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

Rules another office applies inside Wells Township

Wells 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 permitRequired

  New construction, additions, demolition, moving buildings inside Wells township; permit issued by Marquette County

  • Written zoning approval from the township required first.
  • Well/septic approval required first; building permits do not include plumbing, mechanical or electrical, which are separate.
  • Fee must be paid before issuance; soil erosion permit if within 500 feet of lake/stream or disturbing over one acre.

  “permits are required for: a. all new construction - buildings, additions, alterations, remodeling, new or replacement plumbing, mechanical, or electrical systems and so on.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building codes enforced by Marquette County Codes Department, applying inside Wells township (county issues permits for all of Marquette County)

  • Michigan Residential Code 2015 effective February 8, 2016; Michigan Building Code 2021 effective April 9, 2025; Plumbing and Mechanical 2021 effective March 12, 2024; NEC 2023 effective March 12, 2024; 2021 Michigan Commercial Energy Code effective April 22, 2025; Michigan Energy Code 2015 effective September 20, 2017.

  “the following michigan codes are currently enforced by the marquette county codes department”

• Who permits septicCounty

  Onsite sewage and well permitting inside Wells township, handled by Marquette County Health Department

  • Wells are regulated under the Upper Peninsula Environmental Health Code of Marquette County and Part 127 of the Public Health Code.

  “well/septic approval: contact the marquette county health department's division of environmental health”

• Septic permitRequired

  New residential structures inside Wells township without an existing septic system

  • Existing septic systems are evaluated for functional status before well permit approval.
  • Residential structures seeking a well permit must be served by a water-carried sewage system.

  “if the structure is not served by a septic system, the owner must apply for a septic system permit in conjunction with the well permit.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private residential water wells inside Wells township

  • On-site review of proposed well location before permit issuance.
  • Driven point wells also require a health department permit.
  • Hand pump wells for rustic cabins only under state remote cabin exemptions with county building codes proof.

  “all water supply wells serving private residences in marquette county must be permitted by the marquette county health department (mchd) prior to construction.”

• Permit processPublished

  Building permit process inside Wells township, administered by Marquette County

  • Requires written township zoning approval, plans, well/septic approval, legal description, contractor license info; do not start construction before permit issued.

  “to apply for a permit, bring a completed application to the resource management/development department, or you may email to buildingcodes@mqtco.org”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Wells township
• Inspections — Inspections inside Wells township
• Certificate of occupancy — Wells township
• Zoning districts — Wells township
• Minimum dwelling size — Wells 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.