Reference Desk

Frequently Asked Questions

Assessing

Q. What is the difference between S.E.V. and taxable value?

A. S.E.V. stands for State Equalized Value which is 50% of Market Value. Taxable Value is the value that you pay your taxes on (this came about when Proposal A was voted in by the taxpayers in 1993) Beginning in 1994 your S.E.V. was capped and could only increase yearly by the rate of inflation or 5%, whichever is less? If anything new is added to the property, 50% of the appraised value of this new item is added to your taxable value. Also if you just purchased your home, in the following year your taxable value will be uncapped, and your taxes will be based on S.E.V. In subsequent years you will be increasing by the taxable value rule.

Q. Why are my neighbor’s taxes less than mine when we have the exact same? house?

A. Sometime it may appear that you have the same house, but on closer observation they may have a larger home, garage, deck, shed, lot etc., or your house may be newer by a few years. All of the aforementioned would affect the appraised value of your house and reflect a difference in your taxes. Also, if you purchased your home in the prior year, your taxable value would have been uncapped and you will be paying taxes on your S.E.V.

Q. I am not satisfied with the Value placed on my home, I feel there has been a mistake made?

A. If you believe a mistake has been made in the appraisal of your property, the first thing to do would be to come into the office and inquire in the Assessing Department to have your appraisal explained. If are not satisfied with their explanation, and feel you are over assessed, you can appeal to the March Board of Review.

Q. How much will my taxes go up if I build a garage?

A. Your taxes will go by the yearly millage rate multiplied by 50% of the appraised value of your new garage. Example: Garage appraised at $15,000 times .50=$7,500 ($7,500 x current millage rate) 7,500x.0327822 = $245.86

Q. Should I call the office if I see an appraiser taking a picture of my house?

A. If it is a Township appraiser he is only doing his job. In the past we had black and white photographs, today we are trying to update our records with digital colored photograph which can be accessed from our computers.

Building Department

Q. When can I speak with an inspector?

A. Inspectors are in the offices in the morning and afternoon.

Q. How do I schedule an inspection?

A. Call the Building Department at extension 1104 before 3:00pm the previous day for a next day inspection.

Q. What do I need permits for?

A. Call the Building Department at extension 2 for this information.

Q. Who do I contact if I have a zoning question?

A. Call the Planning Department at extension 86 for answers.

Q. Who do I contact if I have a zoning complaint?

A. Call the Zoning Department at extension 87.

Q. How do I file a complaint?

A. The Building Department has complaint forms at the offices or may be obtained through our website.  If it is a complaint regarding a particular builder, the Building Department will supply you with a pamphlet entitled “A Citizens Guide for Filing a Complaint”.  

Clerk

Q. What is required to reserve a meeting room at the municipal offices?

A. You must fill out the application for “Meeting Room Use”, please refer to the Clerk’s Departments forms.

Q. What utility companies service this area?

A. DTE Energy (800) 477-4747
SBC Ameritech (800) 244-4444
SEMCO Energy Gas Company (800) 624-2019
Comcast Cable (800) 427-7662

Q. Where do I dispose of hazardous waste and find more information about recycling?

A. The Macomb County Health Department will collect and recycle most hazardous materials. Their web page has a wealth of information about unusual recycling questions.  Please contact the MCHD at (586)469-5467 or visit their website.

Q. Where do I go to register to vote?

A. Any Secretary of State Office, local Clerk’s Office, or designated state agencies. Please refer to the Clerk’s Department Forms and Applications.

Q. How do I get an Absentee Ballot?

A. Contact your local Clerk’s Office either by telephone, letter, or in person to request the absentee ballot.

Q. Who can be on the permanent absentee list?

A. Any registered voter 60 years of age or older or handicapped may request to be on the permanent list and will automatically be sent an application for each Township election. For more information, please visit www.michigan.gov/sos/.

Q. How can I apply for a passport?

A. You will need to fill out the passport application form DS-11, bring in your original birth certificate, drivers license, and two checks for payment. We accept passport applications from 8:00am – 3:30pm.

Q. What are the fees for a passport book or card?

A. Adults - $25.00 processing fee, $7.00 pictures, $75.00 book or $20.00 card
Children - $25.00 processing fee, $7.00 pictures, $60.00 book or $10.00 card
For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of State website.

