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

Hamilton Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Structures and buildings for which state law requires Construction Code certification inside Hamilton Township.

  • A zoning permit must issue before a building permit.
  • The ordinance limits this to circumstances where state law requires Construction Code certification.

  “Upon the issuance of a Zoning Permit, the applicant may establish the use for which the permit has been issued, including the erection of a building or structure, provided a Building Permit has been obtained from the Building Inspector demonstrating conformance to the requirements of the Construction Code.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Development authorized by a zoning permit inside Hamilton Township.

  • The ordinance ties the permit's one-year expiration to whether development has passed its first building inspection.

  “A Zoning Permit, including the approved plot plan or site plan upon which the permit is based, shall expire after one (1) year from the date of granting such permit unless the development proposed or activity authorized shall have passed its first building inspection by the Building Inspector.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Structures and uses inside Hamilton Township.

  • The permit is issued by the Building Inspector pursuant to the Construction Code.

  “No structure or use shall be occupied, in whole or in part, without first receiving a permit for occupancy from the Building Inspector pursuant to the Construction Code.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Hamilton Township, Clare County, Michigan.

  • The ordinance was made and passed by the Township Board on November 7, 2013 and took effect eight days following adoption and publication of notice.

  “For the purpose of this Ordinance, the Township is hereby divided into the following zoning districts, which shall be known by the following respective symbols and names, and shall have boundaries as delineated on the Official Zoning Map.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Hamilton Township.

  • The official zoning map is identified as part of the ordinance and is signed by the Township Supervisor and attested by the Township Clerk.
  • District-boundary changes must be made on the Official Zoning Map.

  “The boundaries of the respective Districts enumerated in Section 4.1 are defined and established as depicted on the Official Zoning Map entitled HAMILTON TOWNSHIP ZONING MAP, which is an integral part of this Ordinance. This map, with all notations and explanatory matter thereon, shall be published as part of this Ordinance as if fully described herein.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Recreational-vehicle dwelling occupancy on a residential lot inside Hamilton Township.

  • A zoning-permit application and plot plan are required.
  • The ordinance authorizes temporary dwellings only for listed purposes; the source excerpt identifies emergency housing and a permanent dwelling under construction.

  “Temporary dwellings are prohibited except as approved by the Zoning Administrator according to this Section. Application for and authorization of such a temporary dwelling shall require the submittal of a zoning permit application available from the Zoning Administrator including a plot plan prepared according to Section 3.4(B). A temporary dwelling may be authorized for the following purposes only:”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured-housing communities inside Hamilton Township.

  • Construction, habitation, and operation may not begin until all necessary permits have been acquired from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth and other agencies pursuant to the Mobile Home Commission Act.

  “The construction of a manufactured housing community shall not be initiated, nor shall a manufactured housing community be inhabited or operated until all necessary permits have been acquired from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth and all other agencies pursuant to the Mobile Home Commission Act.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Single-family and two-family zoning-permit applications inside Hamilton Township requiring a County Road Commission driveway permit.

  • The township identifies County Road Commission driveway permits among applicable permit documentation for the zoning application.

  “The completed application form, and all permit applications, approvals and supporting documents associated with required county, state or federal permits including County Health Department wastewater disposal and potable water system permits, County Soil Erosion Control permits, and County Road Commission driveway permits.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Township camping, short-term-rental, zoning, redistricting, variance, and special-use permits inside Hamilton Township.

  • The source labels the schedule as revised June 9, 2026.
  • The schedule states that no amount is displayed for the 10.1-acre-and-over redistricting categories.

  residential zoning permit fee: 100 USD · camping permit annual fee: 15 USD · short-term rental annual permit fee: 300 USD

  “Revised June 9, 2026 Fees are organized below by service type. Contact Hamilton Township if you need help determining which fee applies.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Township zoning permits, including single-family and two-family dwellings and accessory structures, inside Hamilton Township.

  • Single-family and two-family dwelling applications require three copies of application materials.
  • Applications must include applicable county, state, and federal permit applications, approvals, and supporting documents.
  • The Zoning Administrator issues a permit for a conforming single-family or two-family dwelling and accessory uses or structures.

  “An application for a Zoning Permit shall be available from the Zoning Administrator. Upon approval of the application, which is to include, at a minimum, the application form and all required supporting data and documents including a plot plan or site plan, a Zoning Permit shall be issued.”

Rules another office applies inside Hamilton Township

Hamilton 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 septicMixed (with conditions)

  Private on-site wastewater systems inside Hamilton Township, Clare County.

  • CMDHD serves Clare County; the township zoning-permit application also requires supporting County Health Department wastewater-disposal permits when required.

  “Central Michigan District Health Department Serving: Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Osceola, and Roscommon Counties”

• Septic permitLimited

  Single-family and two-family zoning-permit applications inside Hamilton Township requiring a County Health Department wastewater-disposal permit.

  • The township identifies supporting County Health Department wastewater-disposal permits among permits required for the zoning application where applicable.

  “The completed application form, and all permit applications, approvals and supporting documents associated with required county, state or federal permits including County Health Department wastewater disposal and potable water system permits, County Soil Erosion Control permits, and County Road Commission driveway permits.”

• Well permitLimited

  Single-family and two-family zoning-permit applications inside Hamilton Township requiring a County Health Department potable-water-system permit.

  • The township identifies supporting County Health Department potable-water-system permits among required permits where applicable.

  “The completed application form, and all permit applications, approvals and supporting documents associated with required county, state or federal permits including County Health Department wastewater disposal and potable water system permits, County Soil Erosion Control permits, and County Road Commission driveway permits.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Hamilton Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption applicable inside Hamilton Township.
• Minimum lot size — Residential zoning districts inside Hamilton Township.
• Setbacks — Residential zoning districts inside Hamilton Township.
• Lot coverage — Residential zoning districts inside Hamilton 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.