Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Big Rapids, Michigan

Big Rapids’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  All buildings inside Big Rapids city limits: the city adopted the Michigan state construction code act by its own ordinance.

  • Enforcement and administration are transferred to Mecosta County (see separate claim).

  “the city adopts the state construction code act and agrees to be bound by the provisions of the act in the city.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Big Rapids city limits. The city administers its own zoning ordinance (Code Chapter 154).

  • The zoning ordinance is being rewritten (city has a consultant engaged for an audit and rewrite; not verified on an official page). Chapter 154 text itself was not located in the official PDFs opened, so district rules are not confirmed from the ordinance.
  • Building on a parcel requires compliance with the city zoning ordinance in addition to the state building code and other city ordinances.

  “in order to build on a parcel, the property must also comply with the state's building code, the city's zoning ordinance, and all other applicable city ordinances.”

• Subdividing landRegulated

  Land divisions, plats and lot splits inside Big Rapids city, under city Code Title XV chapter 153

  • Subdivision and development design standards are in a separate city document (not opened).
  • Land divisions under one acre require public water and sewer or district health approval before a building permit issues.

  “in addition, any parcel resulting from a division that is less than one acre in size shall not be issued a building permit unless the parcel has both of the following:”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Development on land inside the regulated flood hazard areas of Big Rapids city, as designated under Code chapter 152 using the FEMA Mecosta County flood insurance study

  • Applies only to designated regulated flood hazard areas; the designation is based on the FEMA flood insurance study for Mecosta County dated 2/4/2015.
  • Violations are municipal civil infractions under § 10.97.

  “the flood hazard area construction regulations of the city are included as part of the zoning ordinance and are adopted by reference as part of the zoning ordinance in chapter 154.”

Rules another office applies inside Big Rapids

Big Rapids 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 septicMixed (with conditions)

  On-site sewage disposal (septic) on land inside Big Rapids city where no public sewer is used; the district health department governs suitability approval.

  • Approval of on-site sewage disposal is by the district health department for parcels created by land division that are under one acre and lack public sewer.
  • State rules (EGLE) also apply as stated in the city definition.

  “(b) public sewer or district health department approval for the suitability of an on-site sewage disposal.”

• Well permitLimited

  Building permit on a parcel under one acre created by land division inside Big Rapids city that relies on an on-site water supply

  • Applies only to parcels under one acre created by land division or lot split; no general well-permit requirement was found in the city code.
  • Public water approval or district health department suitability approval is required before a building permit issues on such a parcel.

  parcel size threshold: < 1 acre (parcels created by division or lot split)

  “(a) public water or district health department approval for the suitability of an on-site water supply.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Big Rapids or Mecosta County directly.

• Building permit — New construction on a parcel inside Big Rapids city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Big Rapids city
• Inspections — Building inspections for work inside Big Rapids city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Big Rapids city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum floor area for a dwelling inside Big Rapids 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.