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

Fairgrove Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Fairgrove township limits (Tuscola County, Michigan). Does not apply to the Village of Fairgrove, which is a separate municipality.

  • The township's official zoning page states it is a zoned community and that a zoning permit is needed before construction, including farm buildings.
  • The adopted zoning ordinance text was not opened in this research. A January 2022 zoning ordinance PDF hosted on energyzoning.org is marked Draft and was not confirmed as adopted, so it was not used as evidence.
  • Zoning administrator contact listed on the township page: Bruce Turner, 989-553-5315.

  “fairgrove township is a zoned community. it is necessary to obtain a zoning permit before beginning construction even if you are constructing a farm building.”

• Permit processPartial

  Permit process for construction inside Fairgrove township limits. The township issues the zoning permit; the Tuscola County building department issues the building permit.

  • Step 1: obtain a zoning permit from the township zoning administrator.
  • Step 2: obtain a building permit from the Tuscola County building department.
  • Fees, forms, and the inspection sequence were not found on an official page.

  “please contact bruce turner at 989-553-5315 to obtain a zoning permit.”

Rules another office applies inside Fairgrove Township

Fairgrove Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building permitRequired

  New construction inside Fairgrove township limits: a township zoning permit comes first, then a building permit from the Tuscola County building department.

  • Building permit issued by the Tuscola County building department after the township zoning permit is obtained (per the township page).
  • Construction may proceed only after permits are obtained.

  “you will need a zoning permit before you will be able to obtain a building permit from the tuscola county building department.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Fairgrove township limits, under the statewide Michigan construction codes.

  • The Michigan Building Code governs construction, alteration, use, occupancy and maintenance of buildings statewide.
  • One- and two-family dwellings are governed by the Michigan Residential Code, per the state page.
  • Specific code edition year not verified in this research.

  “the michigan building code controls all matters concerning the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy, and maintenance of all buildings and structures and their service equipment.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for a home inside Fairgrove township limits
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Fairgrove township limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Fairgrove township limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for Fairgrove township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for the main single-family residential district inside Fairgrove township 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.