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

Erie Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Most improvement projects inside Erie Township, including most roofing, window and siding jobs.

  • Small projects such as sheds and fences will not require a building permit but you must still obtain a zoning permit for compliance with setback, height and size requirements, including 'qualified' farm buildings.
  • A building permit is not permitted to be issued without the SESC permit or waiver (soil erosion and sedimentation control, administered by the Monroe County Drain Commissioner's office).

  “most improvement projects will require a permit and inspections including most roofing, window and siding jobs.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Most improvement projects inside Erie Township that need a building permit.

  • Plumbing and mechanical inspections are conducted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; electrical inspections require 48 hours notice, per the township page.
  • Small projects such as sheds and fences do not require a building permit under the township page.

  “most improvement projects will require a permit and inspections including most roofing, window and siding jobs.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Erie Township limits, Monroe County, Michigan. The township administers its own Zoning Ordinance No. 117 (final amended text effective 2018-05-24).

  • The building/zoning page links a 2024 zoning ordinance and amendments through 117-K (battery energy storage systems); the consolidated text opened here is the 2019 'ABCDEF Amend' version. Confirm the current version before relying on any section number.
  • Zoning map adopted May 13, 2014, amended effective 12-28-2019 per the planning page.

  “the erie township zoning ordinance no. 117 was adopted july 12, 2016 and became effective august 5, 2016”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of Erie Township, including AP, AC, BC, A-RB, R-1 to R-4, C-1, C-2, C-W, C-TC, I-1, I-2, OSC and PUD

  • The district purposes table (Table 10-1) is published as a PDF on the township site; the zoning map is linked from the building page (erie township zoning map, 1_10_2025).

  “erie township zoning districts & permitted use – from zoning ordinance 117 table 10-1 purposes of zoning districts”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family dwellings in Erie Township; the minimum floor area is set by each zoning district

  • Single-family dwellings must meet the minimum floor area of their district and a minimum roof pitch of 5:12 over 75% of the roof area.
  • The per-district floor area numbers were not located in the table text opened, so the district values are not stated here.

  minimum width across every section: >= 20 ft

  “single family dwellings shall comply with the minimum floor area requirements of the district in which they are located, and shall have a minimum width across every section of twenty (20) feet”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Living in a recreational vehicle as a dwelling on private land inside Erie Township

  • Permitted only as a temporary dwelling under a zoning permit for emergency housing or a new home under construction; the zoning administrator may approve it.
  • Storage of recreational vehicles under section 20.19 does not authorize use of the vehicle as a temporary or permanent dwelling on the lot.

  temporary permit duration: 6 months (zoning administrator may grant a single six-month extension)

  “the zoning administrator shall have the authority to approve a temporary zoning permit to use a mobile home or recreational vehicle as a temporary dwelling.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Use of a mobile home as a dwelling inside Erie Township, as a temporary dwelling

  • Only as a temporary dwelling under a zoning permit for emergency housing or a new home under construction, per section 20.05.
  • Permanent manufactured-home occupancy outside a licensed mobile home park was not established.

  temporary permit duration: 6 months (zoning administrator may grant a single six-month extension)

  “the zoning administrator shall have the authority to approve a temporary zoning permit to use a mobile home or recreational vehicle as a temporary dwelling.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and lot combinations inside Erie Township

  • Divisions are subject to the state Land Division Act (Act 288 of 1967) and the township Land Division Ordinance No. 98.
  • Footnote: parcels of 20 acres or less existing on the effective date of the ordinance may be divided into a total of four parcels if each meets the district minimum.

  “the number of divisions and/or the manner of dividing or combining lots or parcels is subject to the land division act, which is act 288 of the public acts of 1967”

Rules another office applies inside Erie Township

Erie 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

  Residential construction inside Erie Township; the township building office states the code in effect for its residential permits.

  • The township page says the 2015 Michigan Residential Code is in effect and that a later 2015 Michigan code is in effect for non-residential work; it also says the 2015 International Fire Code was adopted in September 2020.
  • The township page dates the residential code entry to 2-8-2016 and the building code entry to November 2017.

  “the 2015 michigan residential code is now if effect.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Erie Township
• Certificate of occupancy — New dwelling or occupancy certificate inside Erie Township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot area for the R-1 and agricultural districts inside Erie Township
• Setbacks — Front, side and rear yard setbacks for the R-1 and agricultural districts inside Erie Township
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage by district inside Erie 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.