Bolthole Index

Ingham County, Michigan

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

Aurelius Township, Michigan runs its own zoning and takes building permit applications at the township office12. Septic and well permits for every address in the township come from the Ingham County Health Department, not the township3. Township standards call for a 2-acre minimum lot and a 1,000-square-foot minimum dwelling45. We could not confirm the township's RV or tiny-home occupancy rules.

At a glance

Zoning
Township zoning ordinance, with a Zoning Board of Appeals for variances1
Building permit
Required in Michigan; applications go to the Aurelius Township office62
Minimum lot
2 acres, 165 feet wide on a street4
Minimum home size
1,000 square feet, not counting garage or basement5
Setbacks
83 feet from road centerline; 20 feet side; 35 feet rear7
Septic
Ingham County Health Department; $1,000 permit for a new system38
Well
Ingham County well permit, $4959
RV / tiny home
Not confirmed; 1,000 sq ft dwelling minimum applies5

Who to call

Building permits

Aurelius Township Office (building permits and zoning)

Township building permit applications, site approval by the zoning administrator, building inspections and zoning questions inside Aurelius Township

(517) 628-2093

1939 S. Aurelius Road, Mason, MI 48854

Septic permits

Ingham County Health Department - Environmental Health Division

Well and septic (on-site sewage) permits and land evaluations for every address in Ingham County, including Aurelius Township

(517) 887-4311

5303 S. Cedar Street, Lansing, MI 48911

Online permits →

Roads & driveways

Ingham County Road Department

Issues driveway permits onto county roads and maintains the county road system

(517) 676-9722

301 Bush Street, P.O. Box 38, Mason, MI 48854-0038

Also useful

Ingham County Drain Commission

Issues soil erosion and sedimentation control permits countywide, oversees county drains, and reviews proposed subdivision plats

(517) 676-8395

341 S. Jefferson, Mason, MI 48854

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Aurelius Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Does Aurelius Township have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Aurelius Township, in Ingham County, Michigan, administers its own zoning ordinance, and its Zoning Board of Appeals hears variance requests and zoning appeals1. The county does not set these rules inside the township.

No building or structure may be established on a parcel smaller than 2 acres, and the lot must be 165 feet wide with frontage on a street4. Lot coverage cannot exceed 25 percent10. Principal structures need 83 feet from the centerline of the road, 20 feet at the side and 35 feet at the rear7. Dwellings and non-farm structures top out at 35 feet high, while farm buildings may reach 95 feet11.

Do you need a building permit in Aurelius Township, and who issues it?

Michigan requires a written building permit application before construction of a building or structure6. In Aurelius Township the applicant presents the permit packet at the township office, along with a copy of the builder's license, the legal description of the lot and proof of land purchase122. A driveway culvert permit from the Ingham County Road Department comes first when the driveway is not already established12.

The published township packet covers pole barns and garages. For those, the garage permit fee is $260 and the barn permit fee is also $26013. Buildings for agricultural use need only a site inspection and plans, though electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits are still required as needed14. For a house, call the township office to confirm the application packet and fees; we did not find a published house fee schedule.

A new or altered building cannot be occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued15.

How do septic permits work in Aurelius Township?

Septic permits inside Aurelius Township are issued by Ingham County Environmental Health, not the township3. A new or repair permit for a residential septic system and drain field costs $1,0008. A new well permit costs $4959, and the combined well and septic permit is listed at $1,35516.

Soils matter here. Only about 1.2% of Ingham County soils are rated not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system17. The county lists a vacant land evaluation for lot and soil checks at $50018. A septic system or well also needs inspection and approval before a home changes hands19.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Aurelius Township?

We could not confirm Aurelius Township's rules on RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny homes. Ask the township Zoning Administrator at the township office before parking an RV on a lot or buying land for a tiny home.

What the township does publish is its dwelling standard. Any residential dwelling must have at least 1,000 square feet of floor area, not counting garages or basements5. Mobile homes and pre-manufactured units must also sit on a permanent 42-inch frost-free foundation, with wheels and towing gear removed or concealed20. A small tiny home would fall below that floor-area minimum.

Building a home in Aurelius Township: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel meets the 2-acre and 165-foot minimums4.
  2. Get a well and septic evaluation and permits from Ingham County Environmental Health8.
  3. Get a driveway permit from the Ingham County Road Department if the driveway is new21.
  4. Get a soil erosion permit or waiver from the Ingham County Drain Commission22.
  5. Stake the building on the lot and send the site plan to the township office for site approval by the zoning administrator2.
  6. Submit the building permit application, builder's license and proof of purchase to the township office12.
  7. Schedule inspections, then request a Certificate of Occupancy15.

