Zoning Department
Planning a Home Improvement Project?
A Village Land Use Permit is required for most projects, including decks, fences, additions, pools, and changes in building use.
Start by reviewing general requirements or contact our office before beginning work. The Livingston County Building Department cannot issue building permits without an approved Village Land Use Permit.
All projects must comply with the Zoning Ordinance and Technical Standards for Design & Construction.
Before you dig, call MISS DIG 811. Know what’s below.
Planning a Commercial Project, Change of Use, or New Development?
Start here:
View the Planning Process Flow Chart for an overview.
When ready, schedule a meeting with the Zoning Administrator and/or request a pre-application meeting with the Village Planner, Engineer, and staff.
Ordinances, applications, and additional resources are available below.
Zoning Documents:
Fee Schedule:
Note: All fees listed in the Fee Schedule can be made by cash at the Village Offices or by check made payable to the Village of Pinckney. Utility bill payments may be made via credit card through BS&A here.
Zoning Ordinance and Map:
Most recent amendments:
Technical Standards for Design & Construction:
Amendments since the adoption of the Tech Standards:
Central Business District Design Standards:
Land Use Permit Process:
Please note: All fillable forms can be printed and brought to Village Hall during regular business hours or saved to your computer and emailed to: zoning@villageofpinckney.org. Please DO NOT SEND FORMS OR CORRESPONDENCE IN .jpeg (picture) format – .pdf only please.
Waivers: Are you resealing a driveway, re-roofing or re-siding a house, adding gutters or replacing windows? If so, then all you need is a Land Use Waiver at no charge. A permit may still be required by Livingston County.
Site Plan Review:
Do you need to go through the Site Plan Approval Process?
- Are you changing the size of the building by more than 500 square feet, or moving the building?
- Does the lot abut a residential district?
- Does the project require a variance from council?
- Are you resurfacing an off street parking lot that will alter the drainage properties of the property?
- Is this a site condominium project?
- Does the project require a special land use permit?
- Is there a change in use, or a development that could affect the compliance with the zoning regulations?
If you answered Yes to any of the above, you do need to go through the planning process.
Do you want a PRE-PLANNING meeting with the Zoning Administrator, DPW and other officials before the plan is submitted to the Planning Commission? If so, do you want the Village Engineers, Attorney or other professionals/consultants at the table?
The purpose of preliminary site plan review is to confirm general compliance with the Zoning Ordinance, conformance with Village Technical Standards, and suggest changes, if necessary, prior to final site plan review. 152.389.
Upon approval of a preliminary site plan by the Planning Commission, the applicant may submit a final site plan in accordance with the requirements. Final site plans shall be approved by the Planning Commission, except in the case of a final site plan for a residential open space development, condominium project, or other planned development for which Village Council shall approve or deny, following a review and recommendation by the Planning Commission.
Application submittal: No application shall be considered by the village unless it is accompanied by the following:
- A village application form completed in full by the applicant and signed by all persons, firms or corporations having an ownership interest in the property.
- Fee established by Village Council.
- A preliminary site plan must contain all of the information required by 152.389.
- A final site plan must contain all of the information required by 152.391.
- The applicant must submit four individually folded copies of the site plan on 24-inch by 36-inch sheets and one digital copy.
- A complete application must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator at least thirty (30) business days prior to the Planning Commission meeting at which the proposal will first be considered.
Preliminary Site Plan Review Process:
- Upon receipt of a complete application, the Zoning Administrator shall transmit the site plan and all accompanying materials to the Planning Commission and any other required parties prior to its next regular meeting. Transmittals shall not be made until all required information is submitted and the necessary fees have been paid in full. The Zoning Administrator shall also schedule consideration of the site plan as an item on the agenda at the next regular meeting of the Planning Commission.
- Planning Commission action. At the first regular meeting at which a preliminary site plan is considered, the Planning Commission shall review the application and relevant issues. The Planning Commission shall then approve, approve with conditions or deny the preliminary site plan. The basis for the decision and any approval conditions shall be specified in the resolution and the meeting minutes and communicated to the applicant in writing. If no action is taken because more information is required from the applicant, the Planning Commission shall table the agenda item to a date certain, which shall be specified in the meeting minutes.
