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

Porter Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Porter Township, Cass County, Michigan.

  • The ordinance regulates structures, land, and use; separate laws and restrictions may also apply.

  “Zoning affects all structures and land and the use thereof.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes used as temporary living quarters while a dwelling is being constructed on the same premises in Porter Township.

  • A special temporary permit is required.
  • Sanitary requirements must first be approved by the Building Inspector under Cass County Board of Health standards.

  temporary living-quarter duration: <= 12 months (While a dwelling is being constructed on the same premises.)

  “A mobile home may be used as temporary living quarters for up to twelve months”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions within Porter Township.

  • The ordinance addresses divisions resulting in parcels under 40 acres, subject to its statutory definitions and exemptions.

  “establishing reasonable standards for prior review and approval of land divisions within the Township.”

Rules another office applies inside Porter Township

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

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  R-2 Residential District dwellings in Porter Township.

  • Each unit of a two-family dwelling must provide the minimum floor area.

  minimum floor area: >= 800 square feet (Each unit if a two family dwelling shall provide such minimum floor area.)

  “Floor area: There shall be a minimum floor area of 800 square feet. Each unit if a two family dwelling shall provide such minimum floor area.(Amended 05/14/96)”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-2 Residential District lots in Porter Township.

  • Lots in a municipal sanitary sewer system district have a smaller minimum.

  minimum lot size outside municipal sanitary sewer district: >= 24000 square feet · minimum lot size in municipal sanitary sewer district: >= 20000 square feet (Located within a municipal sanitary sewer system district.)

  “Minimum lot size shall be twenty four thousand square feet”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Campgrounds in Porter Township recreational districts.

  • All campgrounds must meet cited state-law requirements and be state licensed.
  • All camping units must remain mobile when parked.
  • Campsites must be designated and marked.

  minimum separation between camping units: >= 20 feet (Includes temporary porches and cabanas.)

  “All camping units must remain mobile when parked.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Rural properties inside Porter Township, which is in Cass County.

  • The cited health department describes its service as rural areas of Cass and Van Buren Counties.

  “Our Environmental Health Division is here to help ensure these systems are safe, efficient, and properly maintained”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Health-district well and septic projects in Cass County, including Porter Township.

  • The form labels the schedule as the updated 2026 fee schedule.
  • Some services require a scaled site drawing.

  new-construction septic-system fee: 300 USD (Scale drawing required.) · new-construction well-permit fee: 300 USD (Scale drawing required.)

  “* Septic system NEW CONSTRUCTION * $300.00 fee [...] * Well permit NEW CONSTRUCTION * $300.00 fee”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Well and septic project or inspection applications for Cass County properties, including Porter Township.

  • The applicant must review the fee schedule, complete the form, and submit payment.
  • The application requires property location and other project information.

  “Use the form below to submit the information about your project.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building construction inside Porter Township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Porter Township.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Porter Township.
• Inspections — Building work inside Porter Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Buildings inside Porter 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.