Permitted uses in Orion Township, MI

Permitted by right in Suburban Farms (Section 5.01): single-family detached dwellings, agriculture and farming including livestock and poultry, mobile homes meeting the dwelling standards of Section 5.02.K, Planned Unit Developments under Section 30.03, and family day care and foster care homes.

Permitted accessory uses include a garage for up to three vehicles of the occupants, farm buildings and greenhouses, truck gardening, tree and shrub nurseries, private stables (2.5 acres for the first animal, one added acre per additional animal, 70 foot setbacks, Section 5.02.C), and home occupations under Section 27.02.B. Farm product stands (agribusiness sales) are allowed in the SF district only, on the farm that raises the product, in a building of up to 800 square feet set back 50 feet (Section 5.02.B).

One commercial vehicle may be parked per dwelling under the size and type limits of Section 5.02.A. A use not named in the list may be allowed only through the Planning Commission's similar-use determination (Section 27.02.E).

Suburban Estates shares the Suburban Farms use matrix (Section 5.01): single-family dwellings, agriculture and farming, qualifying mobile homes, PUDs, and family day care homes by right, with garages for up to three vehicles, farm buildings, private stables, and home occupations as accessory uses. Farm product stands are limited to the SF district and are not allowed in SE (Section 5.01).

The special land uses and their conditions are the same as in Suburban Farms, decided by the Planning Commission under Section 30.02. Unlisted uses need a similar-use determination (Section 27.02.E).

Suburban Ranch shares the Suburban Farms use matrix (Section 5.01): single-family dwellings, agriculture and farming, qualifying mobile homes, PUDs, and family day care homes by right, with garages for up to three vehicles, farm buildings, private stables, and home occupations as accessory uses. Farm product stands are limited to the SF district and are not allowed in SR (Section 5.01).

The special land uses and their conditions are the same as in Suburban Farms, decided by the Planning Commission under Section 30.02. Unlisted uses need a similar-use determination (Section 27.02.E).

Permitted by right in R-1 (Section 6.01): single-family detached dwellings, agriculture and farming, mobile homes meeting the dwelling standards of Section 6.02.A (permanent foundation, minimum 20 foot body width, district floor area), Planned Unit Developments under Section 30.03, and family day care and foster care homes.

Permitted accessory uses include a garage for up to three vehicles of the occupants, private stables on lots of at least 2.5 acres (Section 6.02.C), private swimming pools in the rear yard (10 feet from property lines, 4 foot fence, Section 6.02.N), and home occupations under Section 27.02.B. Keeping poultry, rabbits, sheep, or goats is a special use and needs at least 2.5 acres (Section 6.02.M).

Two-family dwellings are not listed as a permitted or special use in R-1, R-2, or R-3; they appear in the multiple-family districts instead (Section 7.01). One commercial vehicle may be parked per dwelling under the limits of Section 6.02.B. Unlisted uses need a Planning Commission similar-use determination (Section 27.02.E).

R-2 shares the R-1 use matrix (Section 6.01): single-family detached dwellings, agriculture, qualifying mobile homes, PUDs, and family day care homes by right, with three-vehicle garages, rear-yard pools, private stables on 2.5 acres, and home occupations as accessory uses. Poultry and small livestock are a special use on at least 2.5 acres (Section 6.02.M). Two-family dwellings are not listed in this district (Section 6.01; Section 7.01). Unlisted uses need a similar-use determination (Section 27.02.E).

R-3 shares the R-1 use matrix (Section 6.01): single-family detached dwellings, agriculture, qualifying mobile homes, PUDs, and family day care homes by right, with three-vehicle garages, rear-yard pools, private stables on 2.5 acres, and home occupations as accessory uses. Poultry and small livestock are a special use on at least 2.5 acres (Section 6.02.M). Two-family dwellings are not listed in this district (Section 6.01; Section 7.01). Unlisted uses need a similar-use determination (Section 27.02.E).

Permitted by right in RM-1 (Section 7.01): multi-family dwellings including apartments, townhouses, and 2-, 3-, and 4-plex units; single-family detached dwellings built to the R-2 area and bulk standards; public utility buildings serving the vicinity; assisted living facilities (subject to the Section 7.02.E conditions); and day care centers (subject to Section 7.02.F).