- Approval of a preliminary site plan by the Planning Commission or Village Council, as the case may be, shall indicate its general acceptance of the proposed use, layout of buildings, roads and drives, off-street parking areas, other facilities and the overall character of the proposed development. Upon approval of a preliminary site plan, the applicant may submit a final site plan.
- Approval of a preliminary site plan shall be valid for one calendar year and shall then expire and be of no effect unless an application for final site plan approval is submitted to the Zoning Administrator within that time period. The applicant may extend preliminary site plan approval for one additional year upon written request to the Zoning Administrator and approval by the Planning Commission prior to the original expiration date. The Planning Commission may grant further extensions of preliminary site plan approval in accordance with the procedures noted herein upon a showing of good cause.
- The purpose of final site plan review is to confirm compliance with all items and provisions of this chapter and conformance with Village Technical Standards. An impact assessment report may also be required (see § 152.392) at the discretion of the Planning Commission and/or Village Council.
Final Site Plan Review Application
Additional information for final site plan review. Other items required for final site plan review are as follows:
- An impact assessment report as required by 152.392, including a completed environmental permit checklist and hazardous substances reporting form, if applicable, supplied by the Zoning Administrator.
- The Zoning Administrator or Planning Commission may waive or modify the impact assessment report requirements, or accept an impact assessment report previously submitted relative to the site and proposed development, at its discretion;
- Copies of any deed restrictions, easements, protective covenants, master deed or association bylaws affecting the site: and
- Proof that the final site plan has been submitted for review to all other agencies that regulate the proposed development including, but not limited to: the County Road Commission, Health Department, Building Department and Drain Commissioner and the Michigan Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Quality.
Final Site Plan Review Process:
- Upon receipt of a complete application, the Zoning Administrator shall transmit the site plan and all accompanying materials to the Village Planner, Village Engineer, DPW, Fire Marshal and the Planning Commission prior to its next regular meeting. Transmittals shall not be made until all required information is submitted and the necessary fees have been paid in full. The Zoning Administrator shall also schedule consideration of the site plan as an item on the agenda at the next regular meeting of the Planning Commission.
- Applicant must provide proof that plans were submitted to all other agencies that regulate the proposed development including, but not limited to: County Road Commission, Health Department, Building Department, Drain Commissioner, Michigan Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Quality.
- The Village Planner and Village Engineer shall review the application to determine compliance with the Zoning Ordinance and Village of Pinckney Technical Standards and submit a written report addressing all issues that must be resolved to the Planning Commission.
- At the first regular meeting at which a final site plan is considered, the Planning Commission shall review the issues identified in the preliminary site plan review, if any, and reports prepared by the Village Planner and Engineer, as well as any other relevant issues. The Planning Commission shall approve, approve with conditions or deny the final site plan. The basis for the approval and any approval conditions shall be specified in the resolution and the meeting minutes, and provided in writing to the Village Council and the applicant. If no action is taken because more information is required from the applicant, the Planning Commission shall table the agenda item to a date certain, which shall be specified in the meeting minutes.
- Approval of a final site plan by the Planning Commission shall indicate that the proposal is in compliance with the Village Zoning Ordinance and any conditions imposed thereunder.
- After the Planning Commission has taken final action on a site plan and all necessary steps have been completed, the Zoning Administrator shall mark three copies of the plans approved or denied, as appropriate, with the date that action was taken. One marked copy shall be returned to the applicant and the other two copies shall be kept on file in the Village Hall. Copies of the village stamped plans shall be the only plans used during construction.
- Approval of a final site plan shall be valid for one calendar year, and shall then expire and be of no effect unless a building permit, when required, is applied for and granted within that time period. Approval shall expire and be of no effect 545 days following date of approval by the Planning Commission, unless construction has begun and is being diligently pursued in accordance with the approved site plan. The applicant may extend final site plan approval for one additional year upon written request to the Zoning Administrator and approval by the Planning Commission, prior to the original expiration date. The Planning Commission may grant further extensions of final site plan approval in accordance with the procedures noted herein upon a showing of good cause.
- Final site plan approval shall be revoked if construction of the development is not in conformance with the approved plans. The Zoning Administrator shall give the applicant written notice of intention to revoke the land use permit at least ten business days prior to review of the proposed revocation by the Planning Commission. After conclusion of the review, the Planning Commission may revoke its approval of the development if it determines that a violation in fact exists and has not been remedied prior to the hearing. Enforcement proceedings shall also apply per §§ 022(B) and 152.999.
