Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Vassar, Michigan

Vassar’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Dwellings inside Vassar city

  • The zoning chapter refers to codes adopted by the city; the specific code editions were not located.
  • Stricter federal or state construction standards control where they apply.

  “The dwelling unit shall comply with all applicable building, electrical, plumbing, fire, energy, and other similar codes adopted by the city”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Vassar city limits

  • Chapter 86 of the city code is the zoning chapter; districts include RA-1, RA-2, RM-1, RM-2 and MH.

  “The dwelling unit shall comply with all restrictions and requirements of this chapter, including, without limitation, the minimum lot area”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Tiny house PUD dwellings (RA-1, RA-2, RM-1, RM-2) in Vassar city; RA-1/RA-2 conventional minimums not retrieved

  • Main floor maximum 700 sq ft; total floor area capped at 1,200 sq ft.

  tiny house total square footage: 500 to 1,200 sq ft

  “has a total square footage of between 500 and 1,200;”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Tiny house PUD lots in Vassar city; RA-1/RA-2 standards not retrieved

  • Minimum lot width 18 ft, depth 50 ft.

  minimum lot area per dwelling unit: >= 1200 sq ft (maximum 3,000 sq ft)

  “the minimum lot area per dwelling unit shall be of 1,200 square feet. maximum lot area per dwelling unit shall be 3,000 square feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Tiny house PUD in Vassar city; RA-1/RA-2 setbacks not retrieved

  • Rear and side yards also ten feet; ten feet between tiny houses in clusters.

  front yard: 10 ft

  “The front yard setback for tiny housing developments shall be ten feet.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Tiny house PUD in Vassar city; RA-1/RA-2 coverage not retrieved

  • Subsection (h)(1) separately caps building coverage at 60 percent; the two provisions are not reconciled in the text.

  structure coverage: <= 40 percent (porches and drives 60 percent)

  “maximum lot coverage 40 percent for structure, porches and drives 60 percent.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Tiny house PUD in Vassar city; RA-1/RA-2 height not retrieved

  • Pitched roof ridge may reach 23 ft (4:12 pitch) or 28 ft (6:12 pitch); parts above 18 ft must be pitched.

  height limit: <= 18 ft (pitched ridge up to 23 or 28 ft)

  “the height limit permitted for structures in tiny housing developments shall be 18 feet.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Stored or parked recreational vehicles on private lots inside Vassar city

  • Occupancy for living purposes and fixed water, gas or sewer connections barred, except under a temporary use permit under section 86-164 (not opened).
  • Parking only in rear or side yard behind the front building line on a hard surface, 10 ft from structures and 3 ft from lot lines; 72 hours in front yard for loading/cleaning.

  front yard parking limit: <= 72 hours (loading, unloading, maintenance)

  “At no time, shall any stored, parked, or placed recreational vehicles and/or recreational equipment be occupied or used for living purposes.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping in the city's Riverside Park; private-lot camping is covered by the RV living-purposes bar in Sec. 86-155

  • Permit and fee required; 14 days aggregate per season except designated areas; not a permanent residence.

  “a person shall not camp without a camping permit issued by an authorized representative of the city.”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Tiny houses in Vassar city

  • Only as a tiny house planned unit development in RA-1, RA-2, RM-1, RM-2, with minimum four houses per development; permanent foundation, 500-1,200 sq ft, connected to water or well and sewer or septic.

  “is only permitted as part of a planned unit development (pud).”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes on lots outside manufactured housing developments in Vassar city

  • HUD-code certification; wheels and tongue removed; permanent foundation; minimum 20 ft horizontal dimension; roof pitch at least 4:12; 120 sq ft storage; must meet district lot, floor area, yard, coverage and height rules.

  “any manufactured single-family dwelling, constructed and erected on a lot outside a manufactured housing development, shall be permitted only if it complies with all of the following requirements:”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Vassar city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Vassar city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Vassar city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Vassar city
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units in Vassar city

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.