Residential District R-2 Single-Family Suburban Residential District RM Multiple-Family Residential District MH Manufactured Housing Community C Commercial District MU Mixed Use District WM Waterfront Marina District I Industrial District”

• Camping on your landProhibited

  Temporary campgrounds inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • This claim addresses temporary campgrounds; it does not establish rules for every form of incidental private camping.

  “Temporary campgrounds are strictly prohibited.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwelling units inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • The unit may not exceed 50 percent of the principal residence floor area.
  • Only one accessory dwelling unit is allowed per lot or parcel.
  • The principal-residence owners must continue to occupy it.
  • The unit is limited to three occupants related to the owners/occupants by blood, marriage, adoption, or guardianship.
  • District setback and lot-coverage rules apply.
  • One additional off-street parking space is required.

  maximum accessory dwelling unit floor area: <= 50 percent of principal residence floor area · maximum accessory dwelling units: 1 per lot or parcel · maximum occupants: <= 3 persons (Must be related to principal-residence owners/occupants by blood, marriage, adoption, or guardianship.)

  “Only one (1) accessory dwelling unit shall be permitted on each lot or parcel.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Single-family dwelling units inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • A dwelling may use on-site water and sanitary sewage facilities only when public water and sanitary sewer mains are not available.
  • On-site facilities require County Health Department approval.

  “Each dwelling unit shall be connected to public water and sanitary sewer mains, if available, or to on-site water and sanitary sewage facilities approved by the County Health Department.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Zoning permits and certificates administered inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • The Township Board establishes the fee schedule by resolution.
  • The schedule is on public display in the office and may be changed only by the Township Board.

  “The Township Board shall establish a schedule of fees by resolution from time to time for administering this Ordinance. The schedule of fees shall be on public display in the office and may be changed only by the Township Board.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building-permit applicants inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • Where applicable, applications require either a plot plan or a site plan.
  • Where applicable, an on-site wastewater and/or water-supply permit and a County Road Commission culvert permit must be presented before building-permit issuance.

  “Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the applicant shall present the following documents, where applicable, to the Building Official:”

Rules another office applies inside Berlin Township

Berlin Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Rural Non-Farm Residential District inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • The table requires one acre for single-family use and three acres for other principal uses.

  minimum lot area for single-family use: 1 acre · minimum lot area for other principal uses: 3 acres · minimum lot width: 150 feet

  “Minimum lot area of 1 acre for single family use and 3 acres for other principal uses.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Rural Non-Farm Residential District inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • Table 4.08-C establishes the stated front, each-side, and rear yard requirements.

  front-yard setback: 50 feet · each-side-yard setback: 20 feet · rear-yard setback: 50 feet

  “Front Yard in Feet Each Side Yard in Feet Rear Yard in Feet in Feet in Stories 1 or 31 150 20% 25% 50 20 50 35 2.5”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Rural Non-Farm Residential District inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • The table lists maximum gross and impervious-surface ratios.

  maximum gross lot coverage: <= 20 percent · maximum impervious surface ratio: <= 25 percent

  “Maximum Lot Coverage Minimum Yards & Setbacks Maximum Building Height Area in Acres Width in Feet Gross Impervious Surface Ratio”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Rural Non-Farm Residential District inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • Table 4.08-C states maximum building height in feet and stories.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet · maximum building height: <= 2.5 stories

  “Front Yard in Feet Each Side Yard in Feet Rear Yard in Feet in Feet in Stories 1 or 31 150 20% 25% 50 20 50 35 2.5”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site wastewater treatment systems inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • The Township requires an on-site wastewater permit issued under the County Sanitary Code by the County Health Department before a building permit is issued, where applicable.

  “Permits for an on-site wastewater treatment system and/or water supply system issued under the provisions of the County Sanitary Code by the County Health Department (soil analysis is part of the above permit process).”

• Septic permitRequired

  On-site wastewater treatment systems associated with building-permit applications inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • The permit is issued under the County Sanitary Code by the County Health Department.
  • Soil analysis is part of the permit process.

  “Permits for an on-site wastewater treatment system and/or water supply system issued under the provisions of the County Sanitary Code by the County Health Department (soil analysis is part of the above permit process).”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Dwelling units inside Berlin Charter Township where public water and sanitary sewer mains are unavailable.

  • On-site water and sanitary sewage facilities require County Health Department approval.
  • Public water and sanitary sewer mains must be used when available.

  “Each dwelling unit shall be connected to public water and sanitary sewer mains, if available, or to on-site water and sanitary sewage facilities approved by the County Health Department.”

• Well permitRequired

  Water supply systems associated with building-permit applications inside Berlin Charter Township.

  • The permit is issued under the County Sanitary Code by the County Health Department.
  • Soil analysis is part of the stated permit process.

  “Permits for an on-site wastewater treatment system and/or water supply system issued under the provisions of the County Sanitary Code by the County Health Department (soil analysis is part of the above permit process).”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Building-permit applications inside Berlin Charter Township where a culvert permit is applicable.

  • The ordinance lists a County Road Commission culvert permit among documents required before building-permit issuance, where applicable.

  “A culvert permit issued by the County Road Commission.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Berlin Charter Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Berlin Charter Township.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Berlin Charter Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Berlin Charter Township.
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside Berlin Charter 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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Berlin Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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