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

Morton Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Residential construction, alteration, relocation or mobile-home set-up on land inside Morton township, using the township's Application for Residential Building Permit

  • Separate applications are required for a zoning permit and for plumbing, mechanical and electrical work permits.
  • A contractor must be registered with Morton township or the township will not accept the application.
  • If the project is within 500 feet of a lake, stream, or county drain, a soil erosion permit is required.

  “note: separate applications must be completed for zoning permit, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical work permits”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Residential buildings erected or moved onto parcels in Morton township's residential zoning districts

  • The ordinance requires foundations to be built in accordance with the Michigan construction code, as enforced by Morton township.
  • Its mini-cabin rule in campgrounds also requires Michigan Residential Code compliance for building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work.

  “it is firmly attached to a permanent foundation constructed on the site in accordance with the michigan construction code, as amended (pub act 230), as enforced by morton township”

• InspectionsLimited

  Storage buildings on parcels inside Morton township that are placed without a dwelling, under Section 5.14

  • Inspection is arranged by the building owner, with the fee paid before the inspection.

  “2. the inspection shall be arranged by the building owner and the fee for the inspection shall be paid before the inspection is to be conducted.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Required — Mini-cabins sited in a licensed campground in Morton township

    “michigan residential code requirements shall be adhered to (building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing) for structural and life safety standards. all necessary permits and inspections are required.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Land inside Morton township's limits

  • District boundaries are shown on an official zoning map, which was not opened; district list taken from the ordinance index (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, C-1, C-2, C-3, Industrial 1 (I), Agricultural 1 (A-1), Agricultural II (A-2), Wetlands, Campgrounds).

  “the township of morton is hereby divided into zoning districts, as named and described in the following sections.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  District R-1 (single-family residential) in Morton township

  • Figure taken from the Section 5.15 table, whose columns are garbled in the extracted PDF text; the R-1 column assignment is inferred and should be verified against the table.
  • Lot width at setback line is 100 feet in the same table.

  minimum lot size: >= 20000 sq ft (R-1 column; table extraction inferred)

  “minimum lot size 20,000 sq. ft. 20,000 sq. ft. 2 acres (1st unit) +7,000 sq. ft. (ea. add unit)”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  District R-1 (single-family residential) in Morton township

  • Setbacks are measured from the point on the structure nearest the lot line.
  • Values are read from the Section 5.15 setback table, whose columns are garbled in the extracted text; the R-1 assignment is inferred and needs verification.
  • Waterfront lots have a 50-foot building setback from the water.

  front setback: 30 feet (R-1 column; table extraction inferred) · side setback (each): 10 feet (R-1 column; table extraction inferred) · rear setback: 25 feet (R-1 column; table extraction inferred)

  “all setbacks are measured from the point on the structure nearest the lot line.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  District R-1 (single-family residential) in Morton township

  • Height limit read from the Section 5.15 table row, whose columns are garbled in the extracted text; the R-1 assignment is inferred and needs verification.
  • Antennas and similar structures have separate height rules (up to 150 feet, with airport glide-slope limits).

  building height limit: <= 35 feet (R-1 column; table extraction inferred)

  “rear setback 25 feet height limit 35 feet”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Occupying a recreational vehicle on land inside Morton township outside a licensed RV park

  • The ordinance purpose is to prevent year-round use and storage of RVs on vacant parcels, except campgrounds and storage facilities authorized for that use.
  • On a vacant parcel with no principal dwelling, a 21-day permit is needed before an RV is placed, and the RV must be removed for 21 days before a new permit is issued.
  • Outside storage of an RV on a vacant lot is not allowed.
  • The text of exceptions for parcels with a principal dwelling was cut off in the extracted text and is not confirmed.

  temporary RV permit period on vacant parcel: 21 days (vacant parcel with no principal dwelling; RV must be removed 21 days before a new permit)

  “a 21-day permit must be obtained prior to locating an rv on any vacant parcel.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Campgrounds on land inside Morton township under Section 5.13

  • Campgrounds require a minimum of 20 acres with at least 660 feet of road frontage.
  • Modern campgrounds are capped at three sites per acre; primitive campgrounds at five sites per acre.
  • Campsites must be at least 2,100 sq ft (modern) or 1,400 sq ft (primitive), with a 50-foot greenbelt setback.
  • Tents, trailers and RVs may not be placed within ten feet of the traveled portion of any road.

  minimum campground lot size: >= 20 acres

  “minimum lot size 20 acres, with at least 660 feet of road frontage along an improved gravel or paved public road.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes used as dwellings in Morton township's residential zoning districts

  • A mobile home must be installed per the manufacturer's setup instructions and anchored under Michigan Mobile Home Commission rules.
  • Wheels must be removed and no exposed towing mechanism, undercarriage or chassis may remain.
  • The home must be connected to public sewer and water or to private facilities approved by the local health department, and must meet the other Section 5.16 conditions.

  “each mobile home shall be installed with the wheels removed.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Residential dwellings in Morton township's residential zoning districts that are not on public sewer and water

  • Private (non-public) sanitation and water facilities are allowed only if approved by the local health department.
  • Storage buildings must allow room for a well and septic system as required by the health department.

  “the dwelling is connected to a public sewer and water supply or to such private facilities approved by the local health department.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Each residential building in Morton township's residential zoning districts

  • The dwelling must be connected to a public sewer and water supply, or to private facilities approved by the local health department.
  • No distance-to-main or availability threshold was found in the opened text.

  “the dwelling is connected to a public sewer and water supply or to such private facilities approved by the local health department.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders of single-family homes inside Morton township
• Certificate of occupancy — New dwellings inside Morton township
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage on parcels inside Morton township
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings inside Morton township
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwellings on residential parcels inside Morton 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.