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

Solon Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New residence, addition or other building work on land inside Solon township

  • An approved and signed zoning permit must accompany the building permit application.
  • Requires the building permit application with the appropriate information, one set of plans no larger than 11x17 and truss certification.
  • Mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits are applied for separately through the building department.
  • Septic/well approval from the county health department must be attached before permits issue (see septic claims).

  “an approved and signed zoning permit application must accompany your building permit application.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New residential buildings in Solon township before occupancy

  • Address must be posted and visible from the street before a certificate of occupancy can issue (Michigan Residential Code R321.1).

  “the michigan residential building code r321.1 premises identification, requires that you have your address posted and visible from the street before you can be issued a certificate of occupancy.”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Solon township limits: Solon township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (general provisions, districts, special land uses, site plan review, open space and site condominium chapters).

  • Posted PDF is the township's zoning ordinance text; the township has published notices of 2025 and 2026 zoning amendments and rezoning hearings, so the current consolidated text must be confirmed with the township.
  • Zoning-only topics below are answered from this ordinance.

  “section 6.01 description and purpose. this district is primarily intended for residential uses and for single family dwellings on waterfront lots.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single family dwellings in the AR agricultural residential district of Solon township

  • R-1 main single-family district floor area was not verified from the garbled table text.

  minimum dwelling unit floor area: >= 864 sq ft GFA (620 sq ft GFA on ground floor)

  “front yard side yard 50 feet residential man buildings – 20 feet total/10 feet minimum 50 feet 35 feet of 2 1/2 stories 25 percent 1 acre 200 feet 864 square feet gfa/620 square feet gfa on ground floor”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single family lots in the R-1 residential district of Solon township

  • Lakefront lots: 15,000 sq ft; lots without lake frontage: 1 acre.
  • Multi-family and non-residential uses have separate lot standards in other districts.

  minimum lot area, lake frontage: >= 15000 sq ft (single family lots with lake frontage) · minimum lot area, no lake frontage: >= 1 acre (single family lots without lake frontage)

  “single family dwellings with lake frontage – 15,000 square feet single family dwellings without lake frontage – 1 acre non-residential uses – 2 acres”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Lots in the AR agricultural residential district of Solon township

    “front yard side yard 50 feet residential man buildings – 20 feet total/10 feet minimum 50 feet 35 feet of 2 1/2 stories 25 percent 1 acre 200 feet 864 square feet gfa/620 square feet gfa on ground floor”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Main buildings in the AR agricultural residential district of Solon township

  • Front yard 50 ft; side yard 20 ft total with 10 ft minimum; rear yard 50 ft.
  • Front yard setback is measured per section 3.04 (average setback rules may apply).

  front yard setback: >= 50 feet · side yard setback total: >= 20 feet · side yard setback minimum: >= 10 feet · rear yard setback: >= 50 feet

  “front yard side yard 50 feet residential man buildings – 20 feet total/10 feet minimum 50 feet 35 feet of 2 1/2 stories 25 percent 1 acre 200 feet 864 square feet gfa/620 square feet gfa on ground floor”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Single family dwellings in the R-1 residential district of Solon township

    “single family dwellings with lake frontage – 50 feet, measured from the shoreline to the building line of the main building single family dwellings without lake frontage – 50 feet single family dwellings – 20 feet total/10 feet minimum”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Main buildings in the AR agricultural residential district of Solon township

  • Maximum lot coverage 25 percent.

  lot coverage: <= 25 percent

  “front yard side yard 50 feet residential man buildings – 20 feet total/10 feet minimum 50 feet 35 feet of 2 1/2 stories 25 percent 1 acre 200 feet 864 square feet gfa/620 square feet gfa on ground floor”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Main buildings in the R-1 residential district of Solon township

    “35 feet or 2 1/2 stories 30 percent single family dwellings with lake frontage – 15,000 square feet”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Main buildings in the AR agricultural residential district of Solon township

  • Maximum 35 feet or 2 1/2 stories.

  building height: <= 35 feet (or 2 1/2 stories)

  “front yard side yard 50 feet residential man buildings – 20 feet total/10 feet minimum 50 feet 35 feet of 2 1/2 stories 25 percent 1 acre 200 feet 864 square feet gfa/620 square feet gfa on ground floor”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Main buildings in the R-1 residential district of Solon township

    “35 feet or 2 1/2 stories 30 percent single family dwellings with lake frontage – 15,000 square feet”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Outdoor storage or parking of recreational vehicles on residential lots in Solon township. Opened text covers storage and parking, not living in an RV.

  • Not allowed within required front, rear or side yard setbacks.
  • Parking or storage limited to a lot with an inhabited dwelling.
  • Front-yard display of a vehicle for sale is allowed for up to 30 consecutive days.