Parks and Recreation

Q. Where are you located?

A. The Parks & Recreation Department is located inside of the Chesterfield Township Municipal Offices located at 47275 Sugarbush (North of 21 Mile & south of Cotton).

Q. What are your office hours?

A. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8AM-4:30PM

Q. How can I obtain a program brochure?

A. Program brochures are printed three times a year in April, August & December. They can be picked up at the Chesterfield Township Municipal Offices or the Chesterfield Township Library. Brochures are sent home from school with elementary students enrolled in the Anchor Bay, L’Anse Creuse North & New Haven school districts.

Q. How can I register for a program?

A. Registrations can only be accepted at the Parks & Recreation Department and must be done prior to a program’s start date. All registrations must be accompanied by a completed registration form and full payment.

• Walk-in registrations are accepted during normal business hours.
  (Cash, Check Visa/Mastercard, payments accepted)
• Mail-in registrations can be sent to Chesterfield Township Parks & Recreation,
  47275 Sugarbush, Chesterfield, MI 48047.
  (Only payments made by personal check or money order will be accepted)
• After hour registrations can be placed in the Drop Box located outside of the Chesterfield Township Municipal Offices. Drop Box registrations will be processed when received by parks & recreation staff and may not be processed for several days.  (Only payments made by personal check or money order will be accepted)

Q. Can I register for a program over the phone?

A. At this time, we do not accept phone registrations.

Q. Do you take credit cards?

A. Visa & Mastercard payments are accepted during normal business hours with card holder present and by showing proper identification. There is a $20 minimum purchase required for credit card use.

Q. Can non-residents register for your programs?

A. Yes. Non-residents pay an additional $5 per person, per program (excluding amusement park ticket sales). In the case of bus trips & special events, the $5 assessment will be per ticket. For our more popular programs, residents are given priority registration. Resident and non-resident registration dates will be found in the program brochure, under the program descriptor, when necessary.

Q. When is the last day I can register for a program?

A. Whenever possible, do not delay in registering for a program. Many programs have limited availability and fill fast. Conversely, nothing ruins a good program quicker than everybody waiting until the last minute to register. Please register early to ensure that a program will not be cancelled.

Q. What is your refund policy?

A. Refunds cannot be processed for one-time programs, trips, ticket sales or special events.  For programs meeting four times or less, a refund request must be made prior to the first meeting.  In all other cases, prior to the second scheduled program meeting a refund request will be accepted and reviewed by submitting a Refund Request Form. A $5 processing fee, plus any cost incurred by the department (pro-rated attendance, shirts, equipment, tickets, etc.) will be assessed against the fee to determine the refund amount.  Refunds cannot be processed after the second scheduled program meeting or league practice.

All moneys approved for refunds, regardless of payment method, will be issued in the form of a check. Please allow approximately 3 - 4 weeks for a check to be issued.

Planning and Zoning Commission

Q. When are Planning Commission and Zoning Board of appeals meetings held?

A. Planning Commission meetings are the second and fourth Tuesday after the first and third Monday of the month with the agenda closing at noon 12 days prior to the scheduled meeting. Zoning Board of Appeals meetings are the second and fourth Wednesday of the month with the agenda closing at noon 14 days prior to the scheduled meeting. For exact dates click here to view our Township Calendar.

Q. How can I find out what my property is zoned?

A. Zoning maps are available at the Municipal Offices or click here to view our entire Code of Ordinances.

Q. What are my setbacks?

A. The zoning classification of your property determines your setbacks. There are different setback requirements for your principal dwelling or use (if non-residential) and for your accessory uses (sheds, detached garages, swimming pools, etc.) Once you have determined your zoning classification, you can click here to find your particular setback in our Code of Ordinances.

Q. Why do I need a variance?

A. If you are proposing work that does not comply with the Zoning Ordinance, you have to apply for a variance to be able to move forward. Variances permit modifications to setbacks, height, area, etc. in most zoning districts. Keep in mind that variances are not granted automatically and are required to meet certain criteria to be approved.

Q. When do I need a site plan approval?

A. Site Plan approval is required for any new commercial, industrial or multiple family developments. It is also required when there is a substantial change of use in an existing building and/or property.

