Zoning, building permits and septic rules in West Branch, Michigan

West Branch’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Building permits for construction inside West Branch city; the city's code refers to permits issued by the county building department

  • A city zoning permit is required before a building permit is issued.

  “A zoning permit is required prior to the issuance of a building permit.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  West Branch city

  • Subject to exceptions the city council may provide; also adopts the International Property Maintenance Code.

  “The city adopts the most recent version of the state construction codes”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  Occupancy of basements or partially completed structures inside West Branch city; certificate issued by the county per the city's code

  • A temporary certificate of occupancy issued by the county is needed for dwelling use of a basement or partially completed structure.
  • Separately, a certificate of zoning compliance is issued after the zoning administrator's final inspection (Sec. 15-556(c)(6)).

  “unless a temporary certificate of occupancy has been issued by the county”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside West Branch city

  • Zoning ordinance is Title 15, Chapter 4 (Ord. of 12-16-2019); districts include R-1 and MU.

  “the owner thereof shall first obtain a zoning permit from the zoning administrator.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts in West Branch city (R-1, R-M, MU and others in Article II)

  “r-1 single-family residential district r-m multiple-family district mu mixed use district o-s office service district cbd central business district g-b general business district ind industrial district”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Residential District, West Branch city

  • Planning commission may approve smaller dwellings; no public hearing required.
  • MU district has the same 1,200 sq ft minimum (Sec. 15-365). No agricultural district found.

  minimum dwelling unit size: >= 1200 sq ft (planning commission may approve less) · minimum dwelling dimension: >= 24 ft

  “the planning commission shall have the authority to approve principal dwelling units less than the minimum dwelling unit size or dimension. no public hearing shall be required. 1,200 sq. ft. dwelling unit dimension (min.) 24 ft.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Residential District, West Branch city

  • MU district has the same standards.

  lot area: >= 7200 sq ft · lot width: >= 60 ft

  “table 15-363 lot and structure standards lot area 7,200 sq. ft. lot width (min.) 60 ft.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Residential District, West Branch city

  • Accessory buildings: 5 ft from side lot line or 3 ft from side/rear line, 10 ft from principal building (Sec. 15-301).

  front: >= 15 ft · rear: >= 15 ft · side: >= 8 ft · side street corner: >= 15 ft

  “setbacks front (min.) 15 ft. rear (min.) 15 ft. side (min.) 8 ft. side - street - corner lot (min.) 15 ft.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Residential District, West Branch city

  max lot coverage of structures: <= 60 percent

  “Lot coverage of structures (max.) 60% Setbacks Front (min.) 15 ft.”

• Building heightSpecified

  R-1 Single-Family Residential District, West Branch city

  • Accessory buildings/structures limited to two stories (Sec. 15-301(d)); height exceptions in Sec. 15-316.

  max building height: <= 45 ft

  “Building height (max.) 45 ft. Dwelling unit size (min.)”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RVs on residential lots inside West Branch city

  • Parking/storage only; no permanent connection to electricity, water, gas or sanitary facilities.
  • No more than three RVs per lot; side or rear yard generally.
  • Overnight camping in an RV limited to 30 days in any six-month period.

  max RV camping: <= 30 days per six months

  “and at no time shall same be used for permanent living, lodging or housekeeping purposes in any zoning district.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Overnight camping in an RV inside West Branch city

  • Subject to RV parking and utility-connection limits in Sec. 15-302(a).

  max camping: <= 30 days per six months

  “Overnight camping in a recreation vehicle shall be limited to no more than 30 days in any six-month period.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes on lots inside West Branch city

  • Wheels, tongue and hitch removed; no exposed undercarriage; permanent foundation.
  • Not usable as an accessory building; no storage of manufactured homes except at dealerships.
  • Must meet HUD standards and the city construction code.

  “each manufactured home must bear an approved HUD certification label.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units in R-1 and MU districts, West Branch city

  • Special use permit in R-1 and MU.
  • Freestanding ADUs not allowed in R-1.
  • Attached ADU max 600 sq ft or 25% of principal dwelling floor area; one extra parking space; tenants must be permanent residents.

  ADUs per lot: <= 1 unit

  “one accessory dwelling unit is allowed per lot.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Privies, septic tanks, cesspools inside West Branch city

  • General prohibition with exceptions elsewhere in the chapter.

  “except as hereinafter provided, it is unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  Properties served by a private sewage disposal system inside West Branch city when public sewer becomes available

  • Septic tanks, cesspools and similar facilities must be abandoned and filled with suitable material.
  • No distance threshold was in the section read; water connection rules not found.

  “a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Plats and subdivisions inside West Branch city

  • Review fee amounts are set by the city from time to time.

  “the proprietor shall deposit a review fee with the city clerk”

• Short-term rentalsAllowed

  Short-term rental homes in the R-1 district, West Branch city

  • Also permitted by right in the MU district.

  “Roominghouses/boardinghouses P Short-term rental homes P Commercial, Services and Retail”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Zoning permit and application fees, West Branch city

  • Amounts are in a city fee schedule set by council; not opened.

  “Applications and petitions filed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be accompanied by the filing fees as specified by the city council.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning permit process inside West Branch city

  • Single-family dwellings, accessory buildings, decks, fences approved administratively by the zoning administrator; appeals go to the zoning board of appeals.
  • Special uses and variances require public hearings with 15 days' notice.
  • Zoning permit expires after one year if no building permit is taken out.

  “On submission of an application, the city manager and zoning administrator will review the application material to determine review process”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask West Branch or Ogemaw County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside West Branch city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside West Branch city
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside West Branch city
• Who permits septic — Septic regulation inside West Branch city
• Septic inspection — Septic inspection inside West Branch city

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.