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

Wells Township’s own rules

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A new building or altered building under the Delta County process inside Wells Township.

  • The permit holder or authorized agent must request the certificate upon project completion.
  • The request includes building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing; all permits must be finaled and work must comply with the permit, code, and other applicable laws and ordinances.

  “Certificate of Occupancy: a new building or a building that is altered shall not be used or occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued. The permit holder or their authorized agent must request a Certificate of Occupancy upon the completion of the project. This request must include the building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Wells Township, Delta County, Michigan; zoning permits are administered through Delta County.

  • Delta County states that Wells Township receives zoning permits through Delta County.

  “These Townships receive both their building and zoning permits through Delta County”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Every nonseasonal dwelling unit inside Wells Township under the Delta County zoning ordinance.

  • The 600-square-foot minimum excludes seasonal dwellings.
  • No more than 120 square feet may be qualifying storage space, and it must meet the stated enclosure and height conditions.

  minimum floor area: >= 600 square feet (Seasonal dwellings excepted.) · allowable storage-space component: <= 120 square feet (Subject to the ordinance's enclosure, height, and garage/carport-partition requirements.)

  “Every dwelling unit, except seasonal dwellings, shall have a floor area of not less than 600 square feet, provided, however, that not more than 120 square feet thereof may consist of storage space, at least six feet, six inches high in a fully enclosed accessory building on the same lot, but if such accessory building is a garage or carport, such space must be fully partitioned from the area usable for motor vehicle storage.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures on zoned parcels inside Wells Township; exact district must be determined from the Wells Township zoning map.

  • Except where otherwise specifically provided, structures may not be erected or maintained between a lot line and the pertinent listed setback.
  • Measurements are in feet and run from the lot line to the nearest structure projection, including overhangs, porches, and decks.

  R-1 front setback: 30 feet · R-1 rear setback: 30 feet · RR side setback: 30 feet

  “Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Ordinance, no structure shall be erected or maintained between any lot line and the pertinent setback distance listed below and no structure shall be erected or maintained which exceeds the height limit specified below. Where there is no rear lot line as otherwise defined herein, the required rear setback distance shall be measured from a line through the point on the lot most distant from any front lot line of the same lot, which line shall be perpendicular to a line from said point to the closest point on any front lot line. If there is more than one such line, the rear setback shall be maintained within 30 degrees of being parallel but not of their intersection, no rear setback is required. The side setback requirement applies to a side lot line and also to any lot line which is neither a front, rear, or side lot line. All distances are measured in feet. Measurements are from the lot line to the nearest projection of the structure including but not limited to overhangs, porches, and decks.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures on zoned parcels inside Wells Township; exact district must be determined from the Wells Township zoning map.

  • Except as otherwise specifically provided, no structure may exceed the listed height limit.
  • Height at any point may not exceed the horizontal distance to any lot line.

  R-1 height limit: <= 30 feet · RR height limit: <= 30 feet

  “Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Ordinance, no structure shall be erected or maintained between any lot line and the pertinent setback distance listed below and no structure shall be erected or maintained which exceeds the height limit specified below. Where there is no rear lot line as otherwise defined herein, the required rear setback distance shall be measured from a line through the point on the lot most distant from any front lot line of the same lot, which line shall be perpendicular to a line from said point to the closest point on any front lot line. If there is more than one such line, the rear setback shall be maintained within 30 degrees of being parallel but not of their intersection, no rear setback is required. The side setback requirement applies to a side lot line and also to any lot line which is neither a front, rear, or side lot line. All distances are measured in feet. Measurements are from the lot line to the nearest projection of the structure including but not limited to overhangs, porches, and decks.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Residential building applications inside Wells Township where a driveway permit is applicable.

  • The Delta County residential permit requirements list a driveway permit where applicable.

  “Residential Structures - One and Two-Family Residential with less than 3,500 square feet of calculated floor area: ▪ Building Permit Application ▪ Site Plan ▪ Minimum of one (1) set of plans that include: foundation and floor and roof and wall section ▪ Provide method of compliance with the “Michigan Uniform Energy Code” ▪ Zoning approval where applicable ▪ Sanitary/Septic approval where applicable ▪ Driveway permit where applicable”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Delta County building permits inside Wells Township.

  • The county page directs applicants to call for fee amounts.
  • The permit-requirements document says fees are online or available from Delta County Building & Zoning; an application without payment is placed on hold and invoiced.

  “Building Permit Fees – Please call for fee amounts”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Residential structures under the Delta County building process inside Wells Township.

  • For one- and two-family residential structures under 3,500 calculated square feet, the listed materials include a permit application, site plan, plans, energy-code compliance, and approvals where applicable.
  • The county identifies Wells Township as receiving building permits through Delta County.

  residential calculated floor-area threshold: < 3500 square feet (Requirements quoted are for one- and two-family residential structures below this threshold.)

  “Residential Structures - One and Two-Family Residential with less than 3,500 square feet of calculated floor area: ▪ Building Permit Application ▪ Site Plan ▪ Minimum of one (1) set of plans that include: foundation and floor and roof and wall section ▪ Provide method of compliance with the “Michigan Uniform Energy Code” ▪ Zoning approval where applicable ▪ Sanitary/Septic approval where applicable ▪ Driveway permit where applicable”

Rules another office applies inside Wells Township

Wells 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)

  Sanitary/septic approval submitted with the Delta County building process for land inside Wells Township.

  • The building application identifies the Delta-Menominee Health Department as the sanitary approval/permit source.
  • The county identifies Wells Township as receiving building permits through Delta County.

  “SANITARY APPROVAL/PERMIT FROM DELTA-MENOMINEE HEALTH DEPARTMENT”

• Septic permitLimited

  Residential building-permit applications inside Wells Township when sanitary/septic approval is applicable.

  • County residential permit requirements specify sanitary/septic approval where applicable.
  • The county's building application identifies a sanitary approval/permit from the Delta-Menominee Health Department.

  “Sanitary/Septic approval where applicable”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Wells Township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Wells Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption applicable inside Wells Township.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Wells Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Wells 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.