Public Works

Q. Where does my drinking water come from?

A. Our drinking water comes from two sources: Lake Huron Treatment Plant in Port Huron, which is owned and operated by the City of Detroit, as well as directly from the City of Detroit.

Q. Why are sewer costs higher than water costs?

A. In order to filter and treat the sewage that comes from our Township, the sewage must be pumped back to the City of Detroit. From there, Detroit filters and treats the sewage.

Q. Where can I pay my water bill if I cannot get to the Municipal Offices during normal business hours?

A. If you are able to get to the municipal office between the hours of 8:00am and 4:30pm, you can drop off your water bill at the Treasurer’s Department. After normal business hours, we have a drop box located at the building entrance with the atrium. Please enclose your payment in an envelope marked “Water Department”. Please do not put cash in the drop box.

If you wish to apply for Direct Payment, please click here..

Q. How can I lower my water bill?

A. You can learn about water conservation. Check for leaks in you faucets and hose connections, replace worn out fixtures and washers. To test your toilet, add several drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. If it is leaking, the food coloring will appear in your toilet bowl without having to flush your toilet. You may also want to consider using your sprinkler system in early morning or evening hours. The DPW also offers a second meter for your outside water usage. The charges incurred are for water use only. To apply for a second meter, click here..

Senior Center

Q. Where is the Chesterfield Senior Center located?

A. The Chesterfield Senior Center is adjacent to the Township Municipal Offices, located at 47275 Sugarbush Road, 586-949-0400 ext. 1138.

Q. What are the Chesterfield Senior Center business hours?

A. Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.

Q. Does Chesterfield Township have senior housing?

A. The Charter Township of Chesterfield currently has no senior citizen housing. For information regarding senior citizen housing please contact Macomb County Senior Services at (586) 469-6313

Q. What kind of senior transportation is available?

A. Charter Township of Chesterfield Senior Transportation Program (In Partnership with SMART and Richmond Lenox EMS).  This transportation services is available to senior citizens (55 years of age and older) and disabled persons that are residents of the Charter Township of Chesterfield.

The service area boundaries are I-69 to the north, 16 Mile Road to the south, Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River to the east and M-53 to the west.

Transportation is available from 8:00am until 5:00pm Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Travel must be scheduled a minimum of 3 days in advance and is scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Transportation reservations are taken up to four months in advance. Seating is limited. The schedule transportation call 586-749-7713.

Note: The dispatcher will answer the phone “Richmond Lenox EMS”.

There is no cost for this service. A donation is suggested.

Township Supervisor

Q. Whose responsibility is it to take care of the roads?

A. All of the roads in Chesterfield Township are either County roads or private roads. It is the County’s responsibility to maintain County roads and the resident’s responsibility to maintain private roads. However, the Township, in working with the County, does grade or plow snow on County roads, if the County gives the Township authorization.

A. With regards to dust, the County usually pays for one application of chloride. All other applications are paid for out of the Township’s general fund.

A. All public roads in Chesterfield Township are under the jurisdiction of the Road Commission of Macomb County. Snow removal on all roadways, major, secondary and residential are done by their crews. When there is more than

2 inches accumulation, residential roads are to be cleaned. Township crews are only permitted to assist with snow removal when authorized by the Road Commission and routes are forwarded to the Township Department of Public Works. Please direct inquires to 586-468-8671.

A. The residents call the Drain Commission office at 586-469-5325 or the Township offices at 586-949-0400.

A. The Township Board cannot overturn a ZBA decision. The only way the ZBA decision can be overturned is through Circuit Court. The Township Board can enter into a consent court agreement to settle a ZBA appeal.

A. New lights were installed at Pollard Park so that soccer and baseball can be played on the existing diamonds at night. A hike/bike path was installed for residents to use if they want to walk, roller blade or ride their bikes. A new concession stand will be ready in the spring.

A hike/bike trail was put through Brandenburg Park and a 3 mile senior citizen walking loop was installed behind the Municipal Building off of Sugarbush. Connie M. Bowles Memorial Park is being developed on 25 Mile and Gratiot to service residents in the north end of the Township. Recently the township also aquired surplus government property on Chesterfield Road South of 25 Mile Road.