This is where duplexes and townhouses live in Orion Township. They are permitted here by right as multi-family dwellings, and they are not listed in the single-family districts.

Accessory uses include a general services building for residents, a fenced recreational vehicle storage area with 100 square feet per unit (Section 7.02.A), farm buildings, and home occupations under Section 27.02.B. Commercial facilities are expressly not permitted, other than resident-only vending machines (Section 7.01). Unlisted uses need a similar-use determination (Section 27.02.E).

RM-2 shares the RM-1 use matrix (Section 7.01): multi-family dwellings including apartments, townhouses, and 2- to 4-plex units by right, single-family dwellings to R-2 standards, public utility buildings, assisted living facilities, and day care centers, with the same accessory uses and the same commercial prohibition. Agriculture, PUDs, public facilities, schools, places of worship, and hospitals are special land uses decided under Section 30.02.

The Mobile Home Park district provides locations for mobile home communities in a planned park setting, for long-term residential use rather than transient travel trailer use (Section 8.00). The district's use matrix and detailed park standards are in Article VIII. Confirm the specifics of any mobile home park proposal with the Planning & Zoning Department, since state Mobile Home Commission rules also apply.

Permitted by right in Office & Professional (Section 9.01): professional and medical offices with no overnight patients, veterinary clinics with no overnight boarding, medical and dental laboratories, data processing and computer centers, schools and studios for music, dance, business, or trade, public service and government facilities, private clubs and places of worship, banks and credit unions with or without drive-through, real estate and property management services, travel agencies, pet grooming and daycare, personal services, and PUDs. Pharmacies and medical supply stores are allowed only as accessory uses inside the building they serve, with no direct outside public entrance (Section 9.01; Section 9.02.H).

Research and design centers are by right when the building sits at least 300 feet from residentially zoned land, and a special use inside that distance (Section 9.02.E). All activity must occur in completely enclosed buildings, and outdoor storage is prohibited (Section 9.00; Section 9.01). Retail is limited to convenience uses serving the district (Section 9.00). Unlisted uses need a similar-use determination (Section 27.02.E).

Permitted by right in Restricted Business (Section 11.01): day-to-day retail, grocery stores, home improvement and hardware stores, neighborhood convenience stores without gasoline sales, pharmacies without a drive-through, specialty food stores, health clubs and indoor recreation studios, auto parts stores without sales or service, bars and lounges, restaurants without drive-throughs, outdoor patios with administrative review (Section 11.02.C), dry cleaning, printing and shipping stores, appliance repair, banks without drive-throughs, personal services, pet grooming and daycare, real estate offices, travel agencies, professional and medical offices, veterinary clinics, music and trade schools, private clubs and places of worship, and PUDs.

Outdoor display areas are allowed by right up to 10 percent of the building or 1,000 square feet, whichever is less, with Building Department permitting (Section 11.02.D). Outside storage of materials, supplies, vehicles, or equipment is prohibited (Section 11.01). Accessory structures are capped at 500 square feet of total floor area (Section 11.02.G). Unlisted uses need a similar-use determination (Section 27.02.E).

General Business is the township's broad commercial district. Unless approved as a special use, a single retail or service tenant may not exceed 55,000 square feet of gross floor area (Section 14.01).

Permitted by right (Section 14.01): health clubs, small indoor recreation studios, bowling alleys, theaters (one-story freestanding, Section 14.02.B), auto parts stores, automobile dealerships and used car sales, automobile repair and service without gasoline sales, car washes (enclosed, sewer required, Section 14.02.C), recreational vehicle sales, bars and lounges, restaurants without drive-throughs, outdoor patios with administrative review (Section 14.02.E), catering, day-to-day retail, grocery stores, furniture and appliance stores, florists and garden shops, home improvement stores under 55,000 square feet, lumber yards, convenience stores without gasoline, pharmacies including drive-through pharmacy (Section 14.02.A conditions), specialty food stores, outdoor display areas up to 1,000 square feet (Section 14.02.G), contractor showrooms, dry cleaning and laundromats, printing under 10,000 square feet, shipping stores, appliance repair, banks including drive-through (Section 14.02.A conditions), personal services, pet grooming and daycare (Section 14.02.H), real estate offices, travel agencies, professional and medical offices, veterinary clinics, music and trade schools, private schools, public facilities, private clubs and places of worship, public transportation facilities, and PUDs.

