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

Rules another office applies inside Richland Township

Richland 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 building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical construction inside Richland township, issued by the Montcalm County Building Department

  • The county building department issues these permits for all of Montcalm County except the City of Greenville, which issues its own building permits.
  • The county building page says it serves all 20 townships through a centralized department, but also says it administers the state construction code where areas are not served by local township or city enforcement; whether Richland township issues any permit itself is not established.
  • Construction may proceed only after the permit is issued.

  “montcalm county building department issues building, electric, plumbing and mechanical permits for all of montcalm county, except for the city of greenville, where we issue electric, plumbing and mechanical permits only.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Inside Richland township (Montcalm County): the Michigan Building Code edition enforced under the state construction code act; the county building department enforces it where the township does not

  • The county building page lists the 2021 Michigan Building Code as effective April 9, 2025.
  • The page says the department administers the state construction code in areas of Montcalm County not served by local township or city enforcement; whether Richland township enforces the code itself is not established.

  code edition: 2021 Michigan Building Code

  “2021 michigan building code: effective april 9, 2025 2015 michigan building code: effective april 20, 2017”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic system authority inside Richland township (Montcalm County)

  • The county checklist assigns well and septic permits to the Mid Michigan District Health Department rather than to the county building department.
  • Health-department service-area boundaries were not separately verified.

  “well & septic permits — mid michigan district health department, stanton, 989-831-5237”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic system permit for a home inside Richland township (Montcalm County), issued by the Mid Michigan District Health Department in Stanton

  • The county checklist lists the health department as the agency for well and septic permits; it states no inspection requirement.
  • Construction or system installation proceeds after the permit is issued.

  agency phone: 989-831-5237

  “well & septic permits — mid michigan district health department, stanton, 989-831-5237”

• Well permitRequired

  Private well permit for a home inside Richland township (Montcalm County), issued by the Mid Michigan District Health Department in Stanton

  • The county checklist lists the health department as the agency for well and septic permits; it states no inspection requirement.
  • Construction proceeds after the permit is issued.

  agency phone: 989-831-5237

  “well & septic permits — mid michigan district health department, stanton, 989-831-5237”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway access onto county roads serving a home inside Richland township, permitted by the Montcalm County Road Commission

  • The checklist lists a driveway permit as a step to obtain a building permit; it does not say which roads trigger it.
  • Road commission rules were not opened.

  road commission phone: 989-831-5285

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

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit steps inside Richland township (Montcalm County)

  • The county checklist lists zoning approval (via the zoning administrators list), the location of property, a driveway permit from the county road commission, a well and septic permit from the health department, a soil erosion permit from the Building Department when excavating within 500 ft of a lake, stream or drainage ditch, plus plans and energy code requirements.
  • The checklist is partial: it does not give fees, turnaround, or the township's own approval steps.

  building department phone: 989-831-7394

  “what is required to obtain a building permit? zoning approval — see, zoning administrators and assessors list”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for a home built by the owner inside Richland township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Richland township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new construction inside Richland township
• Local zoning — Whether Richland township (Montcalm County) adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Richland township (Montcalm County)

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.