Shiawassee County adopts resolution delegating enforcement of county-issued zoning permits to Hazelton and Venice townships

At its May 21 meeting, the Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution #25-05-05 assigning and delegating enforcement of zoning permits, licenses and approvals the county had issued within Hazelton Township and (by amendment) Venice Township to those townships.

The resolution states that Hazelton and Venice have adopted planning commission ordinances and interim or permanent township zoning ordinances, and it cites the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (PA 110 of 2006) and MCL 125.3813 as the statutory framework referenced in the resolution text. The resolution directs that Hazelton and Venice townships “shall have the power to enforce all such zoning permits, licenses and approvals the County has issued within” their jurisdictions, including authority to suspend or revoke permits. It also directs that any escrow payments, security bonds or other financial security provided in the name of the county for those permits be transferred to the appropriate township. The resolution further provides that, subject to applicable Michigan law, the county-issued permits within those townships shall be considered legal nonconforming uses under the township ordinances.

The motion to adopt the resolution was offered by Commissioner Garber, seconded by Commissioner Holzhausen and carried unanimously on the recorded motion indicated in the meeting minutes. The version adopted included an amendment, offered and seconded by the same commissioners, to add Venice Township to the delegation.

Practical implications: pending administrative steps include transferring escrow or bond accounts to the townships and updating county records to reflect the change in enforcement responsibility. The resolution directs compliance with applicable Michigan law, which will govern timing and notice requirements for enforcement actions and any revocations. The resolution text as circulated in the meeting packet contains standard certification language to be completed by the county clerk.

Next steps noted in the record include administrative coordination between county planning/administration staff and the affected townships to process transfers of accounts and enforcement records. The resolution does not list specific permits or cases by parcel number; it applies broadly to permits previously issued by the county within the two townships’ boundaries and defers to applicable state law for implementation details.

Reporting note: the resolution text in the meeting packet references statutory provisions by acronym and citation (MZEA; MCL 125.3813); the article uses those citations as written in the record.