- The decision of the Planning Commission with regard to the site plan may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals, upon written request by the property owner or proprietor. In the absence of an appeal being filed with the village within 20 business days after the Planning Commission renders a decision, the decision shall become and remain final.
- Flowchart – Site Plan Review Process
- Environmental Checklist
- Special Land Use Application & Process:
Special Land Use Permit Application
Sections 152.241 and 152.242 contain general procedures and standards that apply to all special land uses. Section 152.243 contains specific standards that apply only to the following special land uses.
| Section |
Use |
| 152.243(A) |
Home occupations |
| 152.243(B) |
Educational institutions |
| 152.243(C) |
Nursing homes and homes for the aged |
| 152.243(D) |
Recreation |
| 152.243(E) |
Indoor self-storage facilities |
| 152.243(F) |
Child care facilities |
| 152.243(G) |
Funeral homes |
| 152.243(H) |
Automobile service stations, repair services and washes |
| 152.243(I) |
Restaurants, taverns and nightclubs |
| 152.243(J) |
Veterinary clinics |
| 152.243(K) |
Commercial outdoor display |
| 152.243(L) |
Supermarkets and department stores |
| 152.243(M) |
Hotels and motels |
| 152.243(N) |
Changeable message signs |
| 152.243(O) |
Artificial ponds |
| 152.243(P) |
Residential open space development (see also 152.350) |
| 152.243(Q) |
Bed and breakfast establishments |
Application submittal: No application shall be considered by the village unless it is accompanied by the following:
- A village application form completed in full by the applicant and signed by all persons, firms or corporations having an ownership interest in the property.
- A preliminary site plan containing all of the information required by 152.389.
- A written statement by the applicant and any supporting evidence explaining how the special land use will comply with the following.
- The general criteria in 152.242.
- The specific criteria in 152.243 as applicable.
- A processing fee as established by the Village Council.
- An application for a residential open space development shall also include a parallel site plan prepared incompliance with 152.353(A).
- Previous request made: Yes/No
- Flowchart – Special Land Use Permit Review Process
- The Zoning Administrator shall transmit the full special land use permit application to the Planning Commission for review. The Planning Commission shall fix a reasonable time for a public hearing. The Zoning Administrator shall provide notice of the public hearing in accordance with the requirements of 152.022(C).
- Upon conclusion of the public hearing, the Planning Commission shall deny or approve, with or without conditions, the special land use permit. If no decision is made at the advertised hearing, disposition of the case must be set to a date certain at that time, and this date must be clearly stated in the meeting minutes. Planning Commission decision: Deny/Approve/Approve with conditions
- In the case of special land use permit applications for a marihuana establishment, residential open space development, condominium project, or other planned development, the Planning Commission shall make a recommendation to the Village Council to deny or approve, with or without conditions. A summary of the Planning Commission recommendation and comments submitted at the public hearing shall be transmitted with the special land use permit application and staff report to the Village Council. The Village Council may hold additional public hearings if it considers it necessary. The Village Council shall make a decision upon each case within 60 days of the Planning Commissions recommendation or refer the proposal back to the Planning Commission for further consideration, unless additional time is granted by the applicant. Village Council decision: Deny/Approve/Send back to Planning Commission for further consideration.
- Permit expiration. A special land use permit issued pursuant to this subchapter shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance. If construction has not commenced and proceeded meaningfully toward completion by the end of this one-year period, the Zoning Administrator shall notify the applicant in writing, no more than 30 days before the expiration date, that upon expiration, the permit will become null and void.
Zoning Forms:
Signs:
Zoning:
In 2009, an ordinance was enacted to allow the Village Council to serve as the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).
Miscellaneous:
Land Division (Lot Split)
Collection Bins:
Chickens:
Complaints:
Sidewalk Cafe:
Sidewalk Cafe Ordinance: Sidewalk Cafe Ordinance
Driveway Permit / Work in Right of Way (ROW):
Application for Authorization to Construct Utilities, Excavate or Perform Work in Village Streets or Right-of-Way
Sewer & Water Connections:
Sample Maintenance Agreements:
Note: These agreements are not all ‘one size fits all’ and are provided as a starting point.
