In order to regulate and restrict the location, erection, alteration or use of buildings, structures or land, the township is hereby divided into eight zones known as:

The boundaries of said zones are shown upon the map or maps designated as "Official Zoning Map of the Charter Township of Lansing" and located in the office of the township clerk. The zoning maps and all notations, references, and other information appearing thereon are hereby declared to be a part of this title and of the same force and effect as if the zones therein designed were fully set forth by metes and bounds herein. References, notations, and other information shown thereon are likewise incorporated herein with like force and effect.

Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of the various zones, as shown on any zoning map, the following rules apply:

(1)

The zone boundaries are street centerlines unless otherwise shown; and where the designation on the zoning maps indicates a boundary approximately upon a street line, such street centerline shall be construed to be the boundary;

(2)

Where the zone boundaries are not shown to be street centerlines, the zone boundaries shall be construed to be lot lines when the land has been platted; and where the designation on the zoning maps indicates a zone boundary approximately upon property lines, said property lines shall be construed to be the boundary;

(3)

In undivided property, the zone boundary lines on the zoning maps shall be determined by measurement according to the scale of the maps.

No lot area shall be so reduced or diminished that the yards or other open spaces shall be smaller than prescribed by this title, nor shall the density of population be increased in any manner except in conformity with the area regulations as hereinafter provided, nor shall the area of any lot be reduced below the minimum requirement herein established.

No building shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed, or structurally altered to:

(1)

Exceed the height or bulk limit herein established for the district in which such building is located;

(2)

Intrude upon the area required for the front, side, and rear yards as herein established, unless specifically permitted as an exception in this title; provided, further, that the same yard space shall not serve as required yard area for more than one building.

Except as hereinafter provided no building shall be erected, reconstructed or structurally altered, nor shall any building or premises be used for any purposes other than is permitted in the zone in which said building or premises is located.

Where an accessory building is attached to the side or front of a main building by a wall or roof, such accessory building shall be considered part of the main building for the purpose of determining the required dimensions of yards, but if it is attached to the rear of the main building in such a manner that it is completely to the rear of all portions of the main dwelling, it may be considered an accessory building for determining required yard dimensions. An accessory building, unless attached and made part of the main building on a lot as provided in this section, shall not be less than ten feet from the main building. Re: Building code. Nor shall any such accessory building on a permanent foundation, completely to the rear of all portions of the main dwelling and not attached to said dwelling, be erected closer than five feet to any rear lot line and not closer than five feet to any sideline.

Accessory buildings without a permanent foundation may be three feet from the rear lot line.

(Ord. No. 31.112, § 1, 10-13-87)

Where a corner lot adjoins the side boundary of a lot in any residential zone no part of any accessory building within 25 feet of the common lot line shall be nearer the street bounding the side lot line than the least depth of any front yard requirement along such side street, except that in the case of a narrow corner lot where compliance with this requirement would give an impracticable depth to a private garage, the zoning board of appeals may permit the construction of such garage as near to such side street lot line as will give a practicable depth, but in no such case shall any part of such garage projecting beyond the building to which it is accessory be closer than two feet to the interior side lot line, or permit a garage building over 22 feet in length (see section 83-12). When the rear lot line forms a part or all of a side lot line of an adjacent lot, the garage shall not be closer to the rear lot line than five feet.

Essential services shall be permitted as authorized and regulated by law and other titles in any district, it being the intention hereof to exempt such erection, construction, alteration, and maintenance from the application of this title.

Fences, walls, and landscape buffers. The purposes of this section are to protect the use and enjoyment of property by providing for the passage of air and light; to protect the public welfare and safety by providing for the safe movement of motor vehicles and pedestrians; and to facilitate police and fire fighting services, no person shall erect, construct, modify, replace, plant or grow any fence or planting screen in violation of this chapter.

Section 83-10.1. Definitions.

(A)

Fence means any wall (except a retaining wall), screen, partition, or similar structure existing on a yard, which either encloses or divides land into distinct areas, separates contiguous properties, obstructs the passage of light and air into adjacent land, or obstructs the vision of motorists or pedestrians on or near public roads. Ornamental features such as walls, screens, trellises or arbors that are not located on a property or setback line may be allowed by the zoning administrator.

