Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Negaunee, Michigan

Negaunee’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Negaunee city limits. The city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Code of Ordinances Chapter 156, Zoning) and zoning map.

  • Uses are regulated by district under Chapter 156; permits and special land uses apply as stated in the code.
  • City notice describes zoning map ordinance #156.031, a rezoning of part of the Old Towne area from Public Area (PA) to Multi-Family Residential (R-2), with effective date January 29, 2024.
  • This is the city's own ordinance, not a county or township zoning rule.

  “the city of negaunee at its january 18, 2024 regular council meeting held a public hearing and 2 nd reading of ordinance #156.031 zoning map.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts of Negaunee city (Chapter 156 zoning map districts)

  • Table of contents lists single-family R-1 (§156.045), multiple-family R-2 (§156.046), rural residential RR (§156.047), business B-1 and B-2, industrial, public area, mining, natural resource (NR) and Teal Lake overlay (TL) districts.
  • District boundaries are shown on the zoning map adopted by ordinance; the map itself was not opened in this research.

  “§ 156.045 single-family residential district (r-1). § 156.046 multiple-family residential district (r-2). § 156.047 rural residential district (rr).”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Rural Residential district (RR, Code §156.047) in Negaunee city: minimum lot area

  • Lot-area rule does not apply to lots already platted and recorded as of the effective date of the section, where the owner does not own enough adjacent land to comply, if all other requirements are met.
  • Placement under §156.047 is inferred from the RR intent paragraph and the RR prior-code numbering (§ 1270.x) on the same page; confirm on the official code page.
  • The single-family R-1 lot figure (9,600 sq ft) appears elsewhere on the same page but its district was not confirmed; it is not claimed here.

  minimum lot area: >= 1 acre (Lots platted and recorded before the section's effective date may be exempt if owner lacks adjacent land.) · minimum lot frontage: >= 150 feet (Same platted-lot exception as lot area.)

  “(2) lot area. no building shall be erected or altered unless it is on a lot having an area of not less than one acre. this regulation shall not apply to lots already platted and recorded as of the effective date of this section where the owner of such platted lots does not own a sufficient amount of adjacent land to permit compliance, provided that all other requirements of the section are met.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Rural Residential district (RR, Code §156.047) in Negaunee city: maximum building height.

  • Height may exceed 35 feet by one foot for each foot over ten feet the structure is set back from all property lines, but never above 75 feet.
  • Placement under §156.047 inferred as in the lot-size claim; confirm on the official code page.
  • R-1 and R-2 heights were not confirmed.

  maximum building height: <= 35 feet (+1 foot per foot over 10 feet of setback from all property lines; no building may exceed 75 feet)

  “no building or structure thereof shall be erected or altered to a height exceeding 35 feet, except a permitted structure may exceed this limit by one foot for each foot in excess of ten feet that the building or structure is set back from all property lines, except that no building may exceed 75 feet.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on a lot in the Rural Residential district (RR, §156.047) inside Negaunee city

  • Before zoning approves an ADU, the property owner must provide approval for well and septic from the Marquette County Health Department.
  • ADU is listed as a permitted principal use in RR; other districts were not checked.

  “(5) prior to zoning approving for an adu, property owner must provide approval for well and septic from the marquette county health department.”

Rules another office applies inside Negaunee

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic approval for an accessory dwelling unit inside Negaunee city is handled by the Marquette County Health Department, per the city's own zoning code.

  • Found only for ADU approval in the city code; a general septic permit rule for all Negaunee city lots was not confirmed.
  • The county health department's service-area statement naming Negaunee city was not located.

  “(5) prior to zoning approving for an adu, property owner must provide approval for well and septic from the marquette county health department.”

• Septic permitLimited

  Septic approval as a condition of zoning approval for an accessory dwelling unit inside Negaunee city

  • Applies only to ADUs. A general septic permit requirement for other construction was not established.

  “(5) prior to zoning approving for an adu, property owner must provide approval for well and septic from the marquette county health department.”

• Well permitLimited

  Well approval as a condition of zoning approval for an accessory dwelling unit inside Negaunee city

  • Applies only to ADUs. A general well permit requirement for other construction was not established.

  “(5) prior to zoning approving for an adu, property owner must provide approval for well and septic from the marquette county health department.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Whether a building permit is required for new construction inside Negaunee city, and who issues it
• Owner-builder exemption — Whether an owner-builder may build a home without a licensed contractor inside Negaunee city
• Building code adopted — Which building code Negaunee city adopts for construction
• Inspections — Whether building inspections are required for new construction inside Negaunee city
• Certificate of occupancy — Whether a certificate of occupancy is required for a new home inside Negaunee city

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.