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

Watervliet Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Parcels inside Watervliet township that are served by a private road (Chapter 390, Article I). Building permits are issued by the township building official only after the private road is approved.

  • Applies to parcels served by a private road; the general building-permit requirement for all parcels was not verified in this run.
  • Building permits for a building on a lot served by a private road require prior approval of the private road by the township board (Section 390-6).

  “no building or occupancy permits shall be issued by the building official for the use of any parcel of land served by a private road unless such road has been approved by the township board as provided herein.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Parcels inside Watervliet township served by a private road: occupancy permits are issued by the township building official only after the private road is approved.

  • Applies only to parcels served by a private road (Chapter 390, Article I). The general certificate-of-occupancy rule for other parcels was not verified.

  “no building or occupancy permits shall be issued by the building official for the use of any parcel of land served by a private road unless such road has been approved by the township board as provided herein.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Charter Township of Watervliet limits: the township's own Chapter 450 zoning ordinance applies (the township code index lists chapter 450 zoning, sections 450-1 through 450-95)

  • The Chapter 450 Zoning text (district tables, use tables) was not opened in this run; only the code index and cross-references to chapter 450 were verified.
  • The township code index shows legislation through 02-29-2024.

  “required by chapter 450, zoning, of the watervliet township code, as amended.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions inside Watervliet township limits

  • Subdivision regulation sits in the township code's Chapter 397 (subdivision and site condominium development) and Chapter 250 (land division); the article text was not opened in this run.
  • Private roads serving lots must meet Chapter 390 standards and township board approval.

  “chapter 397 subdivision and site condominium development (§ 397-1 – § 397-25)”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Lots in Watervliet township that do not abut a public street

  • A private driveway serving one one-family or one two-family residence is excluded from the private-road definition, so it is not covered by this rule.
  • Private road easements must be at least 66 feet wide for residential use (Section 390-4).

  private road easement width, residential: >= 66 feet (private road serving residential uses)

  “any lot or parcel of land which does not abut a public street shall abut a private road meeting the standards of this article.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Private road approval fees under Chapter 390 in Watervliet township

  • Fees are set by township board resolution and may be amended; the fee amounts were not located.
  • Building permit fee schedules were not located.

  “fees to be charged pursuant to this article shall be as set, or from time to time amended, by a resolution of the township board.”

• Permit processPartial

  Buildings on lots served by a private road inside Watervliet township

  • Published process covers private road approval only: site plan under chapter 450 article XII, maintenance agreement, planning commission preliminary approval, township board preliminary and final approval, township engineer inspection.
  • General building-permit application process was not located.

  “prior to issuing a building permit for a building on a lot served by a private road, the private road shall be approved by the township board”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Watervliet township
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Watervliet township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes inside Watervliet township
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts of Watervliet township's Chapter 450 zoning ordinance
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the main single-family residential district inside Watervliet 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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Watervliet Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.