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

Rules another office applies inside Bushnell Township

Bushnell 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

  Building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits for construction inside Bushnell township, issued by Montcalm County building department

  • Construction may proceed after the permit is issued, so the status is conditional.
  • The Bushnell township permits page lists only burn, solicitor or peddler, and special event permits; it does not list building permits.
  • The county sheet says the county issues permits for all of Montcalm County except the City of Greenville, which issues its own building permits.
  • Zoning approval is also required in zoned townships (see permit_process).

  “issues building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Bushnell township, where Montcalm County building department enforces the Michigan codes it lists

  • The county page lists 2021 Michigan Building Code effective April 9, 2025, and 2015 Michigan Residential Code effective February 8, 2016; the county enforces codes based on the effective date of each code.
  • Montcalm County administers the state construction code in areas not served by local township or city enforcement; the township site lists no local building department.

  “2021 michigan building code: effective april 9, 2025”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Sewage disposal (septic) permitting for new homes inside Bushnell township

  • The county sheet names the Mid Michigan District Health Department, Stanton, as the sewage and well permit office for Montcalm County. Its service area was not separately confirmed on the health department's own site.
  • The county sheet presents this as one of the items required to obtain a building permit.

  “sewage and well permit – mid michigan district health department, stanton, 989-831-5237”

• Septic permitRequired

  New home septic (sewage disposal) system inside Bushnell township

  • Construction may proceed after the sewage permit is issued, so the status is conditional.
  • Permit is listed by the county as a requirement to obtain a building permit. Sizing, setback and installation rules were not opened.

  “sewage and well permit – mid michigan district health department, stanton, 989-831-5237”

• Well permitRequired

  New home private well inside Bushnell township

  • Construction may proceed after the well permit is issued, so the status is conditional.
  • The county sheet lists a combined sewage and well permit from the district health department. Well construction standards were not opened.

  “sewage and well permit – mid michigan district health department, stanton, 989-831-5237”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway connections to county roads serving new homes inside Bushnell township

  • Per the county sheet, driveways on a state highway need an MDOT permit instead. The Bushnell home page names M-57 and M-66 as state highways through the township.
  • The road commission's driveway standards were not opened.

  “driveway permit – montcalm county road commission, 989-831-5285 / driveways on a state highway shall obtain a permit from mdot (local office in grand rapids) 616-464-1800”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permit fees for work inside Bushnell township

  • The county says fees are set by project size and scope and that applicants pay only for the specific work being performed.
  • The county fee schedule was not opened, so no dollar amounts are recorded.

  “permit fees are based on the size and scope of each project: smaller projects incur lower fees larger projects require higher fees”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process for construction inside Bushnell township, combining township zoning approval with county building and health permits

  • Zoning approval is required for building projects in zoned townships, and may also be required for RV poles and temporary poles; the county says to check with the township.
  • The county sheet also lists a sewage and well permit from the district health department, a driveway permit, and a soil erosion permit if excavating within 500 feet of a lake, stream or drainage ditch.
  • The township site publishes no building permit application.

  “zoning approval is required for all building projects, including solar/wind energy projects, in zoned townships. zoning approval may also be required for rv poles & temporary poles. check with township.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a home inside Bushnell township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes inside Bushnell township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside Bushnell township
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for land inside Bushnell township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for single-family homes inside Bushnell 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.