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

Boston Township’s own rules

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land and recorded plats inside Boston township

  • The township ordinance list also includes ordinance no. 14-02, an ordinance to amend the Boston Township ordinance permitting the division of recorded plats and regulating the number of dwellings to be located on platted and unplatted lands.
  • The ordinance text itself was not opened; the conditions for land division approval are unknown.

  “land division ordinance (ordinance no. 99-2; amended by ordinance nos. 02-5, 04-01 and 09-07)”

Rules another office applies inside Boston Township

Boston 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 code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Boston township, under the Ionia County building department's enforcement of the state construction codes

  • The county building department enforces the codes; the page lists the state codes it enforces and does not separately name Boston township.
  • The listed codes are 2021 Michigan Building Code (commercial), 2021 Michigan Plumbing Code, 2021 Michigan Mechanical Code, 2023 National Electrical Code (part 8 state amendments) and 2015 Michigan Residential Code.

  “ionia county enforces the following state of michigan construction codes: 2021 michigan building code (commercial) 2021 michigan plumbing code 2021 michigan mechanical code 2023 national electrical code (part 8 state amendments) 2015 michigan residential code”

• InspectionsRequired

  Residential construction inside Boston township under a county residential building permit

  • The county building inspector conducts code inspections; the county residential permit details require an inspection after the owner stakes two adjacent lot lines.
  • Inspection request line is (616) 527-5367 per the county building department page.

  “note: contractor/owner will stake 2 adjacent lot lines for the first inspection.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site sewage disposal systems on land inside Boston township, administered by the Ionia County Health Department environmental health program

  • The county page describes its on-site sewage program countywide and does not name Boston township specifically.
  • Municipal sewer service from Clarksville-Morrison Lake Sewer applies only where that system serves the parcel; availability for Boston township was not confirmed.

  “on-site sewage disposal permits are issued for all on-site sewage systems including repairs.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New on-site sewage disposal systems for homes inside Boston township

  • Application and fee are required before issuance; soil and site evaluations are conducted prior to permit issuance.
  • The county residential permit details require the proposed septic/sewage system location and distance to structures on the lot diagram.

  permit application and fee: required before issuance

  “after application and fee payment, soil and site evaluations are conducted prior to issuance of permits.”

• Well permitRequired

  New and replacement water wells on land inside Boston township

  • Application and fee are required prior to a site visit.
  • The county residential permit details require the proposed well/water supply location on the lot diagram.

  application and fee: required prior to site visit

  “on-site water supply permits are issued for new and replacement water wells. application and fee are required prior to a site visit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for a home inside Boston township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside Boston township
• Local zoning — Whether Boston township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts for land inside Boston township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Boston 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.