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

Rules another office applies inside Ferris Township

Ferris 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, alterations, additions, and accessory buildings inside Ferris township; the Montcalm County Building Department issues permits for all of Montcalm County except the City of Greenville

  • Permit required for all new construction, alterations, additions, change of use, demolitions, and similar work.
  • Permit required for swimming pools 24 inches or deeper, decks, porches, or floor surfaces 30 inches or more above grade, and garages, carports, storage sheds, and yard buildings.
  • Exceptions stated by the county: residential accessory structures not greater than 200 square feet, entryway additions where no horizontal dimension exceeds 7 feet, re-siding, and re-roofing without structural repairs.
  • Zoning approval is also required for building projects in zoned townships; check with the township.

  “the montcalm county building department requires a permit for the following work: all new construction, alterations, additions, change of use, demolitions, etc.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building construction inside Ferris township; the state construction code is enforced locally by the Montcalm County Building Department

  • The Montcalm County Building Department enforces the state code as stated; the adopting authority is the State of Michigan, not Ferris township.
  • Michigan Residential Code and Michigan Building Code editions are those named in the county source (2015 editions as stated).

  “the montcalm county building department enforces the state construction code act no. 230 of the public acts of 1972, which includes michigan building code 2015, michigan residential code 2015, and the state amendments as published in the building code rules, parts 1, 2, 3 & 4.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-site sewage disposal serving land inside Ferris township; the county building department directs applicants to the Mid Michigan District Health Department for the sewage permit

  • Applies to sewage systems; the county lists the health department as the sewage and well permit office for building permit applicants.

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

• Septic permitRequired

  Sewage system for a home inside Ferris township

  • Required as part of obtaining a building permit under the county checklist.
  • Percolation testing is obtained through the Mid Michigan health department, per a county source.

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

• Well permitRequired

  Private water well for a home inside Ferris township

  • Required as part of obtaining a building permit under the county checklist.

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

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveway access to a county road serving a home inside Ferris township

  • Driveway permit issued by the Montcalm County Road Commission; driveways on a state highway require a permit from MDOT per the county checklist.

  “driveway permit – montcalm county road commission, 989-831-5285”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permit fees for work inside Ferris township, set by the Montcalm County Building Department

  • Fees are based on project size and the actual work performed; no published fee schedule was located on the pages opened.
  • Fees fund only the building department's operation, per the county source.

  “montcalm county building department permit fees are based on the size of the project and the actual work that is being performed.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit process for work inside Ferris township

  • The county checklist lists zoning approval, sewage and well permit, address, equalization, driveway permit, soil and sedimentation permit (within 500 feet of a lake, stream or drain), legal description and plan requirements.
  • Zoning approval applies in zoned townships; the county does not state whether Ferris is zoned.

  “zoning approval is required for all building projects, including solar/wind energy projects, in zoned townships.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Ferris township
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy approval for a new home inside Ferris township
• Local zoning — Land inside Ferris township limits: whether Ferris township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts of Ferris township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Ferris township, single-family residential district

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.