Bolthole Index

Calhoun County, Michigan

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

Marshall Township is a township in Calhoun County, Michigan. Marshall Township adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Marshall Township’s rules apply, not the county’s. 25 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 30, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Calhoun County page.

Answers from the rulebook for Marshall Township

Marshall Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, enlargement, alteration, conversion or moving of any building or structure inside Marshall township, issued by the township building inspector

    • Exceptions: a structure necessary to an agricultural operation that conforms to district site development regulations; minor repairs that do not change use, occupancy, area, structure, fire hazard, exits, light or ventilation.
    • Application must include a certified county health department permit for on-site water and sewer systems and a Calhoun County Road Commission permit for road cut or culvert work where applicable.
    • Building permit is void unless first inspection occurs within 180 days of issuance.

    first inspection deadline: <= 180 days

    “a building permit is required for and shall be obtained from the building inspector prior to the construction, enlargement, alteration, conversion, or moving of any building or structure except under the following circumstances:”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Marshall township

    • Inspections occur at foundation staking, at completion of the authorized work, and at other times the state construction code requires.
    • Electrical, plumbing and mechanical inspectors are listed separately on the township permits page.
    “the building inspector shall inspect the lot and building and structure which is the subject of an application for a building permit at the time of the staking out of the building foundation, at the completion of the work authorized by the permit and at such other times as are required by the state construction code (act 230)”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Buildings and lots inside Marshall township that required a building, special use or other permit

    • Township calls it an occupancy permit issued by the building inspector.
    • No certificate of occupancy until required site improvements are installed and conditions of approval are satisfied.
    “no lot, building, or structure for which a building, special use, or other permit was or should have been obtained under this ordinance or other law, shall be occupied or used until an occupancy permit shall have been issued by the building inspector.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    All land inside Marshall township's limits (Calhoun County, Michigan), not the county's unincorporated area

    • The township ordinance is a copy hosted on energyzoning.org; the township site lists a zoning ordinance but its own PDF URL was not located. Confirm against the township's own copy.
    • Section 1-1 states the ordinance applies to every building, lot, parcel, structure, and use.
    “zoning ordinance fire department organizational ordinance 1987-2”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Marshall township

    • Districts in the ordinance include ag, r-1, r-2, r-3, mh, oc, ab, cs, hs, li, ip, a corridor overlay (art. 5) and PUD districts (art. 6).
    • Schedules of uses for each district group are in Article 3 and Article 4 (tables 3.2 and 4.2).
    “article 2 zoning districts and map section 2-1 zoning districts section 2-2 zoning map”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Principal dwellings in the AG agricultural district of Marshall township

    • Table 3.3 footnote markers are not fully legible in the extracted text.

    minimum gross floor area: >= 800 sq ft

    “principal building size max. height (ft.) 403 35 35 35 max. stories 3 2½ 2½ 3 min. gfa (s.f.) 800 800 800 600”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Lots in the R-1 low density residential district of Marshall township

    • Same minimum for sewer and septic service (30,000 sq ft); minimum width 150 ft for sewer and septic.
    • Column alignment in the extracted text was inferred; footnotes 1 and 2 not legible.

    minimum lot area: >= 30000 sq ft (sewer or septic service) · minimum lot width: >= 150 ft (sewer or septic service)

    “table 3.3 spatial requirements: agricultural and residential districts requirement ag r-1 r-2 r-3 lots 1 min. area (s.f.) sewer 2 ac 30,000 15,000 septic 2 ac 30,000 30,000”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Principal buildings in the R-1 low density residential district of Marshall township

    • Accessory building setbacks differ (front 60 ft for ag per Table 3.3); R-1 accessory setbacks not separately confirmed from the extracted table.
    • Footnote 5 on the least-side setback is not legible.

    minimum front setback: >= 50 ft · minimum least side setback: >= 20 ft · minimum total side setback: >= 40 ft · minimum rear setback: >= 50 ft

    “principal building setbacks min. front (ft.) 60 50 30 35 min. least side (ft.) 50 20 10 505 min. total side (ft.) 100 40 25 100 min. rear (ft.) 50 50 35 502”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Lots in the AG agricultural district of Marshall township

    • Lot coverage is a maximum share of the lot; column assignment inferred from the extracted table.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 15 %

    “max. lot coverage 15% 20% 30% 35% principal building setbacks min. front (ft.) 60 50 30 35”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Principal buildings in the R-1 low density residential district of Marshall township

    • Maximum 35 ft and 2.5 stories; height is measured under section 7-9 of the ordinance.

    maximum building height: <= 35 ft · maximum stories: <= 2.5 stories

    “principal building size max. height (ft.) 403 35 35 35 max. stories 3 2½ 2½ 3 min. gfa (s.f.) 800 800 800 600”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Recreational vehicles parked on residential lots inside Marshall township

