Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Onekama, Michigan

Village of Onekama’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Onekama village limits; the Onekama Village Zoning Ordinance is the village's own zoning ordinance. Does not apply to Onekama Township or unincorporated Manistee County land.

  • Ordinance effective August 1, 2014; amended November 29, 2023 (per the PDF's cover page).
  • Section 1014 and Article 40 apply on top of this ordinance; see the other claims.

  “the onekama village permanent zoning ordinance was adopted initially by the village council of the village of onekama, manistee county, michigan at a meeting held on may 3, 1990.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Onekama village limits.

  • Table of contents lists Article 18 (establishment of districts and official zoning map), Article 40 (residential district), Article 50 (commercial residential district) and Article 70 (Portage Lake overlay zone).
  • District boundaries and dimensional standards for each district were not read; see the unknown dimensional claims.

  “article 40: residential district 4001. purpose it is the intent of this district to provide for developed neighborhoods for residential and certain controlled retail and service businesses in certain parts of the village”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Occupying an RV, trailer or camper as living quarters on private land inside Onekama village.

  • Only temporary use is allowed: construction-period quarters with a land use permit (six months), or a permit-based trailer use limited to 21 cumulative days per permit year.
  • Trailers must meet setback requirements for construction-period quarters.

  construction temporary quarters period: 6 months (extendable by up to six more months on good cause)

  “the use of that temporary dwelling or trailer shall be limited to a six (6) month period beginning with the issuance by the administrator of a land use permit”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Use of any trailer, tent or temporary structure for dwelling purposes or seasonal living quarters on private land inside Onekama village.

  • Use is prohibited except for the two exceptions in Section 1014: (a) temporary quarters during construction and installation of a conforming dwelling, for one temporary dwelling or trailer, with a land use permit, limited to six months (extendable by up to six more months for good cause); (b) a permit issued by the administrator allowing one trailer or one tent per calendar day, for a cumulative 21 days in the permit year.
  • Temporary dwelling or trailer must comply with all setback requirements.
  • Use must not be contrary to the health, safety or welfare of the public.

  construction temporary quarters period: 6 months (may be extended by up to six more months on a finding of good cause) · permit-based seasonal use cumulative days: 21 days (per permit issuance year; one trailer or one tent per calendar day)

  “no person shall use, or permit the use of, any temporary structure, any trailer or any tent for dwelling purposes or as seasonal living quarters on any site, field, parcel, lot, or tract of land, except:”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Any structure inside Onekama village used for dwelling, recreational, business, commercial or industrial purposes.

  • A structure within 200 feet of the village sanitary sewer system must connect to it.
  • A structure not within 200 feet must use a private system that complies with the district #10 health department sanitary code.
  • Every such structure must also have a safe and sanitary water supply; the ordinance does not require a public water connection in this section.
  • The ordinance does not name the district #10 health department's permitting role in this text; that is not verified here.

  sewer connection distance threshold: <= 200 feet (Structures not within 200 feet use a private system complying with district #10 health department sanitary code)

  “if the structure in which sanitary sewage originates is located within 200 feet from the village sanitary sewer system, to the village sanitary sewer system; and, 2. if not so located, to a private system which complies with the district #10 health department sanitary code.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Onekama or Manistee County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Onekama village
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Onekama village
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption inside Onekama village
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Onekama village
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Onekama village

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.