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

Lovells Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings or structures subject to the Lovells Township Zoning Ordinance inside Lovells Township.

  • No zoning permit is required for lawful land, buildings, or structures existing on the effective date of the zoning ordinance or applicable amendment.
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  “Except as provided herein, no building or structure subject to the provisions of this Ordinance shall be erected, substantially altered, reconstructed, used, or moved, nor shall any excavation of land commenced until a zoning permit application has been filed with the Zoning Administrator, or other official designated by the township board, and a zoning permit has been issued by the Zoning Administrator, or other official designated by the township board.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A mobile home used as a dwelling on an individual lot or parcel inside Lovells Township.

  • The certificate must be issued by the Director of the Crawford County Building and Zoning Department.

  “The mobile home shall not be occupied as a dwelling unless a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued by the Director, Crawford County Building and Zoning Department.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Lovells Township, Crawford County, Michigan.

  • The official ordinance states that it maintains zoning districts and regulations governing Lovells Township.

  “This Ordinance is enacted to repeal a Zoning Ordinance adopted on April 12, 1978 and to adopt a revised Zoning Ordinance, which incorporates amendments adopted since 1978 and maintains zoning districts and regulations governing Lovells Township, Crawford County, Michigan.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Lovells Township.

  • The locations of districts are shown on the accompanying Township zoning map.

  “For the purpose of this Ordinance, Lovells Township is hereby divided into the following zoning districts. The locations of these districts are shown on the accompanying Zoning Map of Lovells Township:”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational-vehicle occupancy on lots inside Lovells Township.

  • On a vacant lot, occupancy is limited to 90 consecutive days per calendar year; a second permit can authorize one additional 90-day period.
  • On a lot with a dwelling unit, use may not exceed 30 consecutive days at any time.
  • Vacant-lot RVs must be removed in December through March except during active use, and sanitation must meet local-health-department requirements.

  vacant-lot occupancy: 90 consecutive days (A second zoning permit and fee may authorize one additional 90 consecutive-day period in the same calendar year.) · occupied-lot RV use: <= 30 consecutive days (Applies at any time.)

  “Recreational vehicle may be placed on a vacant lot for the purpose of being occupied for a period of 90 consecutive days in the same calendar year. A zoning permit shall be obtained, and the required fee paid for the recreational vehicle use as required under subsection 4 below. The owner of the recreational vehicle may obtain a second zoning permit and shall pay a second fee authorizing the continued placement of the recreational vehicle on the vacant lot for the purpose of being occupied for one (1) additional 90 consecutive day period during the same calendar year.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  A mobile or manufactured home on an individual lot or parcel inside Lovells Township.

  • It must meet the district's minimum lot size, yard setbacks, and minimum floor area.
  • It must comply with HUD Code, the current Michigan Residential Construction Code, and the current Michigan Uniform Energy Code.
  • It may not be occupied without a certificate of occupancy issued by the Director of the Crawford County Building and Zoning Department.

  “A mobile home sited on an individual lot or parcel shall meet the standards for minimum lot size, yard setbacks, minimum floor area for the district in which it is located.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  One detached non-commercial guest house per dwelling unit in the Residential District of Lovells Township.

  • The lot must be at least 14,000 square feet.
  • The guest house must have ground-floor area of at least 480 square feet and no more than 1,200 square feet.
  • The guest house must meet all ordinance provisions, including Article X schedule requirements.

  minimum lot area: >= 14000 square feet · guest-house ground-floor area: 480 square feet (Maximum is 1,200 square feet.)

  “One detached guest house per dwelling unit, which is used for non-commercial purposes, may be permitted under the following conditions: (Amendment #10-14-14 A)”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Sanitary wastewater arrangements for buildings in Lovells Township.

  • The ordinance requires written approval of, and compliance with requirements of, the District Health Department.

  “Every building erected, altered or moved upon any premises and used in whole or in part as dwellings (year-round or seasonal), recreational, business, commercial or industrial purposes, including churches, schools and other buildings in which persons customarily congregate, shall be provided with a safe and sanitary water supply system and with means for collecting and disposing of all domestic, commercial, and industrial wastewater, and other wastes that may adversely affect health conditions, subject to the written approval of and following the requirements of the District Health Department.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Wastewater disposal for occupied buildings inside Lovells Township.

