Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Onaway, Michigan

Onaway’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Onaway city limits

  • The copy on the city website is marked 'as amended' and no later amendment was located; confirm the current version with the city.

  “ordinance no. 2011-03 zoning ordinance city of onaway state of michigan adopted by: onaway city commission june 20, 2011 effective date: july 2, 2011 as amended”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  All land inside Onaway city zoned under Ordinance No. 2011-03: R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, MH-1, C-1, C-2, OR-1, CF-1, M-1 and M-2 districts

  • Only the table of contents was read; district boundaries are in Article IV and the zoning map PDF was not opened.

  “article v low density residential district (r-1) 5.1 intent 5.2 permitted uses 5.3 uses allowed by special permit”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Living in a recreational vehicle on vacant land, parcel, field or tract in Onaway city, not in a licensed RV park or campground

  • Exception during actual construction of a permanent dwelling on the premises, under section 3.7.
  • RV must be self-contained, or have sanitary facilities meeting district health department requirements when in use.

  days of use per 90-day period: <= 30 days (not applicable to a licensed recreational vehicle park or campground) · days of use per calendar year: <= 90 days (not applicable to a licensed recreational vehicle park or campground)

  “no person shall use or permit the use of any recreational vehicle, as defined in this ordinance, for temporary living arrangement on any vacant lot, parcel, field, or tract of land not specifically licensed as a recreational vehicle park or campground for more than thirty (30) days in a ninety (90) day period and no more than ninety (90) days per calendar year.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Temporary only (with conditions) — A camper, travel trailer, recreational vehicle or non-conforming mobile home used as a temporary dwelling by the owner while a conforming dwelling on the same lot is being built or completed in Onaway city

    “a garage home, basement home, camper, travel trailer, recreational vehicle, or mobile home not installed according to the requirements of this ordinance may be used as a temporary dwelling by the owner of the premises during the period when a dwelling conforming to the provisions of this ordinance is in the process of erection or completion on the same lot”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Camping in a recreational vehicle on vacant private land in Onaway city

  • Caps of 30 days in any 90-day period and 90 days per calendar year.
  • Not applicable to a licensed RV park or campground.

  days of use per 90-day period: <= 30 days (not applicable to a licensed recreational vehicle park or campground) · days of use per calendar year: <= 90 days (not applicable to a licensed recreational vehicle park or campground)

  “no person shall use or permit the use of any recreational vehicle, as defined in this ordinance, for temporary living arrangement on any vacant lot, parcel, field, or tract of land not specifically licensed as a recreational vehicle park or campground for more than thirty (30) days in a ninety (90) day period and no more than ninety (90) days per calendar year.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Dwellings and buildings in Onaway city where city water or sanitary sewer is not available

  • Alternative sanitation needs written approval from the district health department before use.

  “subject to written approval of and following the requirements of the district health department where city water or sanitary sewer is not available.”

Rules another office applies inside Onaway

Onaway 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 residential and commercial construction, additions and manufactured structures brought to a site inside Onaway city; the building permit is issued by Presque Isle County, not the city

  • Only zoning permits are issued by the city under the exception wording.
  • Construction may proceed only after the permit is issued (conditional status).

  “permits are required before work begins on all new construction, commercial and residential, including manufactured structures (brought to the site).”

• Building code adoptedPartial

  Construction inside Onaway city: the county building and zoning department administers the construction codes (zoning permits excepted)

  • Zoning permits are issued by the city of Onaway, not the county.
  • Plumbing and mechanical permits are issued by the State of Michigan in cities, including Onaway.
  • The county page does not state the code editions adopted.

  “administers construction related codes in presque isle county (building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, soil erosion, and zoning permit codes/ordinances*).”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Onaway city properties not served by municipal water and/or sanitary sewer: septic and well approvals go through District Health Department #4

  • The city ordinance sends approval to the district health department where city water or sewer is not available.
  • The county page names District #4 for areas not serviced by municipal water and/or sewers; it does not name Onaway city in the service area sentence.
  • Municipal sewer service, where it exists, is not a septic matter.

  “septic system/well permits for new and/or replacement homes, bedroom additions, and mobile homes, in areas not serviced by municipal water and/or sewers, are secured through the district #4 health department”

• Septic permitRequired

  New and replacement homes, bedroom additions and mobile homes inside Onaway city where municipal water and/or sewer is not available

  • Septic approval is needed before a building permit can be issued.

  “septic system approvals are needed before a building permit can be issued.”

• Well permitRequired

  New and replacement homes, bedroom additions and mobile homes inside Onaway city where municipal water is not available

  • Well final is required before a certificate of occupancy.

  “septic system/well permits for new and/or replacement homes, bedroom additions, and mobile homes, in areas not serviced by municipal water and/or sewers, are secured through the district #4 health department”

• Permit processPartial

  Permit sequence for new construction inside Onaway city: city zoning approval, then county building permit

  • Zoning permits come from the city; building permits from the county.
  • Septic approval precedes the building permit where applicable.
  • No city permit application form or fee schedule was located.

  “zoning approval is required for new construction, residential and commercial, and before a building permit is issued.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Onaway or Presque Isle County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction in Onaway city
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Onaway city
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in Onaway city, by district
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot area in R-1 and other Onaway districts
• Setbacks — Front, side and rear yard setbacks in Onaway districts, including R-1

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.