Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Taylor, Michigan

Taylor’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction and alteration inside Taylor city

  • Interior cosmetic work (painting, replacing tile, carpeting) does not require a permit.
  • Interior work with a structural change requires a permit.
  • No work can be started until a permit has been issued.
  • Plan review (3 sets of plans plus digital copy) applies to new construction, additions, accessory structures.

  “in general, exterior work, fence, siding, windows, roofing, and concrete require a permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Taylor city

  • Page lists 2015 Michigan codes and 2017 National Electric Code; the page may not reflect later state code updates.
  • Department enforces the state of Michigan construction codes and local ordinances.

  “the city of taylor building department has adopted the following: 2015 michigan residential code, 2012 international property maintenance code, 2015 michigan building code”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted work inside Taylor city

  • Some permits require multiple inspections.
  • A permit is required before an inspection can be done.

  “if a permit is required, an inspection will be needed to approve the work.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New or altered buildings and any change of ownership inside Taylor city

  • Any change of ownership requires a certificate of occupancy.
  • Certificates are non-transferable and valid for as long as the owner owns the property.
  • Cited as Zoning Ordinance Sec. 25.06.

  “no building or structure, or part thereof, which is hereafter erected or altered, shall be occupied or used or the same caused to be done, unless and until a certificate of occupancy has been issued for such building or structure.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Taylor city; the city administers its own zoning ordinance (Appendix A of its Code of Ordinances)

  • Council agenda shows rezonings of parcels such as R-1C (single family residential) to I-1 (light industrial).

  “a zoning ordinance to amend appendix a, city of taylor, michigan, code of ordinances, regulating the development and use of land”

• Permit feesPublished

  Building permits inside Taylor city

  • Permit, plan review and inspection fee schedules are on the city Form Center; only the zoning review fee amounts were read.
  • Zoning review fee is exempt for removal and replacement of existing roofing, siding, windows or concrete.
  • Plan review fees are non-refundable and mostly based on construction value.

  residential zoning review fee: 50 USD (commercial $125 to $500 by project acreage)

  “all building/zoning permit applications received through the building department are subject to a zoning review fee (zrf).”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permit applications inside Taylor city

  • Plans receive review of approximately two weeks.
  • Contractor license must be registered at the department to pull permits.

  “completed applications are processed at the municipal building at 23555 goddard road.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Taylor city
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Taylor city
• Minimum dwelling size — R-1 district dwellings inside Taylor city
• Minimum lot size — Single-family residential districts inside Taylor city
• Setbacks — Single-family residential districts inside Taylor 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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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