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

Rules another office applies inside Nottawa Township

Nottawa 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 permitRequired

  Construction inside Nottawa township, permitted by Isabella County inspection department

  • Exempt: one-story detached accessory structures not over 200 sq ft, fences up to 6 ft, retaining walls up to 4 ft, and other listed items.
  • Most building permits cannot be issued at the time of application.

  “a permit is required for any construction that physically changes or adds structure to your property.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Homeowners building their own single-family residence inside Nottawa township

  • Applies to the homeowner's own single-family residence that they will occupy.
  • Homeowner assumes all liability and responsibility of a licensed contractor and must correct code violations.

  “the michigan licensing law gives a homeowner an exemption to act as his or her own general contractor.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building code enforced by the Isabella County building inspector inside Nottawa township

  • Nottawa is listed in the county building inspector's jurisdiction.
  • 2021 IBC and IEBC effective April 9, 2025; 2021 IECC effective April 22, 2025.

  residential code: 2015 Michigan Residential Code

  “the building inspector follows: the 2015 michigan residential code the 2021 international building code (ibc), effective april 9, 2025”

• Local zoningPresent

  Zoning inside Nottawa township (Isabella County, MI) is administered by Isabella County under the Isabella County Zoning Ordinance, not by a township-adopted ordinance

  • The township itself was not shown to have its own zoning ordinance; the county page lists Nottawa among townships where the county has zoning jurisdiction.
  • Zoning permits are issued by the Isabella County Community Development office.

  “isabella county currently has zoning jurisdiction in the following townships: townships broomfield isabella sherman coldwater lincoln vernon denver nottawa gilmore rolland”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts under Isabella County zoning inside Nottawa township

  • District details are in the county's zoning maps and interactive web viewer.

  “please see the county's zoning maps or the county's interactive web viewer for zoning district information.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Setbacks under Isabella County zoning inside Nottawa township; numeric values not retrieved

  • Setbacks vary by zoning district; contact the zoning administrator.
  • Accessory structures of 200 sq ft or less need no zoning permit but must still meet district setbacks.

  “setbacks vary depending on zoning district. contact the zoning administrator for individual property requirements.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes under Isabella County zoning, which applies inside Nottawa township

  • Minimum dwelling width requirements apply in each zoning district.
  • Title required to prove the home's age.

  earliest permitted construction year: >= 1976 (homes built prior to 1976 not permitted)

  “the isabella county zoning ordinance does not prohibit single wide manufactured homes. however, the zoning ordinance does have minimum dwelling width requirements for each zoning district. manufactured homes built prior to 1976 are not permitted.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural buildings needing building permits inside Nottawa township

  • Building must not be used in the business of retail trade.
  • County also offers an agricultural structure affidavit of use form.

  “a building incidental to the use for agricultural purposes of the land on which the building is located if it is not used in the business of retail trade.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Zoning permit fees under Isabella County zoning inside Nottawa township

  • Fee schedule effective January 21, 2026 per county page; building fee schedule is separate.

  zoning permit application: 75 USD · special land use permit: 350 USD

  “zoning permit application $75.00 home occupation $100.00 administrative site plan review $125.00 planning commission site plan review $225.00 special land use permit $350.00”

• Permit processPublished

  Zoning permit process inside Nottawa township, issued by Isabella County Community Development

  • Zoning permits cannot be issued at the time of application.
  • Plot plan, tax ID, legal description, well and septic approval and soil erosion evaluation (when applicable) are required.

  “zoning permits are needed for: new construction changing the use of a building, structure and/or land”

Still unanswered

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

• Inspections — Inspections inside Nottawa township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Nottawa township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Nottawa township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Nottawa township
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Nottawa 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.