(B)

Planting screen and landscape buffer refer to a dense row of low-branching trees, shrubs, vines, or other plant species and types which either enclose or divide land into district areas, separate contiguous properties, obstruct the passage of light and air into adjacent land, or obstruct the vision of motorists or pedestrians on or near public roads.

Section 83-10.2. Fences standards.

(A)

Residential districts.

1.

Fences may be up to three feet in height in the front yard.

2.

Fences may be up to six feet in height in the side and rear yards.

Fence Standards

(B)

General standards.

1.

No fence, wall, planting screen or accessory structure greater than 36 inches in height as measured from grade, shall be located within a triangular section of land formed by two 15-foot perpendicular lines intersecting at the driveway and the right-of-way line and a connecting line.

2.

All fences erected by an individual property owner must be located on his/her property.

3.

With the exception of wireless pet restraint systems, no electrically charged fences are permitted.

4.

In the "F", "G" and "H" zoning districts a wall, fence or yard enclosure may be up to eight feet in height in the side and rear yards, while fences in the front yard may be up to four feet in height.

5.

For corner lots, each street frontage will be considered a front yard.

6.

No person shall place, string or maintain barbed wire as part of any fence, other work or structure in any zoning district unless approved by the planning commission as a special use permit. A special use permit for this purpose shall only be considered for fences eight feet in height in the F, G or H zoning districts.

7.

It is unlawful to construct any private fence or barrier within a public right-of-way.

8.

All fences shall be maintained in a good condition so that they do not result in blight or an unreasonable hazard to persons who might come near them. Failure to maintain the fence shall be considered a violation of this section under chapter 17.

9.

On any corner no fence, wall, planting screen or accessory structure shall rise over 36 inches in height above the level adjacent public right-of-way or sidewalk within 20 feet of any corner of said right-of-way so as not to interfere with traffic visibility across the corner.

10.

Fences over six feet in height and retaining walls over four feet in height will require a building permit.

(Ord. No. 31.140, § 1, 4-30-96; Ord. No. 31.153, § 1, 9-29-98; Ord. No. 31.161, § 1, 6-28-05)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 31.161, § 2, adopted June 28, 2005, repealed § 83-11, which pertained to fences in side and rear yards and derived from Ord. No. 31.153, § 1, adopted Sept. 29, 1998.

In any residential zone, no garage or carport shall be erected closer to the side lot line than the permitted distance for the dwelling unless said garage or carport shall be completely to the rear of the main dwelling, erected on said lot, in which event the garage or carport may be erected five feet from the interior side lot line. If any wall is five feet or less from the property line, such wall shall be of one-hour fire rated material and entirely without windows or other openings. For lots less than 50 feet wide, a detached garage or carport, completely to the rear of the main dwelling, may be two feet from the interior side lot line, providing: Any wall five feet or less from the property line shall be of one-hour fire rated material and without windows or other openings.

No garage or carport shall be erected closer than five feet to any rear lot line, except that when a garage or carport is entered at right angles to an alley, it shall not be closer than 12 feet to the rear lot line.

An accessory building, garage, or carport, unless attached and made part of the principal building on a lot as provided in section 83-7, shall not be less than ten feet from the main building. Re: Building code.

(Ord. No. 31.134, § 1, 7-12-94)

Every building hereafter erected or structurally altered shall be located on a lot of record as herein defined, or on a lot approved by the township, and, except in the case of an officially approved garden apartment development, or multiple housing project as provided herein, there shall be no more than one main building and the customary accessory buildings on one lot within a residential zone.

In any zone a through lot shall have a front yard, as hereinafter provided for its particular zone, along each street lot line.

It is prohibited to occupy any trailer as a dwelling in the Charter Township of Lansing except that said trailer be located in a licensed trailer coach park.

The use of land for the removal of topsoil, sand, or other material native to the land is not permitted in any zone except under the temporary permit from the Lansing Township Board, which may be denied or issued in appropriate cases upon the filing of an application accompanied by a suitable agreement or bond that such removal will not cause stagnant water to collect, or leave the surface of the land, at the expiration of such permit, in an unstable condition, or unfit for the growing of turf, or for other land uses permitted in the zone in which such removal occurs.

