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

Rules another office applies inside Sherman Township

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

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Sherman township's limits under the Keweenaw County Zoning Ordinance, unless Sherman township adopts its own zoning

  • Applies only where the township has not adopted independent zoning; the ordinance says land within a township or village with its own zoning is no longer subject to the county ordinance.
  • The county zoning page states that Eagle Harbor Township has its own separate zoning districts and does not name Sherman township as having its own.
  • The ordinance header is dated July 1, 2024; the source does not state an effective or adoption date, so effective_at is null.
  • The ordinance applies to unincorporated areas of townships and to the village of Ahmeek by agreement; Sherman is a township, not the village.

  “this ordinance shall apply to all land and water within the unincorporated areas of the townships of keweenaw county”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning district map and district regulations for land inside Sherman township under the county ordinance

  • The county publishes a zoning map and an ordinance with district schedules; the map is maintained in the county zoning office.
  • Applies only where the township has not adopted its own zoning.

  “determine zoning district by finding your property on the keweenaw county zoning map.”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Tiny homes used as dwellings on land inside Sherman township not covered by its own zoning

  • The text is a numbered note (item 3) that appears before Table 5-3 (Schedule B, non-residential and mixed use districts) in Article V, Section 5.2; the note's district scope could not be fully confirmed in the flattened text.
  • Conditions in the note are foundation, potable water, and a health-department-approved sewage system.
  • Source does not state an effective date.

  “3. tiny homes must have a foundation, potable water and a health department approved sewage system.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-site sewage systems on private land inside Sherman township, which lies in Keweenaw County served by the Western U.P. District Health Department

  • The county page lists this health department as the contact for on-site sewage and/or water supply systems; the health department's own site was unreachable during this run, so its service-area text was not opened.
  • The county zoning ordinance's setback table distinguishes onsite sewage disposal lots from public or approved community sewer lots (see lot-size claims).

  “on-site sewage and/or water supply systems western u.p. district health department wupdhd 540 depot street hancock, mi 49930 906 482-7382 [phone] www.westernuphealth.org”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveway or culvert connections to Keweenaw County roads that border land in Sherman township

  • Applies only to county roads; the county page directs federal and state roads (US-41 and M-26) to MDOT, which was not separately opened.
  • The Keweenaw County Road Commission is listed as the contact; the county page gives no driveway standards.

  “driveway/culvert for keweenaw county roads keweenaw county road commission 120 shop street mohawk, mi 49950 906 337-1610 [phone]”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permit processing for land inside Sherman township, handled by the Keweenaw County Zoning & Construction Codes Department

  • The page gives processing days and office hours but no step-by-step process, forms list or review timeline.
  • Fee payment is by online card payment through the county's payment portal, per the county page.

  “zoning permit processing and zoning appointments will be made on monday, wednesday, and friday.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a homeowner building on their own land inside Sherman township
• Building code adopted — Which building code applies to construction inside Sherman township
• Inspections — Building inspection for construction inside Sherman township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Sherman township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for a dwelling inside Sherman 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.