What stays with Ingham County, and what to check before you buy

Septic, wells and driveway permits stay with Ingham County, whatever the township decides321. A driveway onto a state highway needs an MDOT permit instead23. Michigan lets a person who builds a home for their own use and occupancy on their own property skip the residential builder license, but building permits still apply24; the township's packet asks for a builder's license copy, so ask the office how it treats owner-builders2.

The county-wide numbers: effective property tax rate of 1.9%25. Land outside the township follows different rules; see the Ingham County page.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Aurelius Township rules on RV living, temporary camping, accessory dwellings, short-term rentals or floodplain building; call the township office before you buy2.
  • The township packet's lot, setback and height figures are quoted from its pole barn and garage packet; ask the zoning administrator which district your parcel falls in before relying on them7.
  • A septic or well inspection and approval is required before a home sale closes, so sellers and buyers should plan for it19.

Sources

  1. Zoning Board of Appeals – Aurelius Township (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Aurelius Township Office (building permits and zoning) (aureliustwp.org)
  3. Ingham County Health Department Permits & Licensing (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Aurelius Township Pole Barn/Garage Permit Packet (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Aurelius Township Pole Barn/Garage Permit Packet (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, MCL 125.1510 (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Aurelius Township Pole Barn/Garage Permit Packet (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Ingham County Health Department Permits & Licensing (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Ingham County Health Department Permits & Licensing (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  10. Aurelius Township Pole Barn/Garage Permit Packet (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Aurelius Township Pole Barn/Garage Permit Packet (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Aurelius Township Pole Barn/Garage Permit Packet (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Aurelius Township Pole Barn/Garage Permit Packet (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Aurelius Township Pole Barn/Garage Permit Packet (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Michigan Certificate of Occupancy Request (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. Permits & Licensing, quoted and re-checked
  17. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Welcome to Ingham County Health Department — Permits & Licensing, quoted and re-checked
  19. Ingham County Environmental Health (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  20. Aurelius Township Pole Barn/Garage Permit Packet (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  21. Aurelius Township Pole Barn/Garage Permit Packet (Aurelius Township), quoted and re-checked
  22. Ingham County Drain Commission (ingham.org)
  23. Infrastructure permits, quoted and re-checked
  24. Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder (RB), quoted and re-checked
  25. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 23, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Aurelius Township

Aurelius Township’s own rules

  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted pole barns and garages inside Aurelius Township.

    • The permit must be displayed at the site for the building inspector.

    requested inspection unable to be completed fee: 65 USD (Applies where the requested inspection cannot be completed.)

    “AN ADDITIONAL $65 FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR REQUESTED INSPECTIONS THAT CANNOT BE COMPLETED. [...] A permit, which is also your receipt, should be prominently displayed at the site for the use of the Building Inspector. All inspections will be strictly enforced.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Aurelius Township, Michigan.

    • The township Zoning Board of Appeals handles ordinance interpretations, variances, and appeals.
    “Hears and decides all questions that arise in administration of the zoning ordinance. The zoning board of appeals makes interpretations of the zoning ordinance, hears variance requests, hears appeals from administrative determinations by zoning officials or bodies, and other matters assigned by the zoning ordinance.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Residential dwelling units inside Aurelius Township covered by the township dwelling standards.

    • Garages and basements are excluded from floor-area measurement.

    minimum building floor area: >= 1000 square feet (Exclusive of garages or basements.)

    “No residential dwelling unit shall have less than one thousand (1000) square feet of floor area, exclusive of garages or basements.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Parcels on which a building or structure is established inside Aurelius Township.

    • The packet also gives a minimum lot width of 165 feet with principal frontage on a street.

    minimum lot area: >= 2 acres · minimum lot width: >= 165 feet (Must have principal frontage on a street.)

    “MINIMUM LOT AREA: No building or structure shall be established on any parcel less than two (2) acres in area. MINIMUM LOT WIDTH: The minimum lot width shall be one hundred and sixty five (165) feet having principal frontage on a street.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Principal structures inside Aurelius Township covered by the township Lot and Dwelling Standards.

    • On corner lots, the side yard on a public-street side cannot be less than the front-yard setback; livestock/feed/manure structures must be at least 50 feet from a lot line.

    front yard setback: >= 83 feet (Measured from centerline of a public street or roadway.) · side yard setback: >= 20 feet (Corner-lot public-street side must meet front-yard setback.) · rear yard setback: >= 35 feet

    “Front Yard: Eighty-three (83) feet from the centerline of a public street or roadway. Side Yard: Twenty (20) feet except in the case of a corner lot where the side yard on a public street side shall not be less than the setback required for the front yard. Rear Yard: Thirty-five (35) feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Lots inside Aurelius Township covered by the township Lot and Dwelling Standards.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 25 percent

    “MAXIMUM LOT COVERAGE: The maximum lot coverage shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Dwellings and structures inside Aurelius Township covered by the township Dwelling Standards.

