Bolthole Index

Kent County, Michigan

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Ada Township, Michigan

Ada Township, Michigan requires building permits for construction and has its own zoning ordinance.12 In Kent County’s Ada Township, submit building applications to Ada Planning & Zoning first; Cascade Township issues building permits and provides inspections under contract.3 Kent County Health Department handles septic systems and on-site well permits inside Ada Township.45

At a glance

Building permits
Required; Ada reviews zoning, Cascade issues building permits13
Zoning
Ada Township administers its own zoning ordinance26
Septic permits
Kent County Health Department; required for covered septic work47
Well permits
Kent County Health Department permit required for on-site well installation5
Residential lot size
R-1: 1 acre and 150 feet wide; RR: 2 acres and 200 feet wide89
Accessory dwellings
PVM overlay: 1 ADU for qualifying rowhouse, duplex and village-house lot types10
Owner-builder
Michigan licensing exemption for own use and occupancy on own property; building and zoning requirements still apply11

Who to call

Zoning

Ada Township Planning & Zoning Department

Township zoning administration and building-plan zoning review

616.920.7304

[email protected]

7330 Thornapple River Drive P.O. Box 370 Ada, MI 49301

Building permits

Cascade Building Inspections for Ada Township

Building permit issuance and inspections after Ada Township zoning review

(616) 949-3765

[email protected]

5920 Tahoe Dr. Grand Rapids, MI, 49546

Septic permits

Kent County Health Department — Environmental Health Division

Septic and well permits, site evaluations and land-division health review

(616) 632-7100

700 Fuller Ave NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Roads & driveways

Kent County Road Commission Permit Department

County-road right-of-way work, including driveway permits

616-242-6920

[email protected]

1900 4 Mile Road NW, Walker, MI 49544

Floodplain permits

Kent County Drain Commissioner's Office

County drains and stormwater plan review; contact for applicable county drainage review

616-632-7910

775 Ball Avenue NE Grand Rapids MI 49503

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Ada Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Ada Township, MI?

Ada Township requires a building permit before constructing a building or structure, and when changing a structure’s use or occupancy.1 Ordinary repairs are exempt, but the exception does not cover structural work, changes to required egress, utility work or work affecting public health or general safety.1 Michigan’s Residential Code governs one- and two-family dwellings in Ada Township.12 Michigan’s owner-builder licensing exemption applies to construction for your own use and occupancy on your own property; the exemption does not remove building-permit, inspection or zoning requirements.11

Who issues building permits and inspections in Ada Township?

Ada Township contracts with Cascade Township for building permit issuance and inspection services.3 Start an Ada Township building application at Ada Planning & Zoning with the application form and supporting plans.3 After zoning sign-off and payment of any required water and sewer connection fees, Ada forwards the application and plans to Cascade.3 Cascade contacts the applicant when the building permit is ready for pickup, and building permit fees are paid to Cascade at pickup.3 For zoning questions, contact Ada Planning & Zoning; for building permit issuance and inspections, contact the contracted Cascade building office.63

Does Ada Township have zoning, lot-size and setback rules?

Ada Township has local zoning, including district-specific yard and lot requirements.2 In Ada Township’s R-1 Low Density Single-Family Residential district, single-family lots must have at least 1 acre and 150 feet of width.8 In the RR Rural Residential district, residential lots require at least 2 acres and 200 feet of width.9 Ask Ada Planning & Zoning to identify the parcel’s district and the applicable front, side and rear yards before choosing a house footprint.6 Ada Township’s PVM overlay permits 1 accessory dwelling unit for qualifying rowhouse, duplex and village-house lot types, with the principal building’s required side yards.10

How do septic and well permits work inside Ada Township?

Kent County Health Department regulates septic systems serving single- and two-family premises inside Ada Township.4 Covered construction, repair, enlargement or relocation of a septic facility requires a Health Officer permit; direct discharge to a public sewer through enclosed piping is exempt, and other limited exceptions apply.7 New-construction septic applications must include a detailed site plan and floorplans.13 On-site well installation also requires a Kent County Health Department permit.5 Do not cover permitted septic work before final inspection and Health Officer approval unless the Health Officer waives inspection.14 An Ada Township occupancy permit for premises requiring a sewage disposal facility depends on Health Officer approval of that facility.15

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Ada Township?

