How big can a detached garage or pole barn be in Orion Township?

It scales with your lot size (Section 27.02.A.8, amended 10.20.25). The table caps the detached building itself and the total of all accessory buildings, counting every story:

• Up to 1/2 acre: 750 square feet detached, 1,150 total
• Over 1/2 to 1 acre: 900 detached, 1,300 total
• Over 1 to 2.5 acres: 1,000 detached, 1,500 total
• Over 2.5 to 5 acres: 1,900 detached, 2,500 total
• Over 5 to 10 acres: 2,400 detached, 3,000 total
• Over 10 acres: 3,200 detached, 3,800 total

Attached garages are separately capped at 75 percent of the principal structure (Section 27.02.A.8). Everything counts toward lot coverage: 20 percent in SF, SE, and SR, 25 percent in R-1, R-2, and R-3 (Section 5.04; Section 6.04).

Want more? The Zoning Board of Appeals can grant a variance if the building matches the house aesthetically and in color, the coverage caps still hold, and the building stores items otherwise kept outside (Section 27.02.A.9). Parcels over 5 acres in agricultural use have their own variance path for farm buildings.

Garages for more than three vehicles stop being an ordinary accessory use in the residential districts (Section 5.01; Section 6.01), so talk to Planning & Zoning at 248-391-0304 ext. 5000 before designing a large one.