Zoning Ordinance - Wexford Joint Planning Commission

Zoning Ordinance, Township Zoning Maps, and WJPC Master Plan

Below you will find the complete WJPC Zoning Ordinance to read or download. You will also find the entire zoning map and individual township zoning maps. These maps are of high quality so that you can zoom in on particular parcels. Also, the old Wexford County Master plan is below, which is in the process of being reworked to accommodate the more rural nature of the WJPC townships.

Wexford County 2020 Address Ordinance

Zoning Ordinance

Wexford Joint Zoning Ordinance of 2017 (Revised 3-23-2022) (includes maps). The zoning ordinance lists many permitted or possible special uses with a number in brackets right after it, like this: [7134]. This refers to the 1997 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Looking the use up in the NAICS provides a definition and more detailed list of what is included with that permitted or possible special use.
Entire zoning map (see the map, below)
Zoning map detail for Antioch Township
Zoning map detail for Boon Township
Zoning map detail for Cherry Grove Township
Zoning map detail for Greenwood Township
Zoning map detail for Hanover Township
Zoning map detail for Liberty Township
Zoning map detail for Selma Township
Zoning map detail for Slagle Township
Zoning map detail for South Branch Township
Zoning map detail for Springville Township
Zoning map detail for Wexford Township
Zoning map detail for overlay zones around Lake Mitchell

PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE

Wexford Joint Master Plan (Wexford County Comprehensive Plan of 2003) Future Land Use Map
Fact book for the Master Plan
    Chapters A1 to A4 (summary)
    Chapters B1 to B4
    Chapters B4 (land use)
    Chapters B4 (land use part two)
    Chapters B5 to B7
    Chapters B8 to B10
    Chapters B11 to B12
    Chapters B13 to B14
    Chapters in part C (appendices)
    Chapters C11 (Native American)

Zoning Ordinance
   A zoning ordinance is a law, an ordinance adopted by local government. It has enforcement mechanisms, permit requirements, development standards and more. It reflects the current requirements that are intended to implement the vision for the community''s future. In Michigan a zoning ordinance should be based on a Master Plan. One can think of the Master Plan as a statement of what the community wants to be in the future, and the zoning ordinance is one of the steps taken today to bring the community to its visioned future. The zoning ordinance is not the only tool to do so. Other actions by local government -- where roads, parks, infrastructure, are built or not built; efforts to cooperate with other governments, business, citizen groups; tax policies -- are some of the additional tools to implement a Master Plan.
Master Plans
   Master Plans are a community driven document that provides leaders and residents with a vision of their future physical development. The process used to develop a Master Plan seeks to involve all segments of the local populace and to consider all relevant factors that may influence it’s future. These factors include the area’s history, resources, economy, population, growth trends, existing land use patterns, infrastructure, environment, character, and attitudes.
   Master Plans are not ordinances or laws. Master Plans are plans for the future. They guide decisions and should be regularly evaluated as conditions within the community change. In Michigan, Master Plans are the basis for zoning ordinances (which are laws). Zoning must be based on a reasonable community plan. So while Master Plans are guides, they are also the legal foundation for local land use laws.