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

Hanover Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Hanover township limits: the township adopted the Wexford Joint Zoning Ordinance, administered by the Wexford Joint Planning Commission (WJPC).

  • The joint ordinance was adopted by the Hanover township board on December 12, 2016 and became effective December 31, 2016 in Hanover township.
  • The township's own contacts page directs zoning questions to the WJPC zoning and planning administrator, not to a township office.
  • Zoning administration is by WJPC; the rule itself is the township's adopted ordinance text.

  “this ordinance was adopted by the township board of the township of hanover, wexford county, michigan, at a meeting held on december 12, 2016 and a notice of publication ordered published in the cadillac evening news, a newspaper having general circulation in said township, as required by the zoning act. this ordinance became effective on december 31, 2016 in this township.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning map for Hanover township under the Wexford Joint Zoning Ordinance

  • A Hanover township zoning map is included in the joint ordinance and listed on the WJPC site as a detail map.
  • The district names and boundaries were not read from the map or the district article.

  “representation of hanover township zoning map”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots created in subdivisions or condominiums under the joint ordinance lot-design standards in Hanover township. Not confirmed as the district minimum for existing or individually platted parcels.

  • If the lot will be served by a public sanitary sewer system, the minimum lot area is 12,000 square feet.
  • The 15,000 sq ft default applies to lots not served by public sanitary sewer; the Land Division Act or Condominium Act may impose stricter requirements.
  • Minimum depth of 100 feet and frontage/width rules also appear in the same lot-design standard; the lot must not diminish below 75 feet wide at 50 feet from the front lot line.

  minimum lot area, served by public sanitary sewer: 12000 square feet (applies when lot is served by public sanitary sewer) · minimum lot area, not sewer-served: 15000 square feet (unless land division or condominium act is more stringent)

  “if the lot will be served by a public sanitary sewer system the minimum lot area shall be 12,000 square feet.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Storage of temporary dwellings and recreational vehicles on parcels in Hanover township under the Wexford Joint Zoning Ordinance. This text governs storage of RVs, not living in an RV full-time.

  • Storage must be on a parcel on which a principal dwelling exists.
  • Storage must be inside a building or in the rear or side yard of the owner's dwelling in residential districts (any yard or in a building in other districts).
  • Storage must meet the required setback for the district, unless on a gravel or paved driveway.
  • Unoccupied parking or storage of temporary dwellings on a road or front yard is prohibited (ordinance text, same section).
  • If electric service is provided to the parcel, the trailer or temporary dwelling is treated as a permanent structure and must comply with section 1080 or is not permitted (per the same section).

  “storage of temporary dwellings, recreational vehicles, trailers, etc. shall: a. only be on a parcel on which exists a principal dwelling and; b. inside a building or in the rear or side yard of the owner's dwelling in residential districts and in any yard or in a building in other districts; and c. set back the required distance for the respective land use district, unless stored on a gravel or paved driveway. unoccupied parking or storage of temporary dwellings on a road or front yard is prohibited.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary camping or recreation on a parcel in Hanover township under the Wexford Joint Zoning Ordinance

  • Temporary recreation on a non-commercial, no-rental basis by tourists, campers and sportsmen is limited to 90 days per calendar year in residential districts and 180 days in other districts.
  • The same provision lists campgrounds licensed by the Michigan Department of Public Health as a separate permitted use; the start of that list was not retrieved.
  • Unoccupied storage of temporary dwellings on a road or front yard is prohibited.

  temporary recreation period, residential districts: 90 days per calendar year · temporary recreation period, other districts: 180 days per calendar year

  “as temporary recreation on a non-commercial/no rental basis by tourists, campers and sportsmen on public land where such activity is allowed by state or federal regulations or on one's own land not to exceed a period of ninety 90 days in a calendar year in residential districts, and180 days in other districts.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions inside Hanover township under the joint ordinance lot-design standards

  • Lands that do not qualify as buildable area are treated as uninhabitable.
  • The ordinance's lot-design standards cover corner lots, lot lines, depth-to-width ratio (no more than three times width) and minimum area, and reference the Land Division Act and Condominium Act.

  “2. lot lines: side lot lines shall intersect straight streets at an angle of not less than 70 degrees nor more than 110 degrees and shall be radial to curved streets. 3. width related to length: narrow deep lots shall be avoided. the depth of a lot shall not exceed three (3) times the width.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building inside Hanover township
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for land inside Hanover township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Hanover township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in Hanover township
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits in Hanover township

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.