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

Waterford Township’s own rules

• InspectionsRequired

  Work performed under Building, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing permits inside Waterford charter township.

  • The official page describes inspections as conducted in conjunction with the permits issued by the Building division.

  “It issues Building, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing permits, in conjunction with conducting inspections on the work performed.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in the Charter Township of Waterford, outside cities and villages that regulate their own land and structures.

  • The ordinance excludes areas within cities and villages which regulate the use of their land and structures.

  “This Zoning Ordinance is enacted under Public Act 110 of 2006, Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, as amended, as a comprehensive amendment of Zoning Ordinance No. 135, for the purposes of establishing zoning districts and regulating land development in all portions of the Charter Township of Waterford, outside the limits of cities and villages which regulate the use of their land and structures.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  One in-law suite accessory to a principal dwelling in the R-1 and R-1A districts.

  • A deed restriction must prohibit occupancy by anyone other than in-laws of the family occupying the dwelling unit on the same zoning lot.
  • The deed restriction is subject to Township Attorney review and approval before recording.
  • No more than two in-laws may occupy the suite at one time.
  • The suite must be 550 square feet or more, and no greater than 50 percent of the usable floor area occupied by the rest of the family, excluding the suite.
  • The in-law quarters must be accessory to a dwelling-unit principal use occupied by the in-laws' family.

  minimum usable floor area: >= 550 square feet (In-law suite) · maximum simultaneous occupants: <= 2 in-laws (In-law suite)

  “One (1) in-law suite, in the R-1 and R-1A districts only, provided: (1) deed restrictions are recorded against the zoning lot prohibiting occupancy of the in-law suite, at any time, by any person other than in-laws of the family occupying the dwelling unit on the same zoning lot”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision plats and land divisions inside Waterford charter township.

  • The source describes regulations for design and approval of subdivision plats and approval of land divisions.

  “Chapter 15 (PDF) of the Code contains regulations related to the design and approval of subdivision plats (Pages 15-3 through 15-11) and approval of land divisions (Pages 15-11 through 15-15).”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rentals, including AirBnBs, VBROs, and Swimply properties, inside Waterford charter township.

  • The property must register with the Township.
  • The property must abide by the Rental Certification Ordinance.

  “All rental properties, including short term rentals such as AirBnBs, VBROs, Swimply, etc., are required to register with the Township and abide by the Rental Certification Ordinance.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Waterford charter township.

  • Permit fees are based on project cost.
  • For water-system connections, a plumbing permit and water-connection fees are required.

  “Permit fees are based on the cost of the project.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Waterford charter township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Waterford charter township.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered residential buildings inside Waterford charter township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Waterford charter township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Waterford 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 Waterford 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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