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

Valley Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction and renovation on land inside Valley township; the township's building permits are handled by Michigan Township Services for the township

  • Structural re-roofing requires a building permit; replacing shingles only does not (township zoning page).
  • Mechanical, electrical and plumbing work is also covered by the permit notice.

  “structural re-roofing your house requires a building permit.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Valley township

  • Inspections are part of the permit process per the township enforcement page; the page does not list an inspection schedule.

  “you have to get permits and have inspections but that is your protection.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Valley township, Allegan County, Michigan, under the township's own zoning ordinance (zoning book titled Valley Township Zoning Ordinance)

  • The zoning book on the township site is marked revised October 2007; the township ordinance index also lists it as 'rev. 2007', so later amendments may not appear in the PDF.
  • Zoning districts and dimensional limits are in the township zoning book; land use is conditional on compliance with those district rules.

  “valley township zoning ordinance 2054 north m-40 allegan, mi 49010 phone: 269-673-5962 fax: 269-686-8302”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Mapped zoning districts of Valley township (AG, R-1, R-2, C-1, C-2, I-1)

  • The zoning map is posted on the township site; the zoning book is dated October 2007.

  “chapter v – ag agricultural district section 5.01 – description and purpose section 5.02 – use regulations section 5.03 – height regulations section 5.04 – area regulations”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Agricultural (AG) district lots in Valley township

  • Applies to all uses in the AG district unless specified elsewhere.
  • Lots of record under 12,000 sq ft in AG, R-1 or R-2 may be used for one family use only with a variance from the board of appeals (existing lots of record rule).

  minimum lot area: >= 20 acres (unless specified elsewhere in the district) · minimum lot width: >= 250 feet

  “(d) lot area – the minimum lot area and width for all uses in this district, unless specified elsewhere, shall be twenty (20) acres and two hundred fifty (250) feet, respectively.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 rural estates district lots in Valley township (the township's main single-family residential district)

    “(d) lot area – the minimum lot, parcel or building site area and width for all uses shall be two (2) acre and one hundred (100) feet, respectively.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  AG agricultural district in Valley township

  • Setbacks in the AG district apply to all buildings and structures under section 5.04.

  front yard minimum: >= 50 feet · total side yards minimum (residential): >= 50 feet (no side yard less than 20 feet) · minimum single side yard (residential): >= 20 feet · rear yard minimum: >= 50 feet

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

• Building heightSpecified

  AG agricultural district in Valley township

  • Non-residential buildings and structures are limited to their usual and customary heights.

  maximum residential building height: <= 35 feet (other buildings: usual and customary heights)

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

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — R-1 rural estates district in Valley township (main single-family residential district)

    “no residential building or structure shall exceed thirtyfive (35) feet in height. all other buildings and structures shall not exceed their usual and customary heights.”

  • Specified — R-2 low density residential district in Valley township

    “no building or structure shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height or two and one half (2 ½) stories.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Occupying a camper or trailer on private residential property in Valley township under the township camping permit (ordinance 242)

  • Permit holder must register under ordinance 242 and comply with the form's conditions.
  • Trailer and occupants must comply with all Allegan County health department codes.
  • Camper must have full cooking, full bath and toilet facilities, heating, and gray water and sewage dumped off site.
  • Only family members of the property owner can camp on the property.
  • If unoccupied for more than two weeks the camper must be removed.
  • No such arrangements will be permitted during the period of October 15 through April 15 of any given year.
  • All setbacks must be complied with.

  “only family members of the property owner can camp on the property.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping on private residential property in Valley township under the township camping permit (ordinance 242)

  • Camping is permitted only with a township permit and registration under ordinance 242.
  • No camping permitted October 15 through April 15 of any year.
  • Campfires need a burn permit and must follow state DNR rules; garbage cannot be burned.
  • Camper must be removed if unoccupied for more than two weeks.

  camping season closed: October 15 through April 15 date range

  “no such arrangements will be permitted during the period of october 15 through april 15 of any given year”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes in the AG agricultural district of Valley township

  • Mobile homes must be 10 years old or newer.
  • Each mobile home must have vinyl siding and shingle roofs.
  • Amendment to the zoning ordinance dated May 9, 2002, per the source text.

  maximum age of mobile home: <= 10 years

  “(e) there shall be a 10 year or newer limit on mobile homes and each shall require vinyl siding and shingle roofs.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivision or site condominium projects inside Valley township

  • The township index lists a land division ordinance (206, 1997) and a subdivision-site condominium ordinance (207, 1999); their text was not opened.
  • Ordinance 210 (private roads, 1999) is also listed and may apply to access.

  “206 land divison 11/24/1997 207 subdivison-site condo 05/10/1999”

• Permit processPartial

  Building and zoning permit process for work inside Valley township

  • The township directs permit questions to its contractor, Michigan Township Services (269-673-3239, 111 Grand St., Allegan), with building inspector Brian MacCartny.
  • No application steps, fees or timelines were found on the official pages opened.

  “notice: building permits and zoning are now handled through michigan township services 269-673-3239, 111 grand st., allegan, mi 49010”

Rules another office applies inside Valley Township

Valley 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)

  Private sanitary facilities on lots inside Valley township that are not served by both public water and sewer; the Allegan County waste and sewage rules govern, as the township zoning book defers to them (applies inside Valley township only)

  • The building permit is withheld unless the lot's water supply or sewage disposal complies with Allegan County rules.
  • Applies only to lots not served by both public water and public sewer.

  “section 11.16 health department approval. 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 and which is to be located on a lot which is not served by both public water and sewer facilities if its water supply and/or sewage disposal facilities, as the case may be, does not comply with the rules and regulations governing waste and sewage disposal of allegan county.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for homeowners in Valley township
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Valley township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Valley township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for a single-family dwelling in Valley township
• Lot coverage — Building coverage or lot coverage limit in Valley township districts

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.