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

Sherwood Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Sherwood township's limits. The township administers its own zoning ordinance, which is referred to as the township zoning ordinance.

  • The base zoning ordinance text could not be read: the township zoning PDF (sherwoodtwpmi.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/zoning.pdf) is scanned and exceeded the 10 MB open-page limit, so its adoption date and full text are not confirmed here.
  • The quoted language amends the township zoning ordinance by Ordinance No. 19, adopted December 5, 2019, which is the only adoption date found; it is not recorded as the zoning ordinance's effective date.

  “section 26.17 of the township zoning ordinance is amended to read as follows:”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Land inside Sherwood township, as named in the wind energy amendment to the township zoning ordinance. The amendment names the agricultural, small business and residential zoned districts.

  • Only the district categories named in the wind energy amendment were confirmed; the district map and the full list of districts were not readable.
  • Small-scale wind energy systems are permitted only as a special use approved by the planning commission under the amended section 26.17.

  “small scale (on-site) wecs are permitted as a special use in agricultural, small business, and residential zoned property.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit application process for construction inside Sherwood township. The township page directs residents and contractors to permit applications and to its SafeBuilt Athens office.

  • The page publishes contacts and application documents but not step-by-step process steps; SafeBuilt Athens office is listed at 107 S. Capital Avenue, Athens, MI 49011.
  • Permit process details require the application documents, which were not opened.

  “for current residents or contractors working in one of the communities we serve, you can find permit applications, building guides, and other community specific documents.”

Rules another office applies inside Sherwood Township

Sherwood 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)

  Onsite sewage and well permits for property inside Sherwood township. The township's building page directs sewer and well permits to the Health Department of Branch County.

  • The health department's own service area and rules were not opened; the township page is the only source for this routing.
  • Listed on the township page under the heading 'sewer or well permit'.

  “sewer or well permit health department of branch county address: 570 marshall rd., coldwater, mi 49036”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permit requirement for new residential construction inside Sherwood township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for a homeowner building their own home inside Sherwood township
• Building code adopted — State construction codes administered for construction inside Sherwood township
• Inspections — Building inspection requirements for construction inside Sherwood township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside Sherwood 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.