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

Pierson Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedPartial

  Dwellings inside Pierson township other than mobile homes

  • The ordinance refers to a construction code adopted by the township but does not name the code or its edition, so full adoption is not established.
  • Michigan state construction code rules were not checked within the search budget.

  “all other dwellings shall meet the requirements of the construction code adopted by the township.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Pierson township limits (Montcalm County, MI) under the township's own zoning ordinance

  • The ordinance is the Pierson Township Zoning Ordinance, with amendments adopted through March 9, 2026.
  • The township zoning administration page names an interim zoning administrator and says the township partners with Fresh Coast Planning.

  “the pierson township zoning manual was last amended in march 9, 2026.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of Pierson township

  • The zoning map is referenced in section 3.02 and was not opened; districts are listed in section 3.01.
  • District list includes AG, RR, R-1, LR, R-2, R-3, PUD, C-1, C-2 and I.

  “for purposes of this zoning ordinance, the township of pierson is hereby divided into the following zoning districts: ag r-r r-1 lr r-2 r-3 pud c-1 c-2 i agricultural district rural residential district single family residential district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Each dwelling in the R-1 single family residential district inside Pierson township

  • Dimension applies to usable floor area per dwelling in the R-1 district.

  minimum usable floor area per dwelling: >= 980 sq ft

  “section 7.05. minimum floor area. each dwelling shall have a minimum of 980 square feet of usable floor area.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Each dwelling in the RR rural residential district inside Pierson township

    “section 6.05. minimum floor area. each dwelling shall have a minimum of 980 square feet of usable floor area.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in the R-1 single family residential district inside Pierson township

  • Lot size depends on whether a public or community sewer system is provided; the larger lot applies where none is provided.

  minimum lot area without public or community sewer: >= 1 acre (where no public or community sewer system is provided) · minimum lot width without public or community sewer: >= 125 ft (where no public or community sewer system is provided) · minimum lot area with public or community sewer: >= 20000 sq ft (where a public or community sewer system is provided) · minimum lot width with public or community sewer: >= 100 ft (where a public or community sewer system is provided)

  “(a) where no public or community sewer system is provided, there shall be a minimum lot area of not less than one acre and a minimum lot width of not less than 125 feet.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Lots in the RR rural residential district inside Pierson township

    “(a) minimum lot area and minimum lot width. one acre with 125 feet of lot width.”

  • Specified — Lots in the AG agricultural district inside Pierson township

    “(a) minimum lot area and minimum lot width. two and one-half acres with 200 feet of lot width, except that the minimum lot area for a farm shall be ten acres.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal buildings in the AG agricultural district inside Pierson township

  • Projections such as cornices, bay windows, unenclosed porches and similar features may project up to ten feet into front or rear setbacks under section 4.33 but not into side setbacks.

  front yard setback: >= 50 ft · total side yard setback: >= 20 ft · minimum side yard: >= 10 ft (no side yard shall be less than ten feet) · rear yard setback: >= 25 ft

  “(1) front yard. fifty feet. (2) side yard. a total of 20 feet, provided that no side yard shall be less than ten feet. (3) rear yard. twenty five feet.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Principal buildings in the R-1 single family residential district inside Pierson township

    “(1) front yard. thirty five feet. (2) side yard. a total of 20 feet, provided that each side yard shall be not less than ten feet. (3) rear yard. twenty five feet.”

  • Specified — Principal buildings in the RR rural residential district inside Pierson township

    “(1) front yard. thirty five feet. (2) side yard. a total of 20 feet, provided that each side yard shall be not less than ten feet. (3) rear yard. twenty five feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in the AG agricultural district inside Pierson township

  • Barns, silos, windmills and other agriculturally-related buildings and structures may be taller, up to 100 feet, under the district's exception.

  maximum building height: <= 35 ft (barns, silos, windmills and other agriculturally-related buildings and structures up to 100 feet)

  “(4) no building shall exceed a height of 35 feet, except that barns, silos, windmills and other agriculturally-related buildings and structures shall not exceed 100 feet in height”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Buildings in the R-1 single family residential district inside Pierson township

    “maximum building height. thirty five feet.”

  • Specified — Buildings in the RR rural residential district inside Pierson township

    “maximum building height. thirty five feet.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Using a recreational vehicle as a dwelling inside Pierson township

  • Using an RV on any street, alley, highway or other public place as a dwelling is unlawful.
  • Elsewhere, an RV may be used for temporary dwelling purposes for up to six months only with a zoning administrator permit and listed hardship conditions.

  temporary dwelling period: <= 6 months (upon application to and approval of a permit by the zoning administrator)

  “no cabin, garage, basement, tent, recreational vehicle, or other temporary structure shall be used in whole or in part for dwelling purposes in any district provided that such structure may be used for a temporary dwelling for a period not to exceed six months upon application to and approval of a permit for such occupancy by the zoning administrator”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Recreational vehicles and temporary structures parked or used outside approved or lawful campgrounds in Pierson township

  • Parking and storage of RVs outside approved or lawful campgrounds is regulated by section 4.30.
  • Use of a temporary structure for dwelling purposes is limited to six months with a zoning administrator permit under section 4.32.

  “the use, parking and storage of recreational vehicles that are located outside of approved or otherwise lawful campgrounds shall be regulated by the terms of this section.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Township zoning permit fees in Pierson township

  • The listed amounts are zoning fees only; building permit and inspection fees were not shown on the page.
  • A variance or rezoning fee of $1,500.00 (ZBA) and a commercial fee of $185.00 also appear on the page.

  application fee: 25 USD · zoning permit fee: 60 USD (house, stick-built, modular, double-wide, additions and other listed structures)

  “application fee = $25.00 zoning permits = $60.00”

Rules another office applies inside Pierson Township

Pierson Township 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 septicCounty (with conditions)

  Sanitary facilities and septic systems on lots inside Pierson township that are not served by public sewer. The county health department acts here, not the township.

  • Section 4.34 applies the rules and regulations of the state and county health departments governing waste and sewage disposal.
  • The authority is recorded as county because the schema does not allow township-specific geography for county authority; the health department acts inside Pierson township.

  “unless there has been obtained from the county health department and submitted to the township a permit for two separate locations for private drainfield or other private sewage disposal facility on such lot or parcel.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Buildings with sanitary facilities on lots inside Pierson township that are not served by public sewer

  • No building permit for a building with sanitary facilities may issue without a county health department permit submitted to the township.
  • Section 4.34(a) applies to lots not served by both public water and sewer.

  “unless there has been obtained from the county health department and submitted to the township a permit for two separate locations for private drainfield or other private sewage disposal facility on such lot or parcel.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for new construction inside Pierson township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction in Pierson township
• Inspections — Building inspections for new construction inside Pierson township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new dwellings inside Pierson township
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage for buildings inside Pierson 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.