    • RVs may not have a permanent fixed connection to electricity, water, gas or sanitary sewer and may not be used for permanent living.
    • Temporary living in a driveway is limited to 21 days, no more than two times per calendar year, with at least 30 days between occasions; permits are required for temporary living purposes.
    • Outdoor RV parking on a residential lot is limited to two under 32 feet or one over 32 feet.

    temporary living stay: <= 21 days (per occasion, no more than two occasions per calendar year)

    “recreational vehicles may be parked temporarily in driveways for temporary living purposes up to 21 days, no more than two (2) times per calendar year, with no less than 30 days between each occasion.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwellings on residential lots inside Marshall township

    • Detached accessory dwellings are prohibited.
    • Only one attached accessory dwelling unit per principal structure and per lot.
    • Attached unit must be integrated within or attached to the principal dwelling, meet principal setbacks, keep a residential appearance, and have no separate utility meter or mailing address.

    attached accessory dwelling units per lot: <= 1 units

    “detached accessory dwellings prohibited. no detached accessory building shall be used for dwelling purposes.”
  • Off-grid sanitationProhibited

    Buildings meant for human occupancy inside Marshall township without an approved water source and sanitary disposal system

    • Applies to occupancy of the building, not to temporary camping or agricultural structures, which were not researched in this pass.
    “no building meant for human occupancy may be used without an approved water source and sanitary disposal system.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    New buildings for human occupancy inside Marshall township

    • Ordinance text does not require connection to public water or sewer when it is available; it allows either county well/septic permits or a proposal to connect to public water and sewer.
    • Distance-based mandatory connection rule not found in the zoning text reviewed.
    “water, sewer, and septic zoning and building permits shall not be issued for any structure required to have water and sanitary facilities unless well and septic permits are issued by the calhoun county health department or are proposed to be connected to public water and sewer systems.”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Structures necessary to an agricultural operation inside Marshall township (exempt from building permit only)

    • Exempt only if placement conforms to the site development regulations of the district.
    • Applies to building permit only; zoning and septic/well rules were not checked for ag structures.
    “the erection of any structure necessary to an agricultural operation so long as the placement of the building or structure shall conform to the site development regulations of the district in which it is located.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division or subdivision of land inside Marshall township

    • Land must be divided consistent with the zoning ordinance and the Michigan Land Division Act.
    • Township ordinances page lists a land division ordinance (2005) and a subdivision regulation ordinance (2009-01); their texts were not opened.
    “no parcel of land shall be divided in a manner that conflicts with any provisions of this ordinance or the michigan land division act.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Development inside mapped floodplains in Marshall township

    • Certain outdoor storage, bridges and similar structures are prohibited in a floodplain unless they cause no significant obstruction.
    • Township flood plain management ordinance (2011) is listed on the township ordinances page; its text was not opened.
    “storage of materials and equipment is prohibited unless such elements would not cause any significant obstruction to the flow, or reduction in the impoundment capacity of the floodplain.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning, building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and sign permits issued by Marshall township

    • Fee schedules are linked as separate documents on the township permits page; amounts were not opened in this pass.
    • Permit is issued after payment of the required fee.
    “zoning fee schedule permit fee schedule mechanical permit electrical permit zoning permit building and plan examination permit plumbing permit sign permit”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Permit applications for work inside Marshall township

    • Applications are printed from the township site and processed once payment is received.
    • Permit becomes invalid if work does not begin within six months of issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for six months.
    • Questions go to the township office at 269.781.7976.

    permit validity if work not begun: 6 months

    “any permit issued shall become invalid if the work is not begun within six (6) months after issuance of the permit or if the work is suspended or abandoned for a period of six (6) months after time of commencing the work.”

Rules another office applies inside Marshall Township

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

  • Septic permitRequired

    Septic systems for buildings meant for human occupancy inside Marshall township, where the building is not connected to public sewer

    • Permit issued by the Calhoun County health department; a certified county health permit must accompany the township building permit application.
    • Permit certifies the on-site water and sewer system conforms to the county sanitary code.
    “certified permit from the county health department stating that the proposed on-site water and sewer system is in conformance with the county sanitary code.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Private wells serving structures inside Marshall township that are not connected to public water

    • Well permit issued by the Calhoun County health department, as the township ordinance requires for well and septic permits.
    • Applies where the structure requires water and is not proposed for connection to public water.
    “water, sewer, and septic zoning and building permits shall not be issued for any structure required to have water and sanitary facilities unless well and septic permits are issued by the calhoun county health department or are proposed to be connected to public water and sewer systems.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit eligibility inside Marshall township
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings inside Marshall township
  • Septic inspection — Septic system inspection inside Marshall township
  • Driveway access — Driveway access to lots inside Marshall township
  • Short-term rentals — Short-term rental of dwellings inside Marshall 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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Marshall Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Calhoun County’s page lists the county offices to call.

Off-grid gear

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

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