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

Marion Township’s own rules

• InspectionsRequired

  Construction under a Marion Township building permit

  • Building: footing, foundation, rough-in and final inspections; electrical: temporary service, permanent service, rough-in and final; mechanical: underground, rough-in and final; plumbing: underground, rough-in and final.
  • A re-inspection fee is charged if the job is not ready; the amount is not stated in the guidance.

  “there are a number of inspections required in each of the four codes (building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing); therefore, you must call us when you are ready for each type of inspection.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land inside Marion Township, Saginaw County, Michigan, administered by the township under its own zoning ordinance (not the county's unincorporated area)

  • Ordinance adopted by the Marion Township board of trustees under the Michigan Township Zoning Act, per the cover page.
  • Text reviewed is the April 2015 update; later amendments were not located.

  “marion township zoning ordinance marion township, saginaw county, michigan effective date: january 1, 2005 updated april 2015”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Marion Township, Saginaw County, Michigan

  • Three districts are named in Section 501: A-1 Agricultural, R-1 Rural Residential, B-1 Community Commercial.
  • The official zoning district map referenced in Section 502 was not opened; district boundaries were not verified.

  “for the purposes of this ordinance, marion township, saginaw county, michigan, is divided into the following zoning districts: a-1 agricultural district r-1 rural residential district b-1 community commercial district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwelling units in the A-1 Agricultural district of Marion Township

  • Multi-family housing in special-use form has additional Chapter 6 requirements.

  minimum floor area per dwelling unit: >= 850 square feet

  “minimum floor area: 850 square feet for dwelling units (see chapter 6, special uses, for multi-family housing requirements)”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the R-1 Rural Residential district of Marion Township

    “minimum floor area: 850 square feet for single family dwellings”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in the A-1 Agricultural district of Marion Township, Saginaw County

  • Lots of record that predate the ordinance may be used under Section 408 (minimum lot width 100 feet; front setback not reduced; side setbacks not less than 8 feet).

  minimum lot size: >= 1 acre

  “minimum lot size area: one (1) acre in area. minimum setbacks front: 40 feet side: 35 feet total; minimum of 15 feet on one side. rear: 40 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Lots in the R-1 Rural Residential district of Marion Township, Saginaw County

    “minimum lot size area: one (1) acre in area.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal buildings in the A-1 Agricultural district of Marion Township

  • Pre-existing substandard lots under Section 408 keep the front setback and may use an 8-foot minimum side setback.

  front setback: >= 40 feet · side setback total: >= 35 feet · side setback minimum on one side: >= 15 feet · rear setback: >= 40 feet

  “minimum setbacks front: 40 feet side: 35 feet total; minimum of 15 feet on one side. rear: 40 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Principal buildings in the R-1 Rural Residential district of Marion Township

    “minimum setbacks front: 40 feet side: 35 feet total; minimum of 15 feet on one side. rear: 40 feet maximum parcel coverage: a maximum of 25% of a lot may be covered by buildings.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Buildings on lots in the R-1 Rural Residential district of Marion Township

  maximum parcel coverage by buildings: <= 25 percent of lot

  “maximum parcel coverage: a maximum of 25% of a lot may be covered by buildings.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • None — Buildings on lots in the A-1 Agricultural district of Marion Township

    “maximum parcel coverage: no maximum minimum floor area: 850 square feet for dwelling units”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in the A-1 Agricultural district of Marion Township

  • Agricultural operations may reach 85 feet under the same chart.
  • Section 305 allows permitted height exceptions (not reviewed).

  maximum principal building height: <= 35 feet (2.5 stories maximum) · maximum agricultural operations height: <= 85 feet

  “principal building: 2.5 stories, 35 feet agricultural operations: 85 feet also see sec. 305 for permitted height exceptions.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Buildings in the R-1 Rural Residential district of Marion Township

    “principal building: 2.5 stories, 35 feet agricultural operations: 85 feet also see sec. 305 for permitted height exceptions”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes used as dwellings in Marion Township

  • Mobile home must conform to HUD mobile home construction and safety standards (Section 303.a).
  • A mobile home located in a mobile home park must be installed per the manufacturer setup instructions with the wheels removed (Section 303.b).
  • Mobile home parks are a special use in the B-1 Community Commercial district (Section 504.3 list), subject to Chapter 6 review.
  • A recreational vehicle is not a mobile home under the Section 2 definitions.

