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

Waverly Township’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Waverly township's limits: the township does not appear on the county's list of townships with their own zoning, so county zoning governs. Not an own-ordinance claim.

  • The county page names Burt Township and four incorporated municipalities as the only places with their own zoning; Waverly township is not named.
  • No Waverly township zoning ordinance was located on an official page; the township's own site was not located or opened.

  “cheboygan county zoning authority covers all townships except burt township and those areas outside of the incorporated villages of mackinaw city and wolverine and the city of cheboygan.”

Rules another office applies inside Waverly Township

Waverly 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

  New residential construction inside Waverly township's limits, permitted through Cheboygan County Department of Building Safety

  • Additions, decks, remodels and changes of use also require a permit; detached accessory buildings under 200 square feet and agricultural-only buildings are exempt.
  • Zoning department approval is required before the building permit is issued.
  • Applicable only if the county office handles permits for Waverly township; the county page does not name the township specifically.

  “most new construction will require a building permit.”

• Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Owner-occupant building their own residence on their own land inside Waverly township's limits

  • The owner can apply for a homeowner's permit only where the project is done for themselves on their own property.
  • Work contracted out to others must be done by a licensed contractor who normally applies for the permit.
  • This is a homeowner permit process, not a formal exemption from permits.

  “a building owner can do a building project themselves, as long as it is for their own use and on their own property.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  New construction inside Waverly township's limits, through the state building code as enforced by Cheboygan County Building Safety

  • The county page describes the 2015 Michigan residential code as a reference, but the text is cut off on the page, so the specific code edition is not quoted here.
  • No township-level building code adoption was found.

  “the entire state of michigan is under the “2015 michigan residential code” for one and two family dwellings, and the “2021 michigan building code” and/or “2021 michigan rehabilitation code” for all other buildings.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  County zoning districts that apply inside Waverly township's limits

  • Official map is kept by the county zoning administrator; the county's map image is not the official map.
  • Districts include d-rs residential development, m-af agriculture and forestry, p-ls, p-nr, p-rc and others.

  “3.8.1. this ordinance establishes the following zoning districts in cheboygan county.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family dwellings in the d-rs residential development district under county zoning in Waverly township's limits

  • Floor area excludes basements, breezeways, porches or attached garages (section 17.1 note b).
  • Other districts (including agriculture and forestry m-af) not read; see followups.
  • Apartments and multi-family units have separate minimum floor space in section 17.2.6.

  minimum floor area, d-rs: >= 720 sq ft (basements, breezeways, porches and attached garages excluded)

  “d-rs residential development 720 d 14 d 12,000 d 75 d 30 8 12 35”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lots in the d-rs residential development district under county zoning in Waverly township's limits

  • Lot area figure is from the section 17.1 table row for d-rs; the table's lot-width and setback columns were not confidently parsed and are not stated here.
  • Other districts (including agriculture and forestry m-af) not read; see followups.

  minimum lot area, d-rs: >= 12000 sq ft

  “d-rs residential development 720 d 14 d 12,000 d 75 d 30 8 12 35”

• Septic permitRequired

  New residence (and additions adding bedrooms or garages with living quarters or a bathroom) inside Waverly township's limits

  • Septic approval must be obtained before the building permit is issued.
  • The county building page states that a copy of approved septic permit is needed; the permit itself is issued by the health department.

  “if your building permit is for a new residence, a residence addition that is adding additional bedrooms to the home or a garage with living quarters and/or a bathroom, septic approval will be required from the health department.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and open-space subdivisions on land inside Waverly township's limits, under county zoning

  • Article 16 governs open space subdivisions; the county reviews land division splits with the site plan.
  • State land division rules (Michigan Land Division Act) and county land division approvals were not separately read.

  “the county shall simultaneously approve the land division splits, if applicable, as part of the review.”

• Short-term rentalsAllowed

  Short-term rentals on land inside Waverly township's limits, under county zoning

  • Section 3.18 (amendment #147, rev. 05/02/18) applies in all zoning districts of the county ordinance.
  • Other state or county rules (e.g., septic capacity) still apply; not separately checked.

  “short term rentals shall be permitted uses in all zoning districts.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit application process for construction inside Waverly township's limits

  • Applications may be submitted by email, fax or mail, or dropped in the county building drop box.
  • Zoning approval and septic approval are needed before the building permit is issued for new residences.

  “please submit all permit applications to our department via”

Still unanswered

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

• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy approval for new construction inside Waverly township's limits
• Setbacks — Front, side and rear setbacks for dwellings inside Waverly township's limits
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage for dwellings inside Waverly township's limits
• Building height — Building height for dwellings inside Waverly township's limits
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Waverly township's limits

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.