We could not confirm permission for private-land RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy in Ada Township; ask Ada Planning & Zoning about the specific parcel and proposed use before buying a unit.6 Ada Township’s confirmed accessory-dwelling allowance concerns qualifying PVM rowhouse, duplex and village-house lot types, rather than a general township-wide tiny-home allowance.10 A proposed tiny dwelling still needs review against Ada Township zoning and the applicable Michigan building code, and a change in a structure’s use or occupancy requires a building permit.2121

Building a home in Ada Township: what are the steps?

  1. Ask Ada Planning & Zoning to confirm the parcel’s district, proposed use and dimensional requirements before finalizing the design.6
  2. For on-site sewage and water, arrange the Kent County Health Department site evaluation and septic and well applications; arrange MISS Dig marking before the site visit.13
  3. Submit the building application and supporting plans to Ada Planning & Zoning for zoning review and forwarding to Cascade.3
  4. Obtain a Kent County Road Commission driveway permit for work within a county-road right-of-way.16
  5. Coordinate building inspections with Cascade and septic final approval with the Health Officer before covering septic work or seeking occupancy approval.31415

What should you check before buying land in Ada Township?

For a new Ada Township land division, the created lots must have legal access to a public street and the capability for safe vehicular access, including adequate driveway sight distance.17 Ask Kent County Health Department about site suitability for on-site sewage and water before relying on vacant land for a home.13 Kent County Health Department septic permits and site evaluations are valid for 2 years and are non-transferrable, so do not assume a seller’s approval transfers to you.18 Floodplain construction, filling and grading can require EGLE approval and applicable county drainage review.19 For land outside Ada Township, consult the Kent County guide and identify the parcel’s local zoning jurisdiction; Kent County has no unified zoning ordinance.20

Watch-outs

  • Ada Township building permit applications start with Ada zoning review before Cascade issues the building permit.3
  • A septic-dependent Ada Township occupancy permit requires Health Officer approval of the sewage facility.15
  • We could not confirm Ada Township private-land RV living, tiny-home occupancy or a complete farm-building exemption; ask Ada Planning & Zoning and Cascade Building Inspections about the proposed project.63

Sources

  1. Michigan Building Permit Information (Ada Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Ada Township Code, Sec. 78-204 R-1 area regulations (Ada Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Cascade Building Inspections for Ada Township (adamichigan.org)
  4. Sewage Disposal Regulations for Kent County, Michigan (Ada Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Kent County Septic & Well permits and evaluations (Ada Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Ada Township Planning & Zoning Department (adamichigan.org)
  7. Sewage Disposal Regulations for Kent County, Michigan (Ada Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Ada Township Code, Sec. 78-204 R-1 area regulations (Ada Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Ada Township Code, Sec. 78-174 RR area regulations (Ada Township), quoted and re-checked
  10. Ada Township Code, Sec. 78-476 accessory dwelling units (Ada Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Michigan Building Permit Information (Ada Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Kent County Health Department — Environmental Health Division (kentcountymi.gov)
  14. Sewage Disposal Regulations for Kent County, Michigan (Ada Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Sewage Disposal Regulations for Kent County, Michigan (Ada Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. Kent County Road Commission Permit Department (kentcountyroads.net)
  17. Ada Township Code, Sec. 78-544 land divisions (Ada Township), quoted and re-checked
  18. Septic & Well | Kent County, MI, quoted and re-checked
  19. Site Development Rules: Procedures and Design Standards for Stormwater Management, quoted and re-checked
  20. 2025 Kent County Fair Housing Analysis & Equity Plan, quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Ada Township

Ada Township’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Ada Township; the township's adopted code contains Chapter 78, ZONING, with township zoning districts and dimensional regulations.

    “No building nor any enlargement thereof, shall be hereafter erected except in compliance with the following yard and lot area requirements:”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in Ada Township's R-1 Low Density Single-Family Residential district.

    • Minimum lot area is one acre and minimum lot width is 150 feet.

    minimum lot area: 1 acre · minimum lot width: 150 feet

    “The minimum lot area and width shall be one acre and 150 feet, respectively.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units in the PVM overlay's rowhouse, duplex, and village-house lot types.

