Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Perry, Michigan

Perry’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  Accessory buildings only (detached accessory buildings over 200 square feet and all attached accessory buildings) on lots in Perry city

  • A zoning compliance permit is also required for all accessory buildings.
  • The opened text does not state a building permit requirement for principal dwellings; that was not located.

  detached accessory building size threshold: > 200 sq ft (detached accessory buildings over this size need a building permit; attached accessory buildings always do)

  “an approved building permit is required for: all detached accessory buildings over 200 square feet and all attached accessory buildings.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Perry city limits

  • Michigan Building Code applies where applicable; where the Michigan Building Code is silent, the International Building Code and International Fire Code are adopted by reference.
  • Section 1410.11 cites Ord. 399, passed 11-25-24; the effective date is not separately stated.

  “the michigan building code shall be applied as applicable in the city of perry. where the michigan building code is silent or lacks specific provisions, the city of perry has adopted by reference and incorporated herein the international building code (ibc) and the international fire code (ifc)”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Perry city limits (City of Perry, Shiawassee County, MI), administered by the city under its own Zoning Ordinance

  • Land in Perry Township outside the city limits is not covered by this claim.

  “for the purposes of this ordinance, the city of perry is divided into the following zoning districts”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts established for land inside Perry city limits

  • Districts are A-1, R-1A, R-1B, R-T, R-M, CBD, B-1, MXD, PUD, NFO, MHP, I-1, I-2; the official zoning map is a separate document referenced in Section 6.02.

  “section 6.01 establishment of districts for the purposes of this ordinance, the city of perry is divided into the following zoning districts: a-1 r-1a r-1b r-t r-m cbd b-1 mxd pud nfo mhp i-1 i-2”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  A-1 Agricultural district in Perry city

  • Figure applies with public sewer; the table does not give a separate figure without sewer.

  minimum lot size with public sewer: >= 40000 sq ft (with public sewer)

  “minimum lot size with public sewer 40,000 sq. ft. 9,600 sq. ft. 7,200 sq. ft.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — R-1A single-family residential district in Perry city

    “minimum lot size with public sewer 40,000 sq. ft. 9,600 sq. ft. 7,200 sq. ft.”

  • Specified — R-1B single-family residential district in Perry city

    “minimum lot size with public sewer 40,000 sq. ft. 9,600 sq. ft. 7,200 sq. ft.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  A-1 Agricultural district in Perry city, residential uses

  • Non-residential setbacks are listed separately in the table.

  front setback: 30 ft · rear setback: 50 ft · side setbacks (total/each): 15 / 30 ft

  “front: 30 ft. minimum setbacks rear: 50 ft. (residential uses) side(s): 15 / 30 ft.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1A single-family residential district in Perry city, residential uses

    “front: 25 ft. rear: 35 ft. side(s): 10 / 20 ft.”

• Building heightSpecified

  A-1 Agricultural district in Perry city

  • Farm structures have a maximum height of 80 ft. per the table footnote.

  maximum height: <= 36 ft (3 stories)

  “maximum height 36 ft. / 3 stories* 25 ft. / 2.5 stories 25 ft. / 2.5 stories 25 ft. / 2.5 stories 48 ft./ 4 stories minimum open space”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — R-1A single-family residential district in Perry city

    “maximum height 36 ft. / 3 stories* 25 ft. / 2.5 stories 25 ft. / 2.5 stories 25 ft. / 2.5 stories 48 ft./ 4 stories”

  • Specified — R-1B single-family residential district in Perry city

    “maximum height 36 ft. / 3 stories* 25 ft. / 2.5 stories 25 ft. / 2.5 stories 25 ft. / 2.5 stories 48 ft./ 4 stories”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Living in a recreational vehicle on a lot in Perry city, as accessory to a single-family home

  • Seven-day period, no more than one period in any thirty consecutive days.
  • A stay beyond seven days requires a temporary stay permit from the zoning administrator.
  • Applicant must show the temporary accommodation is located in the rear yard.

  temporary stay period: 7 days (no more than one such period in any thirty consecutive days; longer stay needs temporary stay permit)

  “recreational vehicles, camping trailers, or tents may be used for temporary living purposes when accessory to a single family home provided such use shall only be permitted for a seven (7) day period and for no more than one (1) such period in any thirty (30) consecutive days.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Tents, camping trailers and RVs used for temporary living on a lot in Perry city, accessory to a single-family home

  • Seven-day period, no more than one period in any thirty consecutive days.
  • Longer stays require a temporary stay permit from the zoning administrator.

  temporary stay period: 7 days (longer stay needs temporary stay permit)

  “recreational vehicles, camping trailers, or tents may be used for temporary living purposes when accessory to a single family home provided such use shall only be permitted for a seven (7) day period and for no more than one (1) such period in any thirty (30) consecutive days.”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  Use of a basement portion, partially completed building, garage or accessory building as a dwelling unit or sleeping area in Perry city; this does not address separate detached or attached accessory dwelling units

  • Prohibition applies in every zoning district.
  • Separate accessory dwelling units were not addressed in the opened text.

  “the use of any portion of the basement or a partially completed building, or any garage or accessory building as a dwelling unit or sleeping area is prohibited in any zoning district.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Perry city limits

  • Land divisions must also meet the city's separate land division ordinance, which was not opened.

  “all land divisions must comply with the city's land division ordinance (or equivalent city of perry ordinance or code).”

• Permit processPartial

  Accessory buildings in Perry city

  • Only the accessory-building step was found; the full application, fee and review process was not located in the opened text.

  “an approved zoning compliance permit is required for all accessory buildings”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for Perry city construction
• Inspections — Building inspection for new construction inside Perry city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Perry city
• Minimum dwelling size — Placeholder – not used
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage for land inside Perry 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.