Orion Township, Michigan zoning

A plain-language summary of the Orion Township zoning ordinance, organized by district and topic. Source: the official ordinance on township-hosted per-article PDFs (revize CMS), last reviewed July 2, 2026.

Zoning districts

• SFResidential

  Suburban Farms

  Suburban Farms is the township's largest-lot residential district, 2.5 acre minimum lots with agriculture and farm stands allowed alongside homes.

• SEResidential

  Suburban Estates

  Suburban Estates is a semi-rural residential district on 1.5 acre minimum lots, sharing the Suburban Farms use pattern including agriculture.

• SRResidential

  Suburban Ranch

  Suburban Ranch is a semi-rural residential district on 30,000 square foot minimum lots, the smallest of the three suburban districts.

• R-1Residential

  Single Family Residential (R-1)

  R-1 Single Family Residential is the township's standard detached-home district, 14,000 square foot minimum lots. Undesignated areas on the zoning map default to R-1.

• R-2Residential

  Single Family Residential (R-2)

  R-2 Single Family Residential allows detached homes on 10,800 square foot lots where public sewers are available.

• R-3Residential

  Single Family Residential (R-3)

  R-3 Single Family Residential is the township's smallest-lot detached-home district, 8,400 square feet where public sewers are available.

• RM-1Residential

  Multiple Family Residential (RM-1)

  RM-1 Multiple Family Residential hosts apartments, townhouses, and 2- to 4-unit buildings at up to 6 units per acre on sites of at least 5 acres.

• RM-2Residential

  Multiple Family Residential (RM-2)

  RM-2 Multiple Family Residential is the township's denser multiple-family district, up to 8 units per acre on sites of at least 5 acres.

• MHPResidential

  Mobile Home Park

  Mobile Home Park is the district for planned mobile home communities on sites of at least 15 acres.

• OPCommercial

  Office & Professional

  Office & Professional hosts offices, medical uses, and research and design centers; retail is limited to convenience uses serving the district.

• RBCommercial

  Restricted Business

  Restricted Business is the neighborhood-scale commercial district for day-to-day retail and services, with single-tenant buildings capped at 20,000 square feet.

• GBCommercial

  General Business

  General Business is the township's regional commercial district; single-tenant retail is capped at 55,000 square feet unless approved as a special use.

• LIIndustrial

  Limited Industrial

  Limited Industrial hosts light manufacturing, warehousing, and wholesale uses whose external effects stay within the district.

• IPIndustrial

  Industrial Park

  Industrial Park provides for industrial subdivisions and stand-alone industrial development in a park-like setting, with uses similar to Limited Industrial.

• ICIndustrial

  Industrial Complex

  Industrial Complex is built for a single large-scale manufacturing or assembly campus of 400 acres or more, with a 120 foot height allowance.

• RFYIndustrial

  Railroad Freight Yard

  Railroad Freight Yard permits railroad freight yards and rail-served manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics uses on sites of at least 40 acres.

• SP-1Mixed use

  Special Purpose 1

  Special Purpose 1 preserves one-of-a-kind mixed residential and commercial developments, often in converted farm buildings, on sites of at least 10 acres.

• SP-2Special purpose

  Special Purpose 2

  Special Purpose 2 is for large industrial or commercial facilities not provided for in other districts, on sites of at least 10 acres with 150 foot setbacks.

• REC-1Special purpose

  Recreation 1

  Recreation 1 provides for indoor recreational facilities in enclosed buildings near residential areas.

• REC-2Special purpose

  Recreation 2

  Recreation 2 provides for primarily outdoor recreational uses that preserve open space, on sites from 2 to 175 acres.

• BIZMixed use

  Brown Road Innovation Zone

  Brown Road Innovation Zone allows mixed industrial and commercial development under its own Article XXXIV standards in the Brown Road area.

Rules by topic

• Permitted usesWhat you can do by right in each zoning district.
• Special land usesUses that need special approval before they are allowed.
• SetbacksHow far buildings must sit from property lines.
• Building heightHeight limits by district, and the exceptions.
• Lot coverageHow much of a lot buildings may cover.
• Lot size and widthMinimum lot area and width requirements.
• ParkingRequired spaces, driveway rules, and surfaces.
• Accessory dwelling unitsWhether a second dwelling unit is allowed.
• Garages, sheds, and accessory structuresSize caps, setbacks, and height limits for detached structures.
• FencesHeight limits, placement, and prohibited materials.
• SignsWhat signs are allowed and where.
• Home occupationsRunning a business from a residence.
• Variances and appealsWho decides, what standard applies, and the sequence.

Common questions

• Can I build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or in-law suite in Orion Township?
• Can I rent my house on Airbnb in Orion Township?
• Can I build a duplex in Orion Township?
• Can I keep chickens in Orion Township?
• Can I park an RV or boat at my house in Orion Township?
• Can I put a 6 foot privacy fence on my property line in Orion Township?
• Can I run a business from my home in Orion Township?
• Do I need site plan review for my project in Orion Township?
• Do I need special approval for a drive-thru in Orion Township?
• What are the fence rules for a corner lot in Orion Township?