What changes a site plan in Michigan
Five Michigan conditions decide how a plan is drawn and in what order the approvals come.
A compliant plan must be approved. Under MCL 125.3501(5), "a site plan shall be approved if it contains the information required by the zoning ordinance and is in compliance" with the ordinance and the other requirements it names [1]. A complete plan set mapped to each ordinance requirement is therefore the developer's strongest position at review.
Zoning comes before EGLE. EGLE requires tentative zoning approval before it issues a campground construction permit, so the local site plan is the gate to the state permit [2].
The erosion permit is the stormwater permit. Under Permit-by-Rule, a Part 91 soil erosion and sedimentation control permit supplies construction stormwater coverage for sites of 1 to 5 acres [5, 6]. The Part 91 trigger reaches work within 500 ft of a lake or stream as well as sites of 1 acre or more, so a waterfront RV resort can need a permit on less than an acre [3, 6].
Campground geometry is set by the state. EGLE's October 2025 New Campground Guidance sets a 1,200 sq ft minimum campsite with 15 ft of road frontage unless the site is walk-in, and campground roads at least 20 ft wide [2]. R 325.1556 adds that a site holds at most 8 persons and 1 recreational unit [7].
Seal limits set by floor area and cost. Unlicensed persons may design detached one- and two-family residences of up to 3,500 sq ft of calculated floor area, and a seal is not required for a public work costing less than $15,000 [8, 9]. Basements, finished or not, are not counted in calculated floor area (Attorney General Opinion 7208) [10].
Approval layers: township, city or village, county and state
"The local unit of government may require the submission and approval of a site plan before authorization of a land use or activity regulated by a zoning ordinance," and the ordinance must name the body or official who reviews it (MCL 125.3501(1)) [1].
| Layer | Who acts | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Township, city or village | The body or official the zoning ordinance names | Site plan review under the ordinance (MCL 125.3501(1)) [1] |
| Special land uses and PUDs | The same local body | Site plan review is mandatory (MCL 125.3501(3)) [1] |
| Soil erosion | The county or local Part 91 agency | SESC permit, generally at 1 acre or within 500 ft of a lake or stream [3] |
| Construction stormwater | EGLE | Permit-by-Rule under Rule 2190 of Part 31 [5] |
| Campgrounds | EGLE, under Part 125 of the Public Health Code (1978 PA 368) | Construction permit before building, license to operate [11, 12] |
Decisions must rest on the standards in the ordinance and other properly adopted documents and statutes (§ 125.3501(4)) [1]. The approved plan becomes part of the record, and later changes need the agreement of the landowner and the approving body (§ 125.3501(2)) [1]. Site plan plus special land use is the usual Michigan path: when Warren paused new car washes and gas stations in 2026, its notice froze "new site plan applications, special land use applications, or other zoning approvals" [13].
Who prepares and seals what
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Residential exemption | Unlicensed persons may design detached 1- and 2-family residences up to 3,500 sq ft of calculated floor area, licensed adult foster care homes excluded (MCL 339.2012(1)(d)) [8] |
| Filing exemption | No seal for a public work costing less than $15,000, or for a residential building of up to 3,500 sq ft of calculated floor area (MCL 339.2014(e)) [9] |
| Basements | Not included in calculated floor area, finished or not (Attorney General Opinion 7208) [10] |
| Owner exemption | An owner's own building to which employees and the public lack general access (MCL 339.2012(1)(c)) [8] |
| Campground construction permit | Plans prepared and sealed by an engineer or architect registered in Michigan, with written as-built verification before the first license [4, 7] |
| Campground submittal | Engineered plans through MiEHDWIS, and a construction permit before work starts [12, 14] |
The zoning-stage site plan carries what the local ordinance requires (MCL 125.3501(1)) [1]. That is where the preliminary site plan works: an unsealed first draft of the layout, buildings, roads, parking, pads, sites and yield, organised with a site data table. Howell Township reviewed a preliminary site plan for an outdoor storage yard in its Industrial Flex zone at the concept stage, a plan dated March 25, 2025 and reviewed April 15, 2025 [15]. For a campground, the engineer or architect of record then builds the sealed EGLE construction set on the preliminary plan [4]; grading, drainage, stormwater, water and sewer design belong to that engineer. Who prepares a site plan explains the division of work.