  • A safe and sanitary water supply and a means of collecting and disposing of wastewater are required, subject to written approval of and requirements of the District Health Department.

  “Every building erected, altered or moved upon any premises and used in whole or in part as dwellings (year-round or seasonal), recreational, business, commercial or industrial purposes, including churches, schools and other buildings in which persons customarily congregate, shall be provided with a safe and sanitary water supply system and with means for collecting and disposing of all domestic, commercial, and industrial wastewater, and other wastes that may adversely affect health conditions, subject to the written approval of and following the requirements of the District Health Department.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Lovells Township.

  • Recorded plats, lots in recorded plats, exempt splits, and specified larger splits are excepted from the cited prior-review requirement.
  • A complete land-division application includes a completed form, ownership proof, survey, proof of statutory and ordinance compliance, and applicable fee.
  • Approval is not a determination that resulting parcels comply with other ordinances or regulations.

  decision period: <= 45 days (Runs after receipt of a conforming application package.)

  “Land in the Township shall not be divided Without the prior review and approval of the Township Assessor, or other official designated by the governing body, in accordance with this ordinance and the State Land Division Act; provided that the following shall be exempted from this requirement:”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Regulated flood-hazard areas inside Lovells Township.

  • The Director of Building and Zoning of Crawford County is the enforcing agency.
  • Appendix G of the Michigan Building Code is enforced within Lovells Township.
  • The FEMA FIS and listed FIRM panels dated April 17, 2012 are adopted by reference.

  “Pursuant to the provisions of the state construction code, in accordance with Section 8b(6) of Act 230, of the Public Acts of 1972, as amended, Appendix G of the Michigan Building Code shall be enforced by the enforcing agency within the Township of Lovells.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rental of a dwelling unit inside Lovells Township for less than 30 days while the owner does not reside there.

  • A short-term-rental license is required unless the listed special-use-permit exception applies.
  • The total number of short-term rentals, including licensed rentals and those previously granted a special use permit, may not exceed 30.
  • The official zoning ordinance separately permits short-term rentals in G-B, R-R, and R districts pursuant to a special-use permit.

  townshipwide cap: <= 30 short-term rentals (Includes licensed rentals and those previously granted a special use permit.)

  “The total number of short-term rentals allowed within Lovells Township, including those granted a license under this Ordinance and those previously granted a special use permit, shall be no more than thirty (30).”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Zoning applications and appeals under the Lovells Township Zoning Ordinance.

  • Additional escrow may be required if basic fees do not cover actual application-review or appeal costs.
  • Failure to make a required escrow deposit makes an application incomplete or an appeal procedurally defective.

  “If the Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission or Zoning Board of Appeals determines that the basic zoning fees will not cover the actual costs of the application review or appeal, or if the Zoning Administrator, Planning Commission or Zoning Board of Appeals determines that review of the application and/or participation in the review process or appeal by qualified professional planners, engineers, attorneys, or other professionals is necessary, then the applicant shall deposit with the Township Clerk such additional zoning fees in an amount determined by the Zoning Administrator equal to the estimated additional costs.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning permits for development subject to the Lovells Township Zoning Ordinance.

  • A zoning-permit application must be filed and the permit issued before regulated work begins.
  • A permit expires one year after issuance unless substantial construction begins or a timely qualifying extension is granted.

  permit expiration: 1 year (Unless substantial construction has begun or a qualifying extension is granted.)

  “A zoning permit issued pursuant to this section shall expire one (1) year following issuance, unless substantial construction has begun pursuant to the permit, or prior to the expiration of the permit the property owner applies for and receives an extension of the zoning permit for no more than one (1) year from the Zoning Administrator upon a showing of good cause and that the zoning regulations applicable to the use authorized by the zoning permit have not substantially changed since the issuance of the original permit or the most recent extension of the permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Lovells Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Lovells Township.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Lovells Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Principal single-family dwellings inside Lovells Township.
• Minimum lot size — Principal single-family residential lots inside Lovells 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.