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

Chocolay Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Chocolay charter township limits (Marquette County, Michigan) is governed by the township's own zoning ordinance

  • The ordinance is the Charter Township of Chocolay zoning ordinance adopted April 14, 2008, with amendments through October 12, 2021; later amendments were not verified.

  “charter township of chocolay zoning ordinance adopted april 14, 2008 with amendments through october 12, 2021”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Chocolay charter township

  • Districts listed in the ordinance table of contents: single family residential (4.1), R-2 high density residential (4.2), multi-family (4.3), waterfront residential (4.4), commercial (4.5), industrial (4.6), agriculture/forestry (4.7), municipal properties (4.8), PUD (4.9), plus overlay districts in Article V.

  “4.7 agriculture / forestry district (af) 44 4.8 municipal properties district (mp) 45”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings inside Chocolay charter township (general provision, section 6.3)

  • Applies only if the dwelling has a minimum width of 20 feet across any front, side or rear elevation and complies in all respects with the marquette county building code.
  • Multi-family dwelling units have a separate 600 square foot minimum in the same section.

  minimum floor area, single-family dwelling: >= 800 square feet (also minimum width of 20 feet across any front, side or rear elevation)

  “every single-family dwelling shall have a minimum floor area of 800 square feet, and every dwelling unit in a multi-family dwelling shall have a minimum floor area of 600 square feet, provided: (a) it has a minimum width across any front, side or rear elevation of 20 feet and complies in all respects with the marquette county building code”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Commercial (C) and industrial (I) lots in Chocolay charter township, where they adjoin R-1, R-2 or MFR districts

  • The source text reads 'r-l' where R-1 is presumably meant.
  • Front, side and rear setbacks for the single family, multi-family, and agriculture districts were not extracted.

  setback from boundary line of R-1, R-2 or MFR district: >= 30 feet

  “on lots in districts c and i, no structure shall be erected or maintained within 30 feet of the boundary line of any r-l, r-2, or mfr districts.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory housing units inside an existing detached single-family dwelling in Chocolay charter township (section 6.10)

  • Must be a complete, self-contained unit created within or attached to a permitted existing detached single-family dwelling.
  • Item 1 of section 6.10(a) begins 'only owner-occupiers are permi'; the rest of that sentence was not read in the opened text.

  “6.10 accessory housing unit it is the intent of this section to provide standards that will allow extended family living in what have traditionally been detached single-family only zoning districts or neighborhoods.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Rural cluster development subdivisions in Chocolay charter township (section 6.12)

  • Each lot must have sufficient area to meet district health department requirements for septic waste disposal unless served by public sewer.
  • Adequate right-of-way for a public road meeting county road commission standards must be provided.

  “and ensuring that adequate right-of-way for a public road meeting county road commission standards is provided”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Bed-and-breakfast guest rental of a single-family dwelling in Chocolay charter township (defined term, #34-19-04)

  • The dwelling must be the owner's personal residence and occupied by the owner at the time of rental.
  • No more than six sleeping rooms may be provided for guests.
  • The districts that permit bed and breakfasts were not verified; the definition does not address other short-term rental forms.

  maximum guest sleeping rooms: <= 6 rooms

  “the dwelling unit is the owner's personal residence, is occupied by the owner at the time of rental, and the owner does not provide more than six sleeping rooms for guests.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for new homes in Chocolay charter township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homes in Chocolay charter township
• Building code adopted — Building code in Chocolay charter township
• Inspections — Building inspections in Chocolay charter township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new homes in Chocolay 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.