  “section 3.19 outdoor storage in residential districts. the outdoor storage or parking of recreational vehicles shall be prohibited in all residential districts, unless the following minimum conditions are met”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Campgrounds in the AR agricultural residential district of Solon township. No general tent-camping or temporary camping rule was found.

  • Public or private campgrounds are listed as a special land use in the AR district list, so they need planning commission approval under chapter 16.
  • No general temporary camping rule was located in the opened text.

  “e. public or private campgrounds. f. kennels. (amended may 2015)”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes placed as permanent single family dwellings, and temporary manufactured homes, in Solon township

  • Permanent placement must meet section 3.08 construction and appearance standards for single family dwellings, including new HUD-certified units.
  • Temporary manufactured home: zoning administrator permit only while the owner builds a permanent residence, after a building permit issues and county health approval; fee set by township board.

  “the zoning administrator may issue a permit to an individual to park and occupy a temporary manufactured home in any residential district.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Site condominium and clustered subdivision development in Solon township; ordinary lot splits are handled through the zoning permit process

  • Each site condominium unit building site must meet zoning lot area, width, yard and height rules.
  • Public or community water and sewer are reviewed under the township process; zoning permits are not issued until the parcel split is completed.

  “the building site for each site condominium unit shall comply with all applicable provisions of this ordinance, including minimum lot area, minimum lot width, required front, side and rear yards, and maximum building height.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Bed-and-breakfast establishments (transient guests with breakfast in a detached single-family dwelling) in Solon township. No general short-term rental rule was located.

  • Requires approved water and sanitary sewer service and direct access to a paved public road.
  • Only in a detached single family dwelling; lot must meet zone minimum lot size.
  • Guest rooms limited to five plus one per additional 10,000 sq ft of lot area.
  • Listed as a special land use in AR and R-1 districts.

  “bed and breakfast establishments. 1. the establishment shall be serviced by approved water and sanitary sewer services.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Zoning permit application fee for new residence, addition or detached accessory building in Solon township

  • Building, trade and septic fees were not located in opened text.
  • Temporary manufactured home fee and extension fees are set by the township board.

  zoning permit fee: 50 USD

  “lastly, submit the completed application and the $50.00 fee with all the necessary permits and attachments to the zoning administrator.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permit then building permit process for new residence or addition in Solon township

  • Zoning permit must be approved before a building permit can be issued.
  • Zoning permit requires an accurate site plan showing distances to lot lines.
  • Parcel split must be completed before zoning permits issue.
  • Process steps are partly published; full building permit fee schedule not located.

  “if you are planning to build a new residence, an addition, or a detached accessory building, please read the following instructions and complete the attached zoning permit application. this must be approved before a building permit can be issued.”

Rules another office applies inside Solon Township

Solon 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

  Residential construction inside Solon township, administered through the township building department under the Michigan Residential Code

  • Michigan Residential Code is a state-adopted code; the township letter states the township applies it to premises identification and certificates of occupancy.
  • Mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits are separate and issued through the building department.

  “the michigan residential building code r321.1 premises identification, requires that you have your address posted and visible from the street before you can be issued a certificate of occupancy.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site septic and wastewater disposal for land inside Solon township, administered by Kent County Health Department (applies inside Solon township)

  • Kent County Health Department issues the water supply/wastewater disposal facility permit before the township issues permits.
  • A change-of-use (COU) review from the county health department is required for any project except new construction.

  “you must have a water supply/waste water disposal facility permit from kent county health department, (616) 632-7100 or fax (616) 632-6899.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New septic systems and change-of-use projects inside Solon township, issued by Kent County Health Department

  • Township building permit does not issue until the county health department permit and approved COU paperwork are provided.
  • Permit requirements for projects other than new construction are reviewed through the COU.

  “you must have a water supply/waste water disposal facility permit from kent county health department, (616) 632-7100 or fax (616) 632-6899.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private water supply (well) for a new home inside Solon township, issued by Kent County Health Department

  • The letter names one combined water supply/wastewater disposal facility permit; a separate well permit form was not opened.
  • Required before township permits issue.

  “you must have a water supply/waste water disposal facility permit from kent county health department, (616) 632-7100 or fax (616) 632-6899.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveway access for a lot in Solon township, permitted by the Kent County Road Commission

  • Required even if an existing driveway is present; the road commission assigns the address.
  • A remodel or addition to an existing structure may not require a new driveway permit.

  “even if there is an existing driveway, you must obtain a driveway permit from the kent county road commission (616) 242-6920.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for work inside Solon township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Solon township
• Septic inspection — Septic system inspection inside Solon township
• Mandatory utility hookup — Whether a new home in Solon township must connect to public water or sewer when available
• Agricultural exemption — Agricultural exemption from township building or zoning rules in Solon 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.