Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Durand, Michigan

Durand’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Durand city limits (City of Durand, Shiawassee County, Michigan). The city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance.

  • The ordinance title names City of Durand, Shiawassee County, Michigan, which confirms the county for this same-name place.
  • The ordinance text is stamped updated through April 2025 on the city's Revize document site; currency was not checked against a second official source.

  “the ordinance was adopted by the durand city council on october 6, 2003.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts of the City of Durand, Michigan (Article III, section 300 list)

  • Districts listed: R-1, R-2 and R-3 single-family residential; R-M multiple-family; R-O residential/office; C-1 central business; C-2 service/business; C-3 general business; I-1 industrial; I-2 heavy industrial.
  • The district maps are referenced in section 301 and were not opened.

  “the city of durand is hereby divided into the following districts: r-1 single-family residential district r-2 single -family residential district r-3 single -family residential district r-m multiple-family residential r-o residential/office c-1 central business district c-2 service/business district c-3 general business district i-1 industrial district i-2 heavy industrial district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Every dwelling unit erected inside Durand city limits (single-family dwelling standards, not district-specific in the text read)

  • A basement or cellar does not count as a story; a breezeway or garage is not included in ground-floor area.
  • The dwelling must have a minimum width of 24 feet across any section and comply with the local building code, including minimum heights for habitable rooms.
  • Section 1341 economy efficient dwellings (400 to 800 square feet) are an apparent exception that is not reconciled here.

  minimum ground-floor floor space: >= 800 square feet (Basement and cellar do not count; breezeway and garage excluded) · minimum width across any section: >= 24 feet

  “every dwelling unit hereafter erected shall have a minimum of 800 square feet of floor space on the ground floor.”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Economy efficient dwellings (principal dwellings of 400 to 800 square feet) inside Durand city limits. The ordinance does not use the term tiny home; this is the nearest defined small-dwelling type.

  • Permitted only in the R-3 single-family residential district, as regulated in section 1341.
  • Section 1327 separately requires a minimum of 800 square feet of ground-floor space for every dwelling unit, which conflicts with the 400 to 800 square foot range. The conflict is unresolved in this record.

  dwelling size: 400 to 800 square feet

  “12. economy efficient dwellings (eeds), when located only in the r-3, single-family residential districts, as regulated in section 1341.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units on lots inside Durand city limits; permitted only in the R-3 single-family district

  • Permitted only in the R-3 single-family residential district, as regulated in section 1340.
  • Only one ADU per lot, and only on a lot that has a single-family dwelling.
  • The ADU must meet the minimum lot area, frontage and width of its district, and dimensional rules of section 1340.

  minimum unit size: >= 400 square feet · ADUs per lot: 1 dwelling units per lot

  “11. accessory dwelling units (adus), when located only in the r-3, single-family residential districts, as regulated in section 1340.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions of land inside Durand city limits

  • Source is the city's design and construction standards stamped 1/16/04, which describe the subdivision ordinance as in effect at that date; chapter 52 was not opened for current text.
  • Work under the subdivision ordinance also requires the state Subdivision Control Act procedures named in the same document.

  “the city of durand has a comprehensive subdivision ordinance (chapter 52 - subdivision regulation) in effect which outlines the subdivision procedure, design layout standards, improvements, review fees, and penalties for violation of the ordinance.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Durand or Shiawassee County directly.

• Building permit — Building permit for new construction inside Durand city limits
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Durand city limits
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Durand city limits
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Durand city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Durand city limits

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.