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

Oxford Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Detached accessory-building construction inside Oxford Charter Township.

  • Zoning compliance and plan review precede issuance.
  • Permit is paid for and picked up after the Building Official approves plans.

  “Submit Zoning Compliance/Building Permit application.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Detached accessory-building construction inside Oxford Charter Township.

  • Inspections are scheduled after the building permit is paid for.
  • Final building inspection follows applicable electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspections.

  “Once all of the electrical, plumbing and mechanical inspections have been completed (if applicable), a final building inspection is required.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Oxford Charter Township, Michigan.

  • Land use and development must comply with the Township zoning ordinance.

  “ALL APPLICABLE SECTIONS OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF OXFORD ZONING ORDINANCE WILL BE COMPLIED WITH.”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  Use of attached or detached accessory buildings as dwelling units in Township residential districts.

  • The rule concerns accessory buildings and structures; it does not resolve every possible separate ADU configuration.

  “Attached and detached accessory buildings and structures in residential districts shall not be used as dwelling units”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Farm operations inside Oxford Charter Township protected under the Michigan Right to Farm Act.

  • The individual must provide the Zoning Administrator documentation that the activity is protected under the Right to Farm Act.
  • Other land uses and improvements not part of the farm operation remain subject to the ordinance.

  “Farm operations protected under the Right to Farm Act (P.A. 93 of 1981, as amended) shall be exempt from regulation under this Ordinance.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Detached accessory-building zoning and building permits inside Oxford Charter Township.

  • The $125 zoning-compliance payment does not include building-permit fees.
  • Building-permit fees are based on construction cost according to International Code Council Building Evaluation Data.

  zoning compliance payment: 125 USD (Does not include building permit fees)

  “Cash or check payment in the amount of $125.00 for the Zoning Compliance (this does not include Building Permit fees) [...] Building permit fees are base on construction cost in accordance with the International Code Council Building Evaluation Data”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Detached accessory-building permits inside Oxford Charter Township.

  • Submit zoning-compliance/building-permit application, plans, plot plans, and payment.
  • Zoning Official review and staking inspection occur before Building Official plan review.
  • The permit is set up after Building Official approval.

  “Once application and $125.00 payment are submitted, the Zoning Official will review the submitted plot plan and if approved perform a staking inspection when scheduled.”

Rules another office applies inside Oxford Township

Oxford 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 Residential District inside Oxford Charter Township.

  • Schedule footnote N applies as referenced in the adopted zoning ordinance.

  minimum lot area: 12000 sq ft (R-1, Single-Family Residential) · minimum lot width: 80 ft (R-1, Single-Family Residential)

  “R-1, Single-Family Residential 12,000 s.f. 80 ft.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1, Single-Family Residential District inside Oxford Charter Township.

  • Schedule footnote N applies as referenced in the adopted zoning ordinance.

  front yard setback: 25 ft (R-1 District) · side yard setback: 10 ft (R-1 District) · rear yard setback: 20 ft (R-1 District)

  “R-1, Single-Family Residential 12,000 s.f. 80 ft. 25 ft. 10 ft. N 20 ft. 35 ft. 2½ 35% See §3.8(A)”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1, Single-Family Residential District inside Oxford Charter Township.

  • Schedule footnote N applies as referenced in the adopted zoning ordinance.

  maximum lot coverage: 35 percent (R-1 District)

  “R-1, Single-Family Residential 12,000 s.f. 80 ft. 25 ft. 10 ft. N 20 ft. 35 ft. 2½ 35% See §3.8(A)”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1, Single-Family Residential District inside Oxford Charter Township.

  • Schedule footnote N applies as referenced in the adopted zoning ordinance.

  maximum building height: 35 ft (R-1 District) · maximum stories: 2.5 stories (R-1 District)

  “R-1, Single-Family Residential 12,000 s.f. 80 ft. 25 ft. 10 ft. N 20 ft. 35 ft. 2½ 35% See §3.8(A)”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite sewage disposal systems inside Oxford Charter Township, which is in Oakland County.

  • Oakland County Health Division licensing applies to installers of onsite sewage disposal systems in Oakland County.

  “Effective May 6, 2012 the Oakland County Sanitary Code, Article XI, requires anyone who installs onsite sewage disposal systems in Oakland County to be licensed by the Oakland County Health Division.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New residential onsite sewage disposal systems inside Oxford Charter Township, Oakland County.

  • Applies where residential property is vacant, burned down, demolished, or extensively remodeled.
  • A different repair permit is required for replacement, alteration, or repair where the existing structure remains intact or remodeling does not increase bedrooms or sewage flows.

  “A New Onsite Sewage Disposal Permit Application is required for construction or installation of a new onsite sewage disposal system.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-performed residential construction inside Oxford Charter Township.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Oxford Charter Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of buildings inside Oxford Charter Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings in Oxford Charter Township zoning districts.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Oxford 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 Oxford 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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