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

Lowell Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction and major improvements to existing structures inside Lowell Charter Township.

  • Detached accessory buildings exceeding 200 square feet of gross floor area or containing more than one story are included; farm buildings as defined by the ordinance are exempt from this requirement.
  • A deck more than 200 square feet or more than 30 inches above grade, and specified patios, porches, balconies, and barrier-free access ramps are included.

  “no building shall hereafter be erected, relocated or altered in its exterior dimension or use and no excavation for any foundation for any building shall be begun until a building permit has been issued.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings and dwellings subject to the zoning ordinance inside Lowell Charter Township.

  • The owner or applicant must notify the Building Official at least ten days before readiness for use or occupancy; the official has five days to confirm conformity.
  • A certificate may be disapproved for cause with written notice.

  “No building or dwelling subject to the provisions of this ordinance shall be occupied, inhabited or used until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued (See Section 25.05).”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Lowell Charter Township.

  • The ordinance identifies itself as the official zoning ordinance of Lowell Charter Township.

  “AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL THE LOWELL CHARTER TOWNSHIP ZONING ORDINANCE ADOPTED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2009, AS AMENDED AND TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 01-2021 WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AND THE ZONING MAP DATED JULY 2019 TO SERVE AS THE OFFICIAL ZONING ORDINANCE OF LOWELL CHARTER TOWNSHIP.”

• Tiny homesLimited

  A tiny dwelling proposed as a permanent dwelling inside Lowell Charter Township.

  • A dwelling must meet the dimensional and living-area requirements for its zoning district.
  • Every dwelling must have a minimum 22-foot width and comply with current Michigan Building Code standards for habitable rooms.

  “have a minimum width across any front, side or rear elevation of 22 feet and complies in all respects with the current michigan building code standards, including minimum heights for habitable rooms.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes used as temporary dwellings inside Lowell Charter Township.

  • Temporary living quarters are allowed in residential or agricultural districts during permanent-dwelling construction, or as a temporary field office in a commercial district, for one year.
  • Up to two six-month extensions may be granted upon application to the Building Official.

  “Mobile homes may be used as temporary living quarters in a residential or agricultural zoning district during construction of a permanent dwelling, or as a temporary field office in a commercial zoning district for a period of one year.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable

  Farm buildings as defined by the Lowell Charter Township zoning ordinance.

  • The exemption stated is from the listed local building-permit requirement; other permits or approvals may apply.

  “Detached accessory buildings which exceed 200 sq. ft. of gross floor area or which contain more than one story. Farm buildings as defined herein are exempt from this requirement;”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Construction of a building or structure in the Flood Hazard Overlay District inside Lowell Charter Township.

  • Construction requires Special Land Use authorization under Chapter 20 and the listed floodplain provisions.
  • The applicant must provide EGLE approval, a certified survey, and other information; structures must meet listed floodproofing standards.

  “The construction of a structure or building in the flood plain may be permitted upon authorization as a Special Land Use in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 20 herein and the provisions listed below:”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Township building permits, special-use permits, and variances.

  • Fees are set by the Township Board and must be collected before processing permits, variances, appeals, and related matters.
  • The opened ordinance page did not provide the current dollar schedule.

  “Upon the filing of an application for a Building Permit, special use permit, or variance, an administrative inspection fee shall accompany said application. The Township Board shall determine and set a schedule of fees to be charged.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Required building permits inside Lowell Charter Township.

  • The application must be on Township-supplied forms.
  • The application package includes applicant and location information, project description and drawings, and, where required, health-department, drain-commission, road-commission, site-plan, and soil-erosion approvals.

  “an application for a required building permit must be made to the Building Official on forms supplied by the Township.”

Rules another office applies inside Lowell Township

Lowell Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in the R-1 Rural Low Density Residential District inside Lowell Charter Township.

  • The two-family minimum lot area is four acres.

  minimum lot area, single-family dwelling: 2 acres · minimum road frontage: 165 ft

  “sec 7.05 district (bulk) regulations minimum lot area single family dwelling/all other permitted & special uses 2 acres minimum lot area – two family dwellings 4 acres minimum road frontage (1) 165 ft.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in the R-1 Rural Low Density Residential District inside Lowell Charter Township.

  • The ordinance separately states exceptions to the general height regulations for specified appurtenances.

  maximum building height: 35 ft

  “corner lot setback from each street abutting the lot 50 ft. maximum building height 35 ft.”

• Well permitRequired

  Installation of on-site water-supply wells inside Lowell Charter Township.

  • The official county page lists residential, non-residential, test, irrigation, and geothermal water-supply permits.

  “Residential/Non-Residential/Test Well/Irrigation/Geothermal Water Supply Permit Required permit for installation of on-site water supply (well) systems.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Lowell Charter Township.
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Lowell Charter Township.
• Inspections — Building-code inspections inside Lowell Charter Township.
• Lot coverage — Residential lots inside Lowell Charter Township.
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Lowell Charter 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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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