Statewide overlays
| Overlay | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Building code | 2021 Michigan Building Code (2021 IBC), filed December 10, 2024 and effective April 9, 2025 [16] |
| Soil erosion | A Part 91 SESC permit generally for 1 acre or more, or within 500 ft of a lake or stream [3] |
| Construction stormwater, 1 to 5 acres | Permit-by-Rule (Rule 2190, Part 31): coverage is automatic once the Part 91 permit is issued [5, 17] |
| Construction stormwater, 5 acres or more | A Notice of Coverage through MiWaters with the SESC permit, the plan, a location map and a $400 fee [5, 17] |
| Inspections | Weekly, and after storms (within 24 hours), by a certified stormwater operator [5, 17] |
The concept plan's disturbed acreage, and its distance to the nearest lake or stream, settle which of those rows applies [3, 5].
Asset rules that reach the plan
Campgrounds and RV parks. Michigan regulates RV parks as campgrounds under Part 125, MCL 333.12501 to 333.12516, and the rules at R 325.1551 et seq. [11]. The Michigan RV park page carries the full layout detail; the rules that reach a state-level concept are these.
| Rule | Standard |
|---|---|
| License | Required for 5 or more sites or recreational units; a construction permit is required before construction, and building without one is a misdemeanor [11, 12] |
| License term | Expires December 31 of every third year, provided the annual renewal fee is paid [11] |
| Campsite | 1,200 sq ft minimum with 15 ft of road frontage unless walk-in [2] |
| Roads | At least 20 ft wide [2] |
| Site count | Sites are limited to the licensed count (R 325.1556(8)) [7] |
| Separation | A 4 ft unobstructed path, the "four-foot rule" of EGLE policy EQ0106 (12/2025) [18] |
| Primitive campgrounds | A potable water outlet and privies for every 25 sites; privies 50 ft from the site boundary (R 325.1556a) [19] |
| Group camping areas | No more than one unit connected to an outlet (R 325.1556b(1)) [20] |
| Accessory structures | Policy DWEHD-368-125-002 (12/2025) governs sheds, decks and three-season rooms under R 325.1556, and bars footings below grade on licensed campsites [18] |
| Cabins | Cabins under 400 sq ft on skids with no direct water connection are treated as campground units; a direct water connection disqualifies that treatment [21] |
| Temporary campgrounds | At most 2 weeks, or 4 weeks with an extension [22] |
| Fixtures | Primitive sites served by an adjacent modern service building add one toilet and one lavatory per sex for every 50 sites, and campgrounds of more than 520 sites add fixtures in increments [23] |
Campground fees. EGLE's construction permit fee is $965 for a new campground and $360 for an addition or modification, per its fees page and its New Campground Guidance [4, 2]. The annual license runs from $119 for 5 to 25 sites to $804 for 501 or more, with a $110 late fee [4].
Car washes and gas stations. Warren approved a moratorium of up to 8 months on car washes and gas stations on May 19, 2026, exempting complete prior applications, with a zoning rewrite to follow, citing 69 gas stations and 25 car washes in 35 sq mi [13, 24, 25]. Gas pumps may still be added to an existing station with site plan approval [13].
Industrial outdoor storage. Howell's Zoning Section 5.13 allows outdoor storage of commercial equipment and vehicles only in the I-1 and I-2 districts, behind at least an 8 ft fence or wall or a double staggered row of 8 ft evergreens at 80% opacity, with no front-yard storage and a 50 ft setback from non-industrial lines and perimeter roads [26]. The storage area is paved and curbed, and semi-trailers may not serve as storage beyond 7 consecutive days except at freight or truck yards [26].
Layout standards by class sit on the asset pages for campgrounds, glamping, car washes, gas stations and industrial outdoor storage; glamping and campground regulations by state compares Michigan's cabin rule with other states.