  “if a dwelling is a mobile home, all construction, insulation, plumbing, and electrical apparatus shall conform to the “mobile home construction and safety standards” of the u.s. department of housing and urban development.”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  Accessory buildings (detached garages, sheds and similar structures) in any zoning district of Marion Township

  • Applies to accessory buildings only; the ordinance text read did not address attached second units in a principal dwelling.

  “l. accessory building not for dwelling use. no portion of an accessory building in any zoning district may be used as a dwelling.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New houses inside Marion Township, when public water or sewer is available

  • The township permit guidance says the septic permit is for a new house and that the owner must hook to sewer if available; the well guidance says the owner must connect to water if available.
  • The guidance refers to 'city' sewer and water. Marion Township is a township, not a city, and the guidance does not name the public system or give a distance threshold; not verified against a utility ordinance.

  “you must hook to city sewer, if available.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application process in Marion Township

  • Items include a county-assigned address, approved land-division letter for parcels created after March 31, 1997, deed and tax statement, septic and well permits, driveway permit, soil erosion permit (earth change of one acre or more, or within 500 feet of a lake, stream, or county drain), EGLE fill permit in a floodplain, a drainage plan, and a signed application.
  • Inspections must be called in by the permit holder; the lot must be staked and the permit posted.

  “guidelines for obtaining building permits ___ (1) a property address assigned by saginaw county road commission (989) 752-6140.”

Rules another office applies inside Marion Township

Marion 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)

  Onsite septic systems on land inside Marion Township that is not served by a public sewage disposal system; the county health department issues the permits there

  • Saginaw County Environmental Health Code governs onsite wastewater systems and wells.
  • The township's building permit guidance names the Saginaw County Health Department as the issuer of the septic permit for a new house.

  “onsite wastewater treatment and disposal (septic) systems and onsite water wells are covered under the saginaw county environmental health code.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Building or replacing a septic system on a site inside Marion Township not served by a public water supply and sewage disposal system

  • The permit is valid for two years and states minimum construction standards; changes must be approved before installation.
  • Septic installers must be registered with the Saginaw County Health Department.
  • A preliminary soil evaluation is available before purchase.
  • If the property is in a regulated floodplain or wetland, an EGLE permit must be obtained before the county health permit is issued.

  “if you own property and are planning to build or need to replace a well or septic system at a site which is not served by a public water supply and sewage disposal system, you are required to obtain a well permit and/or a wastewater disposal permit from this office.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Completed onsite septic systems in Marion Township

  • The county health department collects the inspection; the system must be inspected before backfilling or covering.

  “make a complete inspection of the completed onsite wastewater treatment and disposal system prior to covering”

• Well permitRequired

  Building or replacing a private water well on a site inside Marion Township not served by a public water supply

  • Well must be installed by a well driller licensed by the Michigan EGLE, per the county health department page.
  • Township guidance says the owner must connect to city water if available.

  “if you own property and are planning to build or need to replace a well or septic system at a site which is not served by a public water supply and sewage disposal system, you are required to obtain a well permit and/or a wastewater disposal permit from this office.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveway access to a house site in Marion Township; the Saginaw County Road Commission issues the driveway permit

  • The driveway approach must be approved by the Saginaw County Road Commission (or MDOT on a state highway) and the work completed before house construction starts.
  • A passable driveway to the building site must be approved by the township building inspector before construction starts.

  “driveway permit: must be issued by the saginaw county road commission (989-752-6140).”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development on property in a regulated floodplain or wetland in Marion Township

  • An EGLE fill permit is required in the floodplain (township guidance), and a county health permit cannot issue until EGLE approval for floodplain or wetland sites (county health page).
  • Soil erosion permit may also apply under the county drain office for earth changes of one acre or more or within 500 feet of a lake, stream, or county drain.

  “mdeq fill permit: is required by the michigan dept. of environmental quality (989) 686-8025 ext. 8364 if the property is in the floodplain.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home in Marion Township
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy of a newly built house in Marion Township
• Living in an RV — Long-term or full-time RV occupancy on private land in Marion Township
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in Marion Township
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings in Marion 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.