Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Troy, Michigan

Troy’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Erection, relocation or structural alteration of a one- or two-family dwelling on an individual lot inside Troy city

  • Quoted sentence is in the site plan review exemption for one- or two-family dwellings; zoning compliance permit is also required.
  • Construction may proceed only after permit issuance.

  “however, other applicable approvals are still required such as a zoning compliance permit and building permits.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land inside Troy city limits (Oakland County, MI), administered by the city's Planning / Community Development department

  • City zoning ordinance divides the city into R-1a to R-1e one-family, RT, MF, UR, MHP, CF, EP, CB, GB, IB, OM, RC, PV and P districts plus form-based BB, MR and NN districts, per the city's guide.
  • Zoning ordinance text itself was not opened (official PDF exceeds the fetch size limit); the district list comes from the city guide dated January 2020.

  “the zoning ordinance is the law that regulates land use in the city of troy.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning district list for land inside Troy city

  • Guide lists R-1a to R-1e, RT, MF, UR, MHP, CF, EP, CB, GB, IB, OM, RC, PV, P, and form-based BB, MR and NN districts; the guide links an interactive zoning map on troymi.gov.
  • Guide dated January 2020; district list may have changed.

  “the city of troy is divided into the following districts:”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private on-site sewage disposal systems (septic) for structures inside Troy city not connected to public sewer

  • Chapter 19 makes the city responsible for sewer connections and defers septic compliance to state and county rules.
  • Chapter 19 names MDEQ (the state environmental agency, since renamed EGLE) and the Oakland County Health Department as the regulators.

  “unless a structure in which sanitary sewage originates is connected to a public sanitary sewer or combined sewer under the provisions of this chapter, the building sewer shall be connected with a private on-site sewage disposal system complying with the regulations and orders of the mdeq and the oakland county health department”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Owners of structures inside Troy city served by a private on-site septic system (not connected to public sewer)

  • Applies only while the structure is not connected to public sewer; Chapter 19 also requires septic abandonment once a direct connection to public sewer is made.
  • Inspection is performed by city staff or the Oakland County Health Department.

  inspection interval: 4 years

  “having a fixed interval inspection and evaluation performed by city staff or the oakland county health department every four (4) years”

• Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

  Structures inside Troy city with no public sanitary sewer connection

  • Allowed only where the system complies with state and Oakland County Health Department rules and with city building regulations (Chapter 79).
  • Public sewer connection overrides this where available.

  “unless a structure in which sanitary sewage originates is connected to a public sanitary sewer or combined sewer under the provisions of this chapter, the building sewer shall be connected with a private on-site sewage disposal system complying with the regulations and orders of the mdeq and the oakland county health department”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdividing land inside Troy city

  • Planning Commission recommends and City Council approves preliminary plats; the guide lists preliminary and final plat fees under Chapter 41.
  • Subdivision ordinance text itself was not opened.

  “the recommendation of approval to city council of all preliminary plats subdividing land, planned unit developments, and any amendments or alterations thereof.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Planning department development application fees inside Troy city

  • Fee schedule shown in the city guide is marked effective April 1, 2009 (rev. 02/16/09); it may be superseded by the city fee schedule on troymi.gov, which was not opened.
  • Building permit fees are not in the guide.

  subdivision tentative preliminary plat application fee: 1000 USD (plus $10.00 per lot; escrow fee $1,500)

  “effective april 1, 2009 planning department fees (chapter 41) subdivision tentative preliminary plat: application fee $1,000 plus $10.00 per lot”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit submittals for Troy city construction

  • Guide covers planning steps (site plan, special use, rezoning) and says building permit submittals go to the Building Department; the building permit review steps are not described.
  • Chapter 79 building permit procedure not opened.

  “all submittals of building permits shall be directed to the city of troy, building department, 500 w. big beaver road, troy, mi 48084-5285.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for owner-occupied homes inside Troy city
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Troy city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Troy city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in R-1a through R-1e single-family districts inside Troy city
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the main single-family R-1a through R-1e districts inside Troy city (no agricultural district is listed in the city guide)

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.