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

Independence Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Excavation, construction, structural changes or repairs, building moves, grading, topsoil stripping, and road construction inside Independence Charter Township.

  • A permit must be obtained from the Building Official before covered work begins.
  • An approved application showing compliance with the zoning ordinance, applicable ordinances, statutes, regulations, and state construction code is required.

  “It shall be unlawful for any person to commence excavation for or construction of any building or structure, to make structural changes or repairs of or in any existing building or structure, to move an existing building or structure or to engage in grading, stripping of topsoil, excavation or road construction activities without first obtaining a permit from the Building Official.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work authorized by a Township building permit inside Independence Charter Township.

  • The permit recipient must notify the Building Official immediately upon completion of authorized work for final inspection.

  “The recipient of any building permit for the erection, construction, 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 a final inspection.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Land, buildings, and structures for which a permit is required inside Independence Charter Township.

  • Use may not begin until the Building Official issues a certificate stating ordinance compliance.
  • Temporary certificates may be issued after inspection; they may not remain in force more than 90 days or more than five days after the building is fully completed and ready for occupancy.

  temporary certificate maximum duration: <= 90 days (Also may not remain more than five days after full completion and readiness for occupancy.)

  “certificates of temporary occupancy may be issued for a part of a building or structure prior to the occupancy of the entire building or structure, if after inspection it is found that there has been compliance with all provisions of this ordinance and all other applicable ordinances, statutes and regulations, and provided that such certificate of temporary occupancy shall not remain in force more than ninety (90) days, nor more than five (5) days after the building or structure is fully completed and ready for occupancy.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Independence Charter Township.

  • District regulations and the Official Zoning Map govern use and dimensional requirements.

  “the township is hereby divided into zones or districts as shown on the official zoning map and shall include the following:”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning and building permits, certificates of occupancy, appeals, and related Township matters.

  • The Township Board establishes the fee schedule, charges, expenses, and collection procedure.
  • The schedule is available at the Clerk's Office and Building Department.

  “The Township Board shall establish a schedule of fees, charges, and expenses, and a collection procedure, for all applications for zoning and building permits, Certificates of Occupancy, appeals, and other matters pertaining to the Zoning Ordinance.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Township zoning/building permit applications inside Independence Charter Township.

  • The application must be submitted and approved by the Building Official.
  • The application includes grading and building-permit applications, a written statement on Building Department forms, and a plot plan.

  “As a condition to the issuance of a building permit, and prior to undertaking any grading, stripping of topsoil, excavation, change of principal use, moving of buildings, road construction or modification by a private person or entity, and/or any construction requiring a building permit, an application shall be submitted to and approved by the Building Official in accordance with this Article.”

Rules another office applies inside Independence Township

Independence 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 (with conditions)

  State construction-code work within Independence Charter Township.

  • The Township administers and enforces the state construction code within Township boundaries.

  “The township assumes and shall be responsible for administering and enforcing the state construction code within the boundaries of the township.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1A Single-Family Residential District inside Independence Charter Township.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Maximum of two stories.)

  “35 feet & 2 stories maximum building height”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R-1R Rural Residential District inside Independence Charter Township.

    “35 feet & 2 stories maximum building height”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Independence Charter Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings in Independence Charter Township residential districts.
• Lot coverage — Residential districts inside Independence Charter Township.
• Living in an RV — Long-term recreational-vehicle occupancy on private land inside Independence Charter Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Independence 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 Independence 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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