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

Southfield Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erecting, moving, repairing, altering or razing a building or structure in the unincorporated portions of Southfield township, and changing the use of land or a building

  • Exception: no building permit is required for non-structural alterations costing less than $500 (§ 151.171(a)).
  • Permit is issued by the building official (§ 151.170(b)(3)).
  • Work may proceed only after the permit is obtained.

  non-structural alteration cost below which no building permit is required: < 500 USD (non-structural alterations only)

  “except that no building permit shall be required for non-structural alterations costing less than $500.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Southfield township under the state construction code as administered by the township

  • Enforcement is by the township building official; the code is the state construction code under Act 230 of 1972.
  • Chapter 150 also adopts electrical, fire prevention, mechanical, plumbing, property maintenance and residential code provisions by reference; specific editions were not extracted in this pass.

  “the township of southfield assumes responsibility for administering and enforcing the stille-derossett-hale single state construction code act, act no. 230 of the public acts of 1972, as amended, and state construction code”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy of land, buildings or structures in Southfield township for any use that required a building permit

  • Certificate may be issued only if the use and building conform to all provisions of Chapter 151 (§ 151.172(b)(1)).
  • The building official grants certificates of occupancy (§ 151.170(b)(1)).

  “(b) the building official shall have the power to do the following: (1) grant certificates of occupancy;”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Southfield township's limits (Oakland County, MI), under the township's own zoning ordinance, Chapter 151 of its code

  • Zoning is administered by the building official under § 151.170 and the uses, dimensional standards and permits in Chapter 151 apply.
  • Chapter 151 is the township's own ordinance and is distinct from the City of Southfield zoning ordinance.

  “this chapter shall be known and may be cited as "the zoning ordinance of the township of southfield."”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Dwellings in each zoning district of Southfield township; the minimum floor space per district is in the Appendix A schedule of regulations, whose numeric values were not extracted

  • Site plan review requires compliance with district minimum floor space as set forth in the schedule of regulations, unless otherwise provided in the chapter.
  • Numeric minimums for the RE and R-1 districts are not yet extracted (see followups).

  “the district requirements for minimum floor space, height of building, lot size, yard space, density and all other requirements as set forth in the schedule of regulations unless otherwise provided in this chapter.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lots in each zoning district of Southfield township; minimum lot width and lot area per district are in the Appendix A schedule of regulations

  • Lots that cannot meet minimum width or area may be used only if the zoning board of appeals finds the use consistent with the chapter (§ 151.021).
  • Access easements may be counted in calculating minimum lot area, width and open space (§ 151.024(c)).

  “(c) access easements may be included in calculation of minimum lot area, width and open space.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Front, side and rear setbacks in each zoning district of Southfield township, set in the Appendix A schedule of regulations

  • Corner lots in residential districts: side street setback equals the minimum front setback for the district, not reduced below 30 feet of buildable width (§ 151.018(a)).
  • Accessory building setbacks are in § 151.020 and vary by district; corner-lot accessory rule in § 151.020(a).

  “(b) corner lot setback on the side street-see § 151.018; accessory building setback and height-see § 151.020.”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Recreational vehicles (as defined in the Chapter 151 parking-of-conveyances provision) used for living purposes anywhere in Southfield township

  • Parking of an occupant-owned recreational vehicle is allowed in the rear open space of a residence (§ 151.103(c)(1)); this does not permit living use.
  • Loading or unloading on a driveway for up to six days per calendar month, not more than three consecutive days (§ 151.103(c)(2)).
  • Special permit from the building inspector for a recreational vehicle under repair or offered for sale (§ 151.103(c)(5)).

  “(4) no recreational vehicle as defined in this section shall be used for living purposes within the township or shall be connected to the sewer or water system of the township.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-performed construction in Southfield township
• Inspections — Inspections of construction inside Southfield township
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits in Southfield township
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on land inside Southfield township
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings inside Southfield 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.