Royal Oak Township, MI Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

In the Charter Township of Royal Oak, erosion control is built into site plan approval rather than written as a stand-alone ordinance. Section 32-80 lists the criteria the Township uses to review and approve site plans. Criterion (11) requires the proposed development to include measures to prevent soil erosion and sedimentation during and upon completion of construction, in accordance with current county and township standards. The required site plan contents in § 32-79 separately list soil erosion and sedimentation control measures alongside site grading, drainage patterns and proposed contours, so the measures have to be drawn on the plan before review starts.

Criterion (10) on drainage adds that provisions must be made for a feasible storm drainage system and the prevention of erosion, and that grading and drainage plans are subject to review by the building official or the township engineer.

Earth moving has its own permit trigger. Under § 32-627(a)(2), a permit is required wherever grading, excavating, filling, stockpiling, or other alteration to the land is proposed, with an exception for minor alterations that do not affect the storm drainage pattern. The applicant first submits a grading plan to the building official, prepared by a registered land surveyor or civil engineer. Under § 32-627(c)(2), newly established grades cannot increase the runoff of surface water onto adjacent properties except through established drainage courses. Rough grading must be finished before final inspection and issuance of a certificate of occupancy, and final grading must be completed no later than six months after the certificate of occupancy is issued.

Section 32-629 adds two related rules. Filling with soil, sand, clay, gravel or similar earthen material requires plan review and a permit from the building official first. Removing topsoil, sand, gravel or similar material from any site in the township requires the building official's approval, and a permit is issued only on a finding that the removal will not cause stagnant water to collect or leave the surface of the land in an unstable condition.