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

Richfield Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Richfield Township

  • Michigan codes with amendments
  • Page lists 2015 Michigan Residential, Building, Rehabilitation, Energy and Mechanical Codes, 2017 National Electric Code of Michigan and 2018 Michigan Plumbing Code

  “our building department administrates and enforces the current michigan codes (with amendments): the 2015 michigan residential code, 2015 michigan building code, 2015 michigan rehabilitation code, 2015 michigan energy code, national electric code 2017 of michigan, 2015 michigan mechanical code, and the 2018 michigan plumbing code.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Richfield Township

  • The permit holder schedules the inspections
  • Inspectors are licensed in the respective trades and registered with the state
  • Building, electrical, and plumbing/mechanical inspections each have a separate inspector

  “it is the permit holder's responsibility to schedule the required inspections.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Richfield Township, Roscommon County, MI

  • Adopted under the Township Zoning Act, Act 184 of 1943

  “richfield township is a zoned community and zoning ordinances are enforced by the richfield township zoning administrator who is available by phone or by appointment.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Richfield Township

  • Eight districts: A-R, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, C-1, C-2 and Ind
  • The township zoning map was not opened

  “table a schedule of regulations zoning district a-r agricultural/ rural residential district r-1 single-family residential district r-2 single-family/ two-family residential district r-3 multiple-family residential district r-4 manufactured home park district c-1 neighborhood commercial district c-2 highway commercial district ind industrial district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  A-R Agricultural/Rural Residential district, Richfield Township

  • Table A footnote (2) not read
  • Minimum floor area excludes basements, utility rooms, breezeways, porches and attached garages

  minimum floor area per dwelling unit: >= 1000 sq ft

  “minimum floor area per dwelling unit in sq. ft. (2) maximum building coverage of lot 5 acre 240 3 40 40 25 40 1,000 35%”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 Single-Family Residential district, Richfield Township

    “12,000 sq. ft. 65 2-1/2 35 30 6 30 980 35%”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  A-R Agricultural/Rural Residential district, Richfield Township

  • Table A footnote (1) on lot width not read
  • New lots must keep a depth-to-width ratio of no more than four to one; existing lots exempt

  minimum lot area: >= 5 acres · minimum lot width: >= 240 ft

  “a maximum lot ratio of one to four (lot depth cannot exceed four times the lot width) shall be maintained for all new lots created. this ratio will not apply to existing lots.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R-1 Single-Family Residential district, Richfield Township

    “12,000 sq. ft. 65 2-1/2 35 30 6 30 980 35%”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  A-R Agricultural/Rural Residential district, Richfield Township

  maximum building coverage of lot: <= 35 percent

  “minimum floor area per dwelling unit in sq. ft. (2) maximum building coverage of lot 5 acre 240 3 40 40 25 40 1,000 35%”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R-1 Single-Family Residential district, Richfield Township

    “12,000 sq. ft. 65 2-1/2 35 30 6 30 980 35%”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  A-R Agricultural/Rural Residential district, Richfield Township

  maximum building height: <= 3 stories · maximum building height: <= 40 ft

  “minimum lot size area width in ft. (1) maximum building height stories feet minimum yard setbacks in feet front minimum rear side each minimum floor area per dwelling unit in sq. ft. (2) maximum building coverage of lot 5 acre 240 3 40 40 25 40 1,000 35%”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R-1 Single-Family Residential district, Richfield Township

    “12,000 sq. ft. 65 2-1/2 35 30 6 30 980 35%”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes and other dwellings placed inside Richfield Township

  • Dwellings outside mobile home parks must be at least 24 ft wide, meet the district minimum floor area and sit on an anchored foundation
  • Manufactured home parks (R-4 district) follow the Mobile Home Commission Act

  minimum dwelling width: >= 24 ft (dwellings in mobile home parks)

  “all dwellings shall have a minimum width across all front, side, or rear elevations of twenty-four (24) feet.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits inside Richfield Township

  • Electrical, mechanical and plumbing applications have a form for working out the fee
  • No fee schedule amounts were seen

  “for building permits, the fee is based on the project details; you will be contacted with the amount.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit applications inside Richfield Township

  • Allow a minimum of 5 to 7 business days for review and approval
  • Submit by PDF email, mail, or drop-off at the township offices
  • Permits for building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing are issued by the township building official

  minimum review time: 5 to 7 business days

  “allow a minimum of 5 to 7 business days for the permit to be reviewed and approved.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permit requirement inside Richfield Township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Richfield Township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Richfield Township
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Richfield Township
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Richfield 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.