Whenever any street, alley, or other public way is vacated by official action, the zoning district adjoining each side of such street, alley, or public way shall be automatically extended to the center of such vacation, and all area included in the vacation shall then and henceforth be subject to all appropriate regulations of the extended districts.

Any building or structure which may in whole or in part be damaged or destroyed by fire, accident, windstorm or for any other reason, must be rebuilt in accordance with the regulations in this title and other pertinent provisions of this Code or all debris removed and the lot restored to a safe and sightly condition not more than six months from occurrence.

Where a lot is to be occupied for permitted uses without buildings or structures thereon, the side yards and front yards required herein for the zone within which such lot is located shall be provided and maintained between such use and the respective lot lines: Provided, that side and rear yards shall not be required on lots without buildings or structures used for garden purposes or public playgrounds.

A.

Schedule of road widths.

_____

B.

Suitable turning facilities shall be provided at the terminus of all dead-end streets.

The filling or dumping of dirt and/or sand only is permitted without special permit provided the surface of such material is graded within a reasonable time in a manner preventing collection of stagnant water, and which leaves the ground surface in a condition suitable for the growing of turf or for other land use permitted in the zone.

No person shall use, occupy or permit the use or occupancy of a mobile home or trailer home as otherwise defined herein, as a dwelling within any district within the township, not designated as a licensed mobile home park, unless:

A.

A permit for the placement thereof and a building permit for the installation of the structure has been obtained. All applications for said permits shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee equal to fees provided for in section 88-2.5 of the township Code of Ordinances which shall be used to defray the cost of inspection as provided in this ordinance; and

B.

Said mobile home, the placement thereof, and the premises upon which it shall be located shall meet all requirements of the Charter Township of Lansing Code of Ordinances relating to uses, size of premises, floor area, setback, side lot and rear lot requirements specified for the particular zoning district in which said premises is situated; and

C.

Said mobile home shall be connected to potable water and sanitary sewage disposal facilities approved by the health agency having jurisdiction. If public water and sanitary sewage disposal facilities are available to said premises, said mobile home shall be connected thereto; and

D.

A mobile home shall be installed pursuant to the manufacturer's setup instructions and shall have a wall of the same perimeter dimensions as the mobile home and constructed of such materials and type as required in the applicable building code for single-family dwellings, and shall be secured to the premises by an anchoring system or device compatible with those required by the Michigan Mobile Home Commission. All construction required herein shall be commenced only after a building permit has been obtained in accordance with the building code applicable within the Charter Township of Lansing; and

E.

Construction of, and all plumbing, electrical apparatus, and insulation within and connected to, said mobile home shall be of a type and quality conforming to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards (24 CFR 3280), and as from time to time amended; and

F.

If placed within a flood zone, said mobile home shall meet all requirements for construction of dwellings on site within said zone; and

G.

Said mobile home shall meet or exceed all roof snow load and strength requirements imposed by the said United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards.

(Ord. No. 57, § 1, 9-8-81)

Section 83-22.1. The foregoing requirements in section 83-22 notwithstanding, the placement and use of a mobile home in any residential district within the Charter Township of Lansing shall be aesthetically compatible with single-family dwellings in the district, and as a minimum said mobile homes:

A.

Shall be so placed and situated so that the wheels shall be removed and the underside or chassis of said mobile home shall be completely enclosed and connected to the foundation; and

B.

Shall be placed upon the property in such a way that its appearance shall be compatible with single-family dwellings constructed on site within said district. (Ord. No. 57, § 1, 9-8-81)

Section 83-22.2. As used herein the term "mobile home" shall mean a movable or portable dwelling constructed to be towed on its own chassis and designed for permanent yearround living as a single-family dwelling. The term "mobile home" shall not include motor homes, campers, recreational vehicles (whether licensed or not as motor vehicles) or other transportable structures designed for temporary use and which are not designed primarily for permanent residence and connection to sanitary sewage, electrical power and potable water utilities. (Ord. No. 57, § 1, 9-8-81)

Section 83-22.3. No person shall occupy any mobile home as a dwelling within the township until a certificate of occupancy shall be issued by the building inspector, which permit shall indicate satisfactory compliance with all requirements of the Charter Township of Lansing Code of Ordinances. (Ord. No. 57, § 1, 9-8-81)