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

Bainbridge Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction, siding, roofing or renovation projects in Bainbridge township

  • Demolition permit also required before removing any structure.
  • Permit is issued by the township building department; check with the building inspector before starting work.

  “building permits are required for any new construction, siding, roofing or renovation projects.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New construction and renovation permitted by the Bainbridge township building department

  • Codes are the Michigan codes the township building department states it follows; the state construction code framework itself is not separately verified here.

  “the township building department operates in conformance with the: 2015 michigan residential code 2021 michigan building code (commercial)”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Bainbridge township limits (Berrien County, Michigan): the township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance

  • Cover of Zoning Ordinance 49V gives effective January 23, 2024; the body of the same document still carries the earlier 49U text (approved February 14, 2022, effective February 25, 2022), so the operative version should be confirmed with the township.
  • Search results also showed 2024 rezonings (49W, 49X) that were not opened; their effect on the district map is unverified.

  “ordinance no. 49v bainbridge township berrien county, michigan zoning ordinance 49v adopted: february 12, 2024 published: january 15, 2024 effective: january 23, 2024”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts of Bainbridge township, including Residential-Agricultural, Single Family, Multiple Family, Mobile Home, Commercial, Commercial Agriculture, Industrial and Agriculture districts

  • Official zoning map is a separate document; not opened.

  “the township is hereby divided into zones, or districts, as shown on the official zoning map”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 single-family residential district in Bainbridge township

  • Schedule footnote (b) applies to this row and was not resolved.
  • Width at road shown in the same row is 120 feet.

  minimum lot area: >= 21000 sq ft

  “r-1 single-family residential (b) 40 10 10 2 30 21,000 120”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R-AG residential-agricultural district in Bainbridge township

    “r-ag, residential-agricultural (b) 25 15 15 2-1/2 40 217,800 (5 acres) 235”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 single-family residential district in Bainbridge township

  • Front 40 ft, side 10 ft, rear 10 ft per the schedule row; footnote (b) unresolved.
  • Setbacks for other uses (including accessory buildings) may differ.

  front yard setback: >= 40 ft · side yard setback: >= 10 ft · rear yard setback: >= 10 ft

  “r-1 single-family residential (b) 40 10 10 2 30 21,000 120”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R-AG residential-agricultural district in Bainbridge township

    “r-ag, residential-agricultural (b) 25 15 15 2-1/2 40 217,800 (5 acres) 235”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 single-family residential district in Bainbridge township

  • Maximum 2 stories and 30 feet per the schedule row; footnote (b) unresolved.
  • Exceptions to height are in a separate supplementary section not read.

  maximum building height: <= 30 ft · maximum stories: <= 2 stories

  “r-1 single-family residential (b) 40 10 10 2 30 21,000 120”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — R-AG residential-agricultural district in Bainbridge township

    “r-ag, residential-agricultural (b) 25 15 15 2-1/2 40 217,800 (5 acres) 235”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicle housing guests or visitors on a residential lot in Bainbridge township; no general RV-residence rule was found

  • Limit is 30 days in any twelve consecutive month period.
  • Occupants must have unrestricted use of the principal dwelling's sewage disposal and water supply facilities.
  • Appears in the temporary-occupancy provisions of Article VI; the exact section number was not confirmed.

  guest RV stay: <= 30 days (in any twelve consecutive month period)

  “in the case of recreational vehicles providing temporary housing of guests or visitors on the premises, such use shall be permitted for a period of time not to exceed thirty (30) days in any twelve (12) consecutive month period”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and plats inside Bainbridge township

  • Article XX (Land Division and Condominium Regulations) exists; its substantive standards were not read.
  • Shadow-drive (unplatted 66-foot right-of-way) access is limited to one single-family home per parcel, with planning commission final site-plan approval before a building permit.

  “it shall be unlawful for any property owner to divide and record the division of land within the township pursuant to the michigan land division act, act 288 of 1967, as amended or the michigan condominium act, act 59 of 1978, as amended, except as regulated by the bainbridge land division ordinance, without first having received approval of the planning commission and township board as set forth herein.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Access to a single house lot by shadow drive (unplatted right-of-way) in Bainbridge township

  • Permitted only for one single-family home on one individual parcel, subject to minimum lot size.
  • Recorded easement with the Berrien County Register of Deeds; planning commission final site-plan approval before a building permit.

  shadow drive right-of-way width: >= 66 ft (minimum width)

  “an unplatted right-of-way (shadow drive) with a minimum of sixty-six (66’) foot in width would be permitted for only one single-family home, on one individual parcel, subject to the minimum lot size”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit fees for work inside Bainbridge township

  • A 2025 building fee schedule is posted; its amounts were not read.
  • Zoning permit application also has a 2025 form; fee amount unverified.

  “application ag building affidavit 2025 fee schedule building 2025”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building and zoning permit applications for work inside Bainbridge township

  • Packets exist for new homes and remodels; contact is the building/zoning inspector, in office Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 to 10:00 am.
  • Zoning permit form states some work needs no building permit or inspection; which work is not stated.

  “complete applications: building application packet commercial or commercial addition-remodeling packet new homes and remodel packet”

Rules another office applies inside Bainbridge Township

Bainbridge 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 systems on land inside Bainbridge township (an unincorporated township in Berrien County); the Berrien County Health Department rule applies there

  • Applies to homes where a public sewer is not available.
  • The page does not name Bainbridge township specifically; the county's coverage of the township rests on its countywide jurisdiction.

  “protect the health and environment of the rural and suburban population of berrien county by regulating the placement of on-site sewage systems for homes where a public sewer is not available.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption in Bainbridge township
• Inspections — Inspections for construction inside Bainbridge township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Bainbridge township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for a dwelling in Bainbridge township
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage in Bainbridge 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.