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

Monterey Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Monterey township limits; the township administers its own zoning ordinance (revised 2024) rather than county zoning.

  • The township's own zoning page states it is a zoned community; the revised ordinance is linked from that page as 'zoning ordinance-revised 2024'.
  • Zoning-only topics below are answered from the township ordinance, not from county zoning.

  “monterey township is a zoned community. for information regarding building permits, rezoning and special use permits please contact professional code inspectors of dorr at (616) 877-2000.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts and map for land inside Monterey township

  • The zoning map is linked separately and was not opened; district regulations were read in the 2024 ordinance text for chapters 6 and 7 only.

  “zoning documents zoning ordinance-revised 2024 zoning map master land use plan-2023 future land use map”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwellings in the R-1 rural estate district inside Monterey township

  • Applies to each dwelling unit unless specified elsewhere in the ordinance.

  minimum usable floor area: >= 900 square feet (unless specified elsewhere)

  “each dwelling unit, unless specified elsewhere, shall have a minimum of nine hundred (900) square feet of usable floor area.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single-family dwellings in the R-2 low density residential district inside Monterey township

    “a. single family dwelling – nine hundred (900) square feet.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the R-2 low density residential district inside Monterey township

  • Where the lot is not served by public water and sewer, the minimum is 1 acre and 150 feet wide.

  minimum lot area: >= 8500 square feet (1 acre where not served by public water and sewer) · minimum lot width: >= 85 feet (150 feet where not served by public water and sewer)

  “d. lot area and width (single family) – the minimum lot area and width for a single- family dwelling shall be eight thousand, five hundred (8,500) square feet and eighty-five (85) feet, respectively; provided, however, that the minimum lot area and width for lots not served with public water and sewer shall be one (1) acre and one hundred fifty (150) feet, respectively.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific

  Single-family dwellings in the R-2 low density residential district inside Monterey township

  • Front yard 30 feet.
  • Total side yards at least 20 feet, with no side yard under 7 feet.
  • Rear yard 25 feet; 50 feet on lakefront lots.
  • Lakefront legal nonconforming lots may reduce side yards proportionally, not below 5 feet.

  front yard: >= 30 feet · total side yards: >= 20 feet (no side yard less than 7 feet) · rear yard: >= 25 feet (50 feet on lakefront lots)

  “a. front yard – there shall be a front yard of not less than thirty (30) feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific — Residential buildings in the R-1 rural estate district inside Monterey township

    “a. front yard – there shall be a front yard of not less than fifty (50) feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential buildings and structures in the R-1 rural estate district inside Monterey township

  • Non-residential buildings are not capped at 35 feet; they stay at their usual and customary heights under the same section.

  maximum residential building height: <= 35 feet (residential only)

  “no residential building or structure shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Buildings and structures in the R-2 low density residential district inside Monterey township

    “no building or structure shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height or two and one half (2½) stories.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  A mobile home used as a temporary dwelling for a family member inside Monterey township's A-1, R-1 or R-2 districts

  • Requires a special use authorized by the planning commission.
  • Permit renewed annually; mobile home must be at least 720 square feet and equipped with an ADA-approved access; removal within 60 days after expiration.
  • Mobile home parks are a separate district and section (chapter 8a and section 10.33) that were not opened.

  minimum mobile home size: >= 720 square feet (temporary family dwelling only)

  “within the a-1, r-1 and r-2 districts, the planning commission may authorize by special use, one (1) temporary dwelling within a mobile home for a physically handicapped or an elderly and health impaired immediate family member or members under the following conditions:”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private sanitation on lots inside Monterey township that are not served by public sewer

  • Surface discharge of sink waste and sewage onto land is unlawful in the township.
  • Private sewage disposal must comply with the Allegan county waste and sewage rules to receive a building permit.

  “it shall be unlawful throughout the township to permit waste water from sinks or other similar drains, and sewage to drain onto land, yard, or other spaces from dwellings”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division or creation of lots and parcels inside Monterey township

  • Lot division takes place under the Michigan Subdivision Control Act (PA 288 of 1967), as the ordinance states.
  • No lot, parcel, or tract may be divided or created unless each resulting lot has its required minimum lot width adjacent to a state highway, county road, or approved private road.

  “the division of lots shall take place in accordance with the subdivision control act, michigan public act 288 of 1967, as amended.”

Rules another office applies inside Monterey Township

Monterey Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site sewage disposal for a lot inside Monterey township limits that is not served by both public water and sewer (county health rules apply in the township area)

  • The township ties building permits to the Allegan county waste and sewage rules; the county rules themselves were not opened.
  • Lots served by public water and sewer are not subject to this check.

  “no permit shall be issued for the construction of a building or structure which is to have drinking water and/or sanitary facilities located therein”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Monterey township limits
• Building code adopted — New construction inside Monterey township limits
• Inspections — Building inspections for new construction inside Monterey township limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Monterey township limits
• Lot coverage — Building coverage on lots inside Monterey 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.