Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Cheshire Township, Michigan

Cheshire Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Cheshire township limits: the township administers its own zoning ordinance (Cheshire Township Zoning Ordinance).

  • The township zoning ordinance text itself was not opened within the research budget; the existence and administration of zoning is shown by the township's own variance packet and permits page.
  • The ordinance was adopted in 2007 and has been amended; the variance packet does not give the amendment dates.

  “the current cheshire township zoning ordinance was adopted in 2007 and includes various amendments made since then.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Structures used for agricultural purposes on agricultural land inside Cheshire township

  • The structure must be used 100% for agricultural purposes; otherwise a building permit is required.
  • The township offers an agricultural zoning application and an agricultural exempt letter of understanding, per the permits page.
  • Accessory agricultural buildings are approved by the zoning officer for setbacks, size and location under the letter of understanding (not opened).

  “*must be 100% ag use or a building permit is mandatory.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and condominium subdivisions of land inside Cheshire township

  • The permits page lists a land division approval application, land combination application and boundary line adjustment application, plus ordinance 450 for proposed plat condo subdivision.
  • Approval standards and lot-size rules for divisions were not read in the ordinance text.

  “land division approval application land combination application boundary line adjustment application”

• Permit feesPublished

  Zoning compliance permit fee for construction and use in Cheshire township (zoning only; not building permit fees)

  • Building permit fees are handled by P.C.I. and were not published on opened pages.
  • Other township application fees (variance, special land use) were not read.

  zoning compliance permit fee: 50 USD

  “cheshire township zoning compliance permit date fee $________ ($50.00 payable to cheshire township)”

• Permit processPartial

  Township zoning and land-use application process inside Cheshire township; building permits follow a separate P.C.I. process

  • Variance applicants must complete the application form with the lot diagram and attachments, and pay the fee in full before the application is considered complete.
  • Zoning compliance permits require a site plan drawing with north indicated; building permits go to P.C.I.

  “applicant must complete the application for variance form, including the “lot diagram” sheet and any other required attachments.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Cheshire Township or Allegan County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from building permits inside Cheshire township
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Cheshire township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Cheshire township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new construction inside Cheshire township
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts of Cheshire township

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.