A. Rizzo Services has been contracted as the single waste hauler for the Township. Residents can call 866-772-8900 with any questions for concerns.

A. Wetlands are protected by the DEQ, which is a state-operated department. The Township has no control over existing wetlands.

A. There are two cable companies in the Township. One is Comcast and the other is AT&T, which has limited service at this time. The Township does everything possible to permit competition for cable services.

Township Treasurer

Q. When are my taxes due?

A. Your Summer tax is due from July 1 to September 14 without penalty.  However, you can still pay that tax statement at the Municipal Offices through February 28, but that payment must have the interest charges included. Interest amounts are as follows:

• September 15-30, 1%
• October 1-31, 2%
• November 1-30, 3%
• December 1-31, 4%
• January 1-31, 5%
• February 1-28, 6%

Your winter tax is due from December 1 payable up to February 14 without penalty.

Q. Where do I pay a delinquent tax statement?

A. Taxes that become delinquent as of March 1 must be paid at the Macomb County Treasurers Office in Mt. Clemens, Michigan.

Q. What form of payment is accepted for tax statements?

A. Cash, check or money order made payable to the Charter Township of Chesterfield Treasurer. Credit card payments are only accepted online through Official Payment Inc.

Q. Where can I pay my taxes if I cannot get to the Municipal Offices during normal business hours?

A. Huntington Bank and Citizen State Bank will collect tax payments. However, we also have a drop box connected to the Municipal Offices.  Please enclose your payment in an envelope marked “Treasurer’s Office”.  Please do not put cash in the drop box.

Q. Are there any special assessments on my property?

A. You can click here to view your tax, special assessment and assessing information.

Q. Can I claim a Special Assessment payment on income taxes?

A. You will have to seek this advice from your tax advisor.

Q. Does Chesterfield Township have automatic bill payment for taxes and water bills available and will there be a fee for this service?

A. We are planning on having this process being fee free and available by January of 2003. You can click here to get the Enrollment Form necessary.

Q. Does Chesterfield Township accept payments by credit card?

A. We accept credit card for all payments except Taxes and special assessment at the Township Office.  Credit card payments for Taxes are only accepted by phone or online.  To pay your property taxes by credit card over the phone, simply call Official Payments Corp. toll free at (800)2PAY-TAX, (800)272-9829,  and follow the instructions.  You will be prompted to enter a Jurisdiction Code, which is 3298. You will be informed of the convenience fee, which will be based on the amount you are paying.  You will be given a confirmation number at the end of the call, which you should keep for your records.  Your payment will be posted on the next business day.

To pay taxes by credit card over the internet, simply click on this OFFICIAL PAYMENTS link. (This independent third party will charge the taxpayer a fee to use its services. However, unless or until taxes are paid by the way of authorization from the credit card company, those taxes remain the taxpayer's liability)

Q. What school district am I in?

A. The center section of your tax statement has a 5 digit number which identifies the school district you are in. Those numbers are as follows:

• 50170 New Haven
• 50040 Anchor Bay
• 50140 L’Anse Creuse

Q. As a senior citizen is there some way I can pay both my summer and winter taxes in the winter?

A. You can click here for the Application for Deferment of Summer Taxes.

Q. Who do I make my check payable to?

A. Chesterfield Township

Q. How do I go about processing my name, address?

A. If you have a name and address change or correction, please notify the Assessor’s office at (586)949-0400 press 8 then press 5.

Q. How do I make payments to Rizzo Services?

A. Any questions about solid waste services should be directed to Rizzo Services at (866)772-8900. Payments should be sent to the following address or you can pay online.
Rizzo Services
22449 Groesbeck
Warren, MI 48089

Q. How do I contact the Treasurer’s Office?

A. By telephone at (586)949-0400 ext. 6 or by fax at (586)949-4061 or by email eclark@chesterfieldtwp.org.  

Q. Where can I pay my taxes if I cannot get to the Municipal Offices during normal business hours?

A. Huntington Bank will collect tax payments. However, we also have a drop box connected to the Municipal Offices. Please enclose your payment in an envelope marked “Treasurer’s Office”. Please do not put cash in the drop box.