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

Richland Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Richland township's limits (Hemlock area, Saginaw County, MI). The township's own zoning ordinance and zoning administrator apply here; it is not the county's unincorporated-area rule.

  • The official planning page lists a zoning ordinance with amendments and a zoning map in the township document center, and names a township zoning administrator. It does not state whether the ordinance text is dated or which amendments are current; the ordinance PDF itself could not be opened on an official page during this research.
  • Use permission depends on the district and approvals (special use permit, site plan review, zoning board of appeals) listed in the ordinance.

  zoning compliance permit fee: 15 USD

  “the richland township zoning administrator is scott crofoot.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts and map for land inside Richland township

  • The official page lists a zoning map document; the district list and the district regulations are in the ordinance, which could not be read on an official URL.
  • The map listing shown on the page carries no effective date.

  “z-2025-01 zoning map document seq -0.01 richland twp master plan 2-22-22 document seq 0.00”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Plats, subdivisions, site condominiums and land divisions inside Richland township

  • Township planning commission review is required; the township also charges separate review fees for preliminary and final plats and site condominiums.
  • Land division and boundary adjustments carry a per-split fee.

  preliminary plat review fee: 550 USD · final preliminary plat review fee: 500 USD · final plat review fee: 400 USD

  “the planning commission is required to review any plats, subdivisions, site plans, or special use permits.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning and planning permit fees for work inside Richland township

  • The fee schedule is posted on the township planning page without an effective date. Site plan, special use and engineering review fees may be actual cost; building permit fees were not on the page.
  • The page also lists site plan review $450.00, special use permit $500.00, zoning board of appeals application $350.00, and agricultural zoning permit application $100.00.

  zoning compliance permit: 15 USD · land division and boundary adjustment fee: 50 USD (per split)

  “zoning compliance permit $ 15.00 sign permit - temporary $ 30.00”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning and planning approvals inside Richland township (zoning compliance, site plan, special use, plats)

  • The planning page publishes the zoning administrator's office hours and planning commission meeting schedule (first Tuesday, 6:00 p.m., at 1180 North Hemlock Road, unless posted).
  • The page publishes application forms for zoning permit, site plan review, special use permit, rezoning, ZBA, and land division. The step-by-step process and timelines are not stated on the page.
  • Building permit process was not published on the pages opened.

  “scott is available at the richland township administration office monday & tuesday's 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and thursday from 8 a.m. to noon.”

Rules another office applies inside Richland Township

Richland 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 at sites inside Richland township that are not served by a public sewage disposal system. The Saginaw County Health Department, not the township, issues the septic permit. This is a county rule that applies inside Richland township.

  • Applies only to sites not served by a public water supply and sewage disposal system (the county page's own condition).
  • The township sewer system (Hemlock, unincorporated portion) is a township-operated system; the county page does not state whether it displaces the county septic permit for a given lot.

  “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 Richland township that is not served by a public water supply and sewage disposal system (Saginaw County Health Department permit)

  • Permit issued by the Saginaw County Health Department after a site evaluation; a permit is issued only if site conditions are acceptable.
  • The permit is valid for two years and states minimum construction standards; changes from those minimums must be approved by the office before installation.
  • Septic installers must be registered with the health department.
  • Applications should be acted on within ten days after the completed application, a copy of the registered deed, appropriate fees and notice of completed soil borings are received.
  • If the property is within or partly within a regulated floodplain or wetland, a Michigan EGLE permit is required before the county permit is issued.
  • Variance from the environmental health code can be requested.

  permit validity: 2 years

  “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 septic system installed inside Richland township on a site not served by public water and sewer (Saginaw County Health Department inspection)

  • The county inspects the completed system before it is covered (backfilled).
  • The county also collects well water samples and inspects well installation where a well is involved.

  “make a complete inspection of the completed onsite wastewater treatment and disposal system prior to covering to ensure that the system has been properly installed and quality materials in the amounts required have been used.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  On-site sewage disposal on a property inside Richland township that is not served by public sewage disposal (county septic rules)

  • Allowed only with a county wastewater disposal permit and site evaluation under the Saginaw County Environmental Health Code.
  • Preliminary soil evaluations are available before purchase.

  “a permit will be issued to you if the conditions found on the site are acceptable for the installation of an onsite wastewater treatment and disposal system.”

• Well permitRequired

  Building or replacing a private water well inside Richland township at a site not served by a public water supply (Saginaw County Health Department permit)

  • Well must be installed by a well driller licensed by Michigan EGLE.
  • Well installation is inspected and a water sample is collected by the county health department.

  “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.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — New construction inside Richland township, Saginaw County, MI
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-occupant building of a home inside Richland township, Saginaw County, MI
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Richland township, Saginaw County, MI
• Inspections — Building (structural) inspections for new construction inside Richland township, Saginaw County, MI
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates for new homes inside Richland township, Saginaw County, MI

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.