Law changes, 2024 to 2026
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| December 10, 2024 | The 2021 Michigan Building Code is filed [16] |
| April 9, 2025 | The 2021 Michigan Building Code takes effect on the 2021 IBC base [16] |
| October 2025 | EGLE issues its New Campground Guidance on site size and roads [2] |
| December 2025 | EGLE policy DWEHD-368-125-002 on structures on licensed campsites [18] |
| May 19, 2026 | Warren's car wash and gas station moratorium is approved [13] |
What the preliminary plan carries in Michigan
For a Michigan parcel the studio draws the whole project short of engineering: buildings and floor plans, internal roads, parking, pads, campsites and units, with the yield. The site data table maps the plan to each item the zoning ordinance requires, because MCL 125.3501(5) turns on that information [1]. On a campground it shows each site against the 1,200 sq ft and 15 ft frontage minimums and the roads against the 20 ft width [2]. It also states disturbed acreage and the distance to water against the Part 91 triggers [3]. Preliminary versus final site plan follows the plan from township review to the sealed EGLE set, and a 3D rendering shows a planning commission the layout in context.
Michigan borders Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin; the service areas index lists every state the studio covers.
Frequently asked questions
Is site plan approval discretionary in Michigan?
No. Under MCL 125.3501(5) a site plan that contains the information the zoning ordinance requires and complies with it shall be approved [1].
When is site plan review mandatory in Michigan?
For special land uses and planned unit developments (MCL 125.3501(3)) [1].
Can a non-architect design a house in Michigan?
Yes, a detached one- or two-family residence of up to 3,500 sq ft of calculated floor area, under MCL 339.2012(1)(d) [8].
Do basements count toward Michigan's 3,500 sq ft calculated floor area?
No. Attorney General Opinion 7208 excludes basements, finished or not [10].
When is a Michigan soil erosion permit needed?
Generally for 1 acre or more of disturbance, or for work within 500 ft of a lake or stream [3].
When is a Notice of Coverage required for Michigan construction stormwater?
At 5 acres or more, filed through MiWaters with the soil erosion permit, the plan, a location map and a $400 fee [5].
What is the minimum campsite size in Michigan?
1,200 sq ft with 15 ft of road frontage unless the site is walk-in, per EGLE's October 2025 New Campground Guidance [2].
Which building code applies in Michigan?
The 2021 Michigan Building Code, based on the 2021 IBC and effective April 9, 2025 [16].
Sources
- 1)MCL 125.3501, Michigan Zoning Enabling Act § 501 (site plan), Michigan Legislature. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 2)New Campground Guidance (October 2025), Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 3)Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permits and Storm Water Permit Activities, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 4)Campground construction permits and licenses (permit and license fees), Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 5)Construction Stormwater Program Overview, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 6)Construction Storm Water Program Introduction, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 7)Mich. Admin. Code R 325.1556, campsites, EGLE campground rules (text via Cornell LII). Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 8)MCL 339.2012, exemptions from licensure, Michigan Legislature. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 9)MCL 339.2014, filing of plans without a seal, Michigan Legislature. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 10)Opinion No. 7208, Michigan Attorney General. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 11)Part 125, Campgrounds, Public Health Code (1978 PA 368), Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 12)Starting a campground in Michigan, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 13)Moratorium on Car Washes and Gasoline Stations, City of Warren. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 14)Campgrounds and Temporary Campgrounds, Marquette County Health Department. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 15)Site Plan Review for Howell Township, Michigan (Planning Commission addendum), Howell Township. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 16)Part 4, Building Code rules (2021 Michigan Building Code), Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 17)Soil Erosion, City of Portage. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 18)Policy DWEHD-368-125-002, Structures on Licensed Campsites (EQ0106, 12/2025), Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 19)Mich. Admin. Code R 325.1556a, primitive campgrounds; privies; potable water, EGLE campground rules (text via Cornell LII). Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 20)Mich. Admin. Code R 325.1556b, group camping areas, EGLE campground rules (text via Cornell LII). Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 21)Cabins and park models in Michigan campgrounds, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 22)Temporary campgrounds, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 23)Campground rules, fixture schedule (Michigan Administrative Code), Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Administrative Rules. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 24)Why Warren just banned new car washes and gas stations, WDIV ClickOnDetroit. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 25)Warren pumps the brakes on new gas stations and car washes with 8-month moratorium, WXYZ. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- 26)Zoning Section 5.13, Outdoor Storage of Commercial/Industrial Equipment and Vehicles, City of Howell (American Legal Publishing). Accessed 2026-10-10.