Outdoor storage as an accessory use follows Section 27.19. Unlisted uses need a similar-use determination (Section 27.02.E).

Permitted by right in Limited Industrial (Section 16.01): manufacture, assembly, repair, processing, and packaging of electrical appliances and electronics, fabricated metal products and signs, material science products such as plastics and robotics, precision and scientific instruments, and semi-finished goods such as bakery products, cloth, glass, and plastics; building material sales; mini-storage and warehousing; printing plants; printing, copying, and shipping stores; tool, die, gauge, and machine shops; warehousing, wholesale, storage, and transfer facilities; offices related to the principal use; pet crematoriums (Section 16.02.I); and PUDs. Showrooms for retail tied to on-site fabrication, assembly, or wholesaling are a special use, with retail floor area capped at 30 percent (Section 16.01; Section 16.02.J).

Contractor storage yards, recreational vehicle storage yards, and outdoor storage are permitted or special depending on the Section 27.19 outdoor storage standards. Extended hours are by right when the principal use runs multiple shifts (Section 16.02.K). Uses must meet the industrial performance standards of Section 16.03.K on smoke, noise, vibration, and similar effects. Unlisted uses need a similar-use determination (Section 27.02.E).

Industrial Park provides for industrial subdivisions, condominiums, or stand-alone industrial development in a park-like setting, with full roads and utilities and generous setbacks and greenbelts. The township's stated intent is to house activities similar to the Limited Industrial district (Section 18.00). The district's own use matrix in Section 18.01 controls which uses are by right and which are special; confirm a specific use against that matrix with the Planning & Zoning Department.

Industrial Complex is intended for a single large-scale manufacturing or assembly use needing extensive contiguous land, direct rail service and major thoroughfares, and its own power and industrial waste treatment capacity (Section 19.00). The district's use matrix in Section 19.01 controls; confirm a specific proposal with the Planning & Zoning Department.

Railroad Freight Yard permits railroad freight yards serving major industrial facilities, plus manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics uses that leverage the rail system to reduce road dependency (Section 20.00, amended 11.05.25). The district's use matrix in Section 20.01 controls; confirm a specific proposal with the Planning & Zoning Department.

Special Purpose 1 provides for mixed residential and commercial uses in one location or building, with a stated purpose of preserving one-of-a-kind mixed-use developments in converted farm buildings and similar structures (Section 21.00). Commercial activity belongs on the ground floor with residential above. The district's use matrix in Section 21.01 controls; confirm a specific proposal with the Planning & Zoning Department.

Special Purpose 2 provides locations for large industrial and commercial facilities not provided for in other districts, typically one-of-a-kind community facilities that need large contiguous land and generate heavy vehicle traffic (Section 22.00). The district's use matrix in Section 22.01 controls; confirm a specific proposal with the Planning & Zoning Department.

Recreation 1 provides areas for recreational uses located in enclosed buildings, sited near but not necessarily adjacent to residential districts, with direct access to a collector or major thoroughfare (Section 23.00). The district's use matrix in Section 23.01 controls; confirm a specific proposal with the Planning & Zoning Department.

Recreation 2 provides areas for primarily outdoor recreational uses that take advantage of land in its natural state and preserve open space (Section 24.00). If REC-2 land passes from public to private ownership, the township may initiate a rezoning (Section 24.00). The district's use matrix in Section 24.01 controls; confirm a specific proposal with the Planning & Zoning Department.

The Brown Road Innovation Zone allows mixed industrial and commercial development in a visually cohesive district along Brown Road, encouraging shared access, lot combinations, redevelopment, and low impact design (Section 34.00). Article XXXIV carries its own use lists and development standards separate from the rest of the ordinance, so do not apply the general district tables to BIZ parcels. Confirm any BIZ proposal against Article XXXIV with the Planning & Zoning Department.