    • General and specialized farm buildings and structures may be up to 95 feet high.

    maximum dwelling and non-farm structure height: <= 35 feet · maximum general and specialized farm building height: <= 95 feet

    “For dwelling and non-farm structures, height shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet For general and specialized farm buildings and structures, height shall not exceed ninety-five (95) feet.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile homes, pre-manufactured units, and single-titled units placed on private property inside Aurelius Township.

    • The unit must be designed and used exclusively for residential purposes; the packet also requires a permanent 42-inch frost-free foundation and removal or concealment of wheels, blocks, skids, jacks, undercarriages, or towing mechanisms.

    minimum dwelling floor area: >= 1000 square feet (Exclusive of garages or basements.)

    “Any building, mobile home, pre-manufactured unit or single titled unit which is designed and used exclusively for residential purposes and placed on private property must meet the following standards:”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Buildings for agricultural use inside Aurelius Township.

    • A site inspection and plans are required; electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits remain required as needed.
    “AGRICULTURAL: Buildings for Agricultural use are required to have a site inspection and plans submitted only. Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing permits are required as needed.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Construction of a driveway within Aurelius Township.

    • The permit must be obtained from the Ingham County Board of Road Commissioners before construction begins; private roads serving more than one lot or more than one residential structure are excluded from the ordinance's driveway definition.

    minimum driveway width: >= 12 feet · minimum overhead clearance: >= 14 feet (Above driveway grade.)

    “All persons constructing or contracting for the construction of a driveway within Aurelius Township shall obtain a driveway permit from the Ingham County Board of Road Commissioners (Ingham County Road Commission) prior to commencement of construction. [...] Minimum width to be twelve (12) feet. Minimum overhead clearance to be fourteen (14) feet above the driveway grad at all points.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Pole-barn and garage building permits inside Aurelius Township.

    • The listed charges are in the township pole-barn/garage packet.

    garage permit fee: 260 USD (Attached or otherwise.) · barn permit fee: 260 USD (Any size.)

    “Charges will be made as follows: Garage, either attached or otherwise - $260.00 Barn---any size - $260.00”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Pole-barn and garage permits inside Aurelius Township.

    • Applicant must apply for and secure a culvert permit if the driveway is not already established; site approval, soil-erosion permit/waiver, application packet, builder license, legal description, and proof of land purchase are specified in the packet.
    “Step 4. Present to the Township Office: 1. A completed Building Permit Application Packet. 2. A Culvert Permit and receipt for payment from ICRD (if applicable). 3. A copy of the builder’s license. 4. A copy of the legal description of the lot and proof of purchase of land.”

Rules another office applies inside Aurelius Township

Aurelius 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 code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside Aurelius Township under the statewide Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code.

    • One- and two-family dwelling provisions are included in the Michigan Residential Code.
    “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. Presently, provisions for one- and two-family dwellings are included in the Michigan Residential Code.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New or altered buildings inside Aurelius Township subject to Michigan construction-code enforcement.

    • The permit holder or authorized agent must make a written request at project completion; all fees must be paid, permits finaled, and work completed under the permit, code, and other applicable laws and ordinances.
    “A new building or a building that is altered shall not be used or occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the code official.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    On-site septic systems inside Aurelius Township, which is within Ingham County.

    • County Environmental Health administers the water-supply and on-site-septic programs.
    “Water Supply Well and On-Site Septic Disposal Programs”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New or repaired residential or commercial septic systems and drain fields inside Aurelius Township.

    • Alternative on-site sewage-system plan review is listed separately at $400; septic-tank-only permits are listed at $455.

    new or repair septic permit fee: 1000 USD (Residential or commercial septic and drain field.)

    “Septic Permit | New or repair permit for residential or commercial septic (and drain field) | $1,000.00”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    On-site sewage treatment systems and water wells inside Aurelius Township when ownership is transferred.

    • The stated inspection-and-approval requirement is triggered before a transfer of home ownership.
    “Inspection and approval of all on-site sewage treatment and/or water well systems before a transfer of home ownership can occur”
  • Well permitRequired

    Construction or alteration of a private residential, type II, or type III well inside Aurelius Township.

    well permit fee: 495 USD (Private residential, type II, or type III well.)

    “Well Permit | Permit to construct or alter a private residential, type II, or type III well | $495.00”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Aurelius Township.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Aurelius Township.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Aurelius Township.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Aurelius Township.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Aurelius Township.
5 more unanswered
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Subdividing land
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Aurelius Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Ingham County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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