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

Ionia Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction inside Ionia Township.

  • The Township directs applicants to the Ionia County Building Department.
  • The checklist states the permit must be obtained before construction starts.

  “I understand Public Act 230 Section 10 that requires that I obtain a building permit prior to starting construction”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction inside Ionia Township.

  • The applicant must call for inspections before electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or structural work is concealed or covered.

  “It is the legal responsibility of the applicant to call for all required inspections or before any electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or structural work is concealed or covered.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy of a structure inside Ionia Township following construction subject to the County building process.

  • The checklist says the certificate must be obtained from the Building Department before occupying a structure.

  “Section 13 of Public Act 230 that requires I obtain a certificate of occupancy from the Building Department prior to occupying a structure.”

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Ionia Township, Ionia County, Michigan.

  • This establishes absence of Township zoning; non-zoning state, county, health, road, and building requirements may still apply.

  “Licenses and Permits Ionia Township does NOT have zoning. All building permits may be obtained from Ionia County Building Department.”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Township zoning districts inside Ionia Township.

  • No Township zoning code is in effect.

  “Licenses and Permits Ionia Township does NOT have zoning. All building permits may be obtained from Ionia County Building Department.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Township zoning dimensional regulation inside Ionia Township.

  • No Township zoning code is in effect; building-code requirements may still govern construction.

  “Licenses and Permits Ionia Township does NOT have zoning. All building permits may be obtained from Ionia County Building Department.”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Township zoning dimensional regulation inside Ionia Township.

  • No Township zoning code is in effect; subdivision, health, and other requirements may still govern parcels.

  “Licenses and Permits Ionia Township does NOT have zoning. All building permits may be obtained from Ionia County Building Department.”

• SetbacksNone

  Township zoning setbacks inside Ionia Township.

  • No Township zoning code is in effect; other setbacks or easements may apply under separate authorities.

  “Licenses and Permits Ionia Township does NOT have zoning. All building permits may be obtained from Ionia County Building Department.”

• Lot coverageNone

  Township zoning lot-coverage regulation inside Ionia Township.

  • No Township zoning code is in effect.

  “Licenses and Permits Ionia Township does NOT have zoning. All building permits may be obtained from Ionia County Building Department.”

• Building heightNone

  Township zoning building-height regulation inside Ionia Township.

  • No Township zoning code is in effect; building-code or airport-related limits may still apply.

  “Licenses and Permits Ionia Township does NOT have zoning. All building permits may be obtained from Ionia County Building Department.”

• Living in an RVUnrestricted

  RV occupancy inside Ionia Township, as to Township zoning controls.

  • This conclusion is limited to the Township's stated absence of zoning; building, health, road, deed, and state requirements may still apply.

  “Licenses and Permits Ionia Township does NOT have zoning. All building permits may be obtained from Ionia County Building Department.”

• Camping on your landUnrestricted

  Temporary camping inside Ionia Township, as to Township zoning controls.

  • This conclusion is limited to the Township's stated absence of zoning; other rules may still apply.

  “Licenses and Permits Ionia Township does NOT have zoning. All building permits may be obtained from Ionia County Building Department.”

• Tiny homesUnrestricted

  Tiny-home occupancy inside Ionia Township, as to Township zoning controls.

  • This conclusion is limited to the Township's stated absence of zoning; construction-code, health, and other rules may still apply.

  “Licenses and Permits Ionia Township does NOT have zoning. All building permits may be obtained from Ionia County Building Department.”

• Manufactured homesUnrestricted

  Manufactured-home occupancy inside Ionia Township, as to Township zoning controls.

  • This conclusion is limited to the Township's stated absence of zoning; construction-code, health, and other rules may still apply.

  “Licenses and Permits Ionia Township does NOT have zoning. All building permits may be obtained from Ionia County Building Department.”

• Accessory dwellingsUnrestricted

  Accessory dwellings inside Ionia Township, as to Township zoning controls.

  • This conclusion is limited to the Township's stated absence of zoning; construction-code, health, and other rules may still apply.

  “Licenses and Permits Ionia Township does NOT have zoning. All building permits may be obtained from Ionia County Building Department.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site sewage disposal inside Ionia Township, where the Township directs residents to Ionia County for other licenses and permits.

  • County permits cover all on-site sewage systems, including repairs; application and fee payment precede soil and site evaluations.

  “Permits are issued for all on-site sewage systems including repairs. After application and fee payment, soil and site evaluations are conducted prior to issuance of permits.”

• Septic inspectionLimited

  Existing water-supply and sewage-disposal systems inside Ionia Township for real-estate transactions or refinancing of private residences.

  • Inspection follows submission of the request form and fees.
  • The County page limits this inspection service to real-estate transactions or refinancing of private residences.

  “Inspections of existing water supply and sewage disposal systems are conducted for real estate transactions or refinancing of private residences only. Inspections are conducted after the request form and fees are submitted.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Construction applications inside Ionia Township involving a driveway or sidewalk.

  • The checklist identifies the permitting authority as the County Road Commission, MDOT, or Village, depending on the location.
  • Documentation is required before a building permit may be issued unless non-applicability is justified.

  “DRIVEWAY/SIDEWALK PERMIT – County Road Commission, MDOT, or Village”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications for construction inside Ionia Township.

  • Before a permit may be issued, the checklist requires submitted documentation or a justification that an item is non-applicable.
  • The County Building Department publishes permit application and checklist forms.

  “Before a permit may be issued, all of the following documentation must be submitted or justified as non-applicable. Please indicate by checkmark that each item has been enclosed with the application.”

Rules another office applies inside Ionia Township

Ionia 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 Ionia Township, for which the Township directs applicants to the Ionia County Building Department.

  • Ionia County lists 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:”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Ionia Township.
• Septic permit — Installation or repair of an on-site sewage system inside Ionia Township.
• Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation inside Ionia Township.
• Well permit — New or replacement wells inside Ionia Township.
• Mandatory utility hookup — New homes inside Ionia 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.