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

Robinson Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction of any structure or building, fence, or other landscape-altering activity inside Robinson township.

  • Contact the township building department before beginning work to confirm which permits apply.
  • Permit fees are not stated on the page opened.

  “robinson township requires a permit to obtained prior to the construction of any structure, building, fence or any other activity that will affect the landscape of the township.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work inside Robinson township, inspected by the township's contracted inspector.

  • Inspections are performed by Professional Code Inspections, 1913 Baldwin Ave, Jenison, MI, per the township page; the township page does not state the contract basis.

  “all building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing inspections are performed by professional code inspections.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Robinson township limits: the township's own zoning ordinance (restated 11/30/2024) governs use and development of land in the township.

  • The ordinance title describes its territory as the unincorporated portions of Robinson township; any incorporated area inside the township is not covered by this finding.
  • The township zoning page says the ordinance is under review after a general audit and a new Master Land Use Plan; verify the current text before relying on it.

  “an ordinance to establish zoning districts and regulations governing the development and use of land within the unincorporated portions of robinson township, ottawa county, michigan”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Robinson township limits: zoning districts (A-1, A-2, RR, E-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, B-1, B-2, I-1, I-2, M-1, overlays and PUD) are set out in the township zoning ordinance.

  • Map-based districts are shown on the zoning map referenced in chapter 5; the map itself was not opened in this research.
  • The schedule of district dimensional standards is in chapter 30; garbled text extraction limited what could be read.

  “the boundaries of these zoning districts are hereby established as shown on a map entitled "robinson township zoning map," which is declared to be a part of this ordinance.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Principal building in the A-1 agricultural district inside Robinson township.

  • Table 30.3 lists principal building maximum height and stories by district.

  maximum building height: <= 50 feet · maximum stories: <= 3 stories

  “a-1, agricultural 50 3 a-2, agricultural service 50 3 rr, rural residential 35 3”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Principal building in the R-1 residential one-family district inside Robinson township.

    “r-1, residential onefamily 35 3 (b) 18 10 35 r-2, residential multiple-family 35 3 (b) 18 10 35”

  • Specified — Principal building in the RR rural residential district inside Robinson township.

    “a-1, agricultural 50 3 a-2, agricultural service 50 3 rr, rural residential 35 3”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Parking or storage of recreational vehicles on lots inside Robinson township, most restrictive in the R-1 and R-2 districts.

  • Section 4.32 limits parking in R-1 and R-2 to side or rear yards or enclosed garages, with temporary parking limits of 24 hours at one time and 72 hours in one week.
  • Section 3.29 excludes recreational vehicles from the definition of dwelling, so an RV is not a dwelling unit under this ordinance.
  • E-1 overlay special use allows one recreational vehicle per lot for up to 100 days per calendar year, with annual renewal.

  temporary parking limit per trip: <= 24 hours (R-1 and R-2 districts) · temporary parking limit per week: <= 72 hours (R-1 and R-2 districts)

  “boats, boat trailers or recreational vehicles which are not located in a side or rear yard or within an enclosed garage may be chapter 4 - page 23 parked temporarily on a lot for no longer than twenty-four (24) hours at one time and for no more than seventy-two (72) hours in one week.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Site condominium units and clustered residential developments inside Robinson township.

  • Site condominium building sites must meet the zoning district lot and yard standards.
  • The Michigan Land Division Act treatment of platted or metes-and-bounds lot splits was not opened.

  “the building site for each site condominium unit shall comply with all applicable provisions of this ordinance, including minimum lot area, minimum lot width, required front, side and rear yards, and maximum building height.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  New buildings and structures inside the E-1 lowland resource conservation overlay district in Robinson township.

  • The E-1 overlay requires new buildings to meet National Flood Insurance Program performance criteria.
  • Other E-1 special use conditions apply; this claim covers only the floodplain performance requirement.

  “(6) new buildings and structures must conform to the performance requirements and criteria as established in the national flood insurance program, as amended from time to time.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit submission inside Robinson township.

  • The page gives the submission and contact steps but not the full application checklist, review timelines or fees.

  “permits must be submitted to robinson township contact your building department to make sure you have the appropriate permits in place before beginning any construction.”

Rules another office applies inside Robinson Township

Robinson Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private septic systems on land inside Robinson township; the Ottawa County environmental health code applies there because the township ordinance defers to the county environmental health officer.

  • Schema scope for a county rule allows countywide geography only; the rule's territory is the township because the county code applies countywide and the township's own ordinance refers septic review to the county.

  “easily apply for well & septic permits, water testing, real estate evaluations, and vacant land evaluations.”

• Septic inspectionLimited

  Property transfers of homes served by private septic systems inside Robinson township.

  • The county evaluation is required at property transfer; the page does not state a separate inspection for new construction.

  “since 1984, the ottawa county environmental health code has required sellers to evaluate the condition of private well and septic systems before transferring property ownership.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit eligibility inside Robinson township.
• Building code adopted — Building code edition enforced inside Robinson township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Robinson township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for a dwelling inside Robinson township.
• Minimum lot size — Agricultural A-1 district lots inside Robinson 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.