    • One ADU is permitted in addition to the principal building.
    • The ADU must maintain the same side yards required for the principal building.

    maximum ADUs per qualifying principal building: 1

    “Each rowhouse, duplex and village house is permitted one accessory dwelling unit in addition to its principal building. Accessory dwelling units must maintain the same side yards as required for the principal building.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Lots created by land division inside Ada Township.

    • Legal access to a public street is required.
    • Safe vehicular access and adequate driveway sight distance are required to avoid public hazard.
    “All lots created by the land division shall have legal access to a public street in conformance with the provisions of this chapter. All parcels created by the land division shall have the capability of being provided with safe vehicular access to a public road, including driveway sight distance sufficient to avoid public hazard.”

Rules another office applies inside Ada Township

Ada 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 of a building or structure, or a change in use or occupancy, inside Ada Township.

    • Ordinary repairs do not require a permit, but structural, egress, utility, and work affecting public health or general safety are excluded from the ordinary-repair exception.
    • The application must be submitted to the appropriate enforcing agency.
    “Before construction of a building or structure, an owner, or the owner's builder, architect, engineer, or agent, shall submit an application in writing to the appropriate enforcing agency for a building permit. A permit is also required when the use or occupancy of a structure or portion thereof is changed.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction in Ada Township is subject to the Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code through the appropriate enforcing agency.

    • One- and two-family dwelling provisions are in the Michigan Residential Code.
    • The appropriate enforcing agency may be state, county, or local under the statewide jurisdiction list.
    “The Michigan Building Code controls all matters concerning the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy, and maintenance of all buildings and structures and their service equipment. Presently, provisions for one- and two-family dwellings are included in the Michigan Residential Code.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Premises inside Ada Township that must be served by a sewage disposal facility under Kent County regulations.

    • An occupancy permit may not be issued unless the Kent County Health Officer has signified approval of the sewage facility.
    “No officer or employee of any city, village or township shall issue an occupancy permit for any premise which must be served by a sewage disposal facility pursuant to these Regulations unless the Health Officer has signified his approval of such facility.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Single- and two-family sewage disposal facilities inside Ada Township.

    • Kent County's Health Officer regulates the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of sewage disposal facilities serving single- and two-family premises.
    “The Health Officer shall be responsible for regulating the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of all sewage disposal facilities serving single and two-family premises within Kent County.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, repair, enlargement, or relocation of sewage disposal facilities inside Ada Township.

    • No permit is required when sewage is discharged directly into a public sewer through enclosed piping.
    • Exceptions also apply where another state or federal agency has jurisdiction and has not delegated permit authority, or when the Health Officer determines the work is minor enough that a permit is unnecessary.
    “Before any person shall construct, repair, enlarge, or relocate any sewage disposal facility serving any premise within Kent County, he shall first obtain a permit authorizing such action from a Health Officer.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Sewage disposal facilities inside Ada Township installed, repaired, enlarged, or relocated under a Kent County Health Officer permit.

    • Final cover or inaccessibility is prohibited until final inspection and Health Officer approval.
    • The Health Officer may waive final inspection when adequacy can be verified by other means.
    “All work authorized by a permit issued by the Health Officer shall be subject to a final inspection before such work shall be approved. No sewage disposal facility or component thereof shall be given a final cover, or otherwise rendered inaccessible, until a final inspection has taken place, and the Health Officer has given his approval.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Installation of on-site water-supply well systems inside Ada Township.

    • The Kent County Health Department administers the on-site well permit program.
    “Required permit for installation of on-site water supply (well) systems.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building-permit applications for construction inside Ada Township.

    • Applications must be submitted to the appropriate enforcing agency.
    • Construction documents are generally required, though the building official may waive them where code compliance can be determined from the application description.
    • State materials describe online and mail submission options.
    “A set of construction documents is required with each application for a permit. The submission of construction documents may be waived by the building official when code compliance can be determined based on the description in the application.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder licensing exemption for residential construction inside Ada Township.
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Ada Township.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Ada Township.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Ada Township.
  • Agricultural exemption — Agricultural or farm-building exemption from construction, zoning, or permitting rules inside Ada Township.
2 more unanswered
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Ada Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Kent County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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