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

Weesaw Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Weesaw township limits: the township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Zoning Ordinance June 2026).

  • District dimensional and use rules are set by the township ordinance; the district schedule was not read within the research budget (see followups).
  • The officially stated effective date of the June 2026 ordinance was not seen in the text read.

  “the dwelling unit shall comply with all restrictions and requirements of this ordinance, including, without limitation, the minimum lot area, minimum lot width, minimum residential floor area, required yard and maximum building height requirements of the zoning district in which it is located.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zoning districts established by the Weesaw township zoning ordinance; the ordinance names at least the A-1 and R-2 districts.

  • Full district list and boundaries were not read; the township zoning map linked from the zoning administration page (Weesaw_Zoning_Map_1-20-10.pdf, dated 2010) was not opened.

  “more than one main building or use may be located on a parcel within the a-1 and r-2 districts for the purposes of providing a dwelling”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes used as dwelling units on land inside Weesaw township.

  • Manufactured home must be installed with the wheels removed and set on a permanent foundation under the ordinance's dwelling-unit paragraph.
  • Dwelling must also meet the minimum lot area, lot width, floor area, yard and height requirements of its zoning district; district figures not yet read.

  “if the dwelling unit is a manufactured home, the manufactured home shall be installed with the wheels removed.”

• Permit processPartial

  Permits for land inside Weesaw township: the township zoning application is the first step.

  • Township says the zoning application is the first step before any other permit except electrical.
  • Building, mechanical and plumbing permits are routed to outside websites; driveway permits go to Berrien County.

  “please use this application as your first step before any other permits other then electrical.”

Rules another office applies inside Weesaw Township

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

• Building permitRequired

  Building construction on land inside Weesaw township: the township states it does not handle building permits and points applicants to an outside building-permit website.

  • The township does not issue building permits itself; the linked Michigan LARA building-permit page was not opened, so the administering agency is not independently confirmed.
  • Building permit applications go through the website the township links; mechanical and plumbing permits are linked separately on the same page.

  “building permits - please use this website to apply for a building permit. weesaw does not handle building permits.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways serving parcels inside Weesaw township; the driveway permit is issued through Berrien County.

  • The township will not accept a house-number request until a driveway permit is obtained through Berrien County.
  • The county driveway permit page linked from the township was not opened; permit fees and standards are unchecked.

  “no house number request can be received until a driveway permit is obtained through berrien county.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Weesaw township.
• Building code adopted — Building code in force for construction inside Weesaw township.
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Weesaw township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new homes inside Weesaw township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum residential floor area for a dwelling in the A-1 district of Weesaw 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.