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

Rules another office applies inside Ferry Township

Ferry 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 code adoptedAdopted

  Building codes enforced by the Oceana County Building Department inside Ferry township, which is not one of the townships that handle their own permits

  • Only Newfield, Otto and Grant townships are listed as handling their own building permits; Ferry is not listed among them.
  • Code list is the county's current codes table.

  2021 Michigan Building Code effective: 2025-04-09

  “current codes code effective date 2015 michigan residential building february 8, 2016 2021 michigan building april 9, 2025 2021 michigan plumbing march 12, 2024”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy letter for buildings in Ferry township, issued through the Oceana County building process

  • The guide is a countywide permitting checklist; Ferry is within the county building department's coverage.

  “an occupancy letter is required on all buildings before they can be used or occupied.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New homes or buildings with a new septic system inside Ferry township

  • The building department needs the actual permit, not the receipt.
  • A separate BPA is required when adding a bedroom, changing use, or when septic or well location is unknown.

  “septic/well permit - district #10 health department (231) 873-2193. the building department needs the actual permit, not the receipt. new homes or buildings with new well/septic.”

• Well permitRequired

  New homes or buildings with a new well inside Ferry township

  • The building department needs the actual permit, not the receipt.

  “septic/well permit - district #10 health department (231) 873-2193. the building department needs the actual permit, not the receipt. new homes or buildings with new well/septic.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveway permits for lots in Ferry township from the county road commission

  • Not needed when the driveway will be on a private road.
  • Needed when no other buildings already exist, when working in road right-of-way, or where culverts are installed.

  “driveway permit - from the county road commission (231)873-4226 is needed when no other buildings already exist, when doing anything in road right-of-way”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Construction affecting a floodplain, lake, river, stream, wetland or dune, including in Ferry township (per Oceana County guide)

  • State EGLE permit applies only to activities that would impact those regulated features.

  “egle permit - from the department of environment, great lakes, and energy (egle)'s water resources division is required for any construction activities that would impact a lake, river, stream, wetland, dune, high risk erosion, or floodplain.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit application process through the Oceana County Building Department for land inside Ferry township

  • Permit applications will not be processed if sent by email.
  • Permits are good for 6 months; applications are deemed abandoned 180 days after filing unless pursued in good faith.
  • Renewal is $175.00 after two no-fee extensions.

  permit renewal fee: 175 USD (after two no-fee extensions)

  “building permit application along with all required supporting documents must be submitted in person or sent via us mail.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Ferry township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Ferry township
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Ferry township
• Local zoning — Zoning inside Ferry township
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Ferry 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.