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

Almena Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction, additions, remodels, and related work inside Almena township

  • Building, electrical, and mechanical permit applications and payment are handled through Antwerp Township under a shared services arrangement since 09-01-2022.
  • Plumbing permits are completed through the State of Michigan according to the township building page.

  “building permits: new construction of any building type addition to any building type interior remodel or change of use within a building”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Almena township limits; the township's own zoning ordinance governs the zoning districts and uses listed in it.

  • Copy reviewed is the ordinance file in the township documents folder labeled 8-1-24; later amendments were not checked.
  • Zoning-only topics below are answered from this ordinance, not from county zoning.

  “section 1.10 title this document shall be known and may be cited as the “almena township zoning ordinance” and may be referred to as the “zoning ordinance” or “ordinance.””

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts of Almena township

  • Districts include ag, agld, agmd, wr, as, c-1, c-2, and c-3 per the dimensional tables.
  • District map was not opened.

  “section 2.40 zoning district intent statements the intent of each zoning district is as follows:”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Principal residential dwelling in the ag (agricultural) district in Almena township

  • Minimum dwelling area stated in table 2.70-b, footnote 1 not read.

  minimum principal residential dwelling area: >= 800 sq ft

  “table 2.70-b: building requirements requirement ag agld min. principal residential 800 800 dwelling area (s.f.)1”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Principal residential dwelling in the agld (agricultural low density) district in Almena township

    “table 2.70-b: building requirements requirement ag agld min. principal residential 800 800 dwelling area (s.f.)1”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal buildings in the ag (agricultural) district in Almena township

  • Front setback 50 ft, side 20 ft, rear 25 ft for principal buildings per table 2.70-b.
  • Footnotes 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9 (including a waterfront/wetland setback measured from ordinary high water mark) were not fully read.

  front setback: >= 50 ft (footnote 7 not read) · side setback: >= 20 ft · rear setback: >= 25 ft (footnote 6 not read)

  “front7 50 50 min. setback side 20 20 (ft.) for principal rear 25 25”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Principal buildings in the agld (agricultural low density) district in Almena township

    “front7 50 50 min. setback side 20 20 (ft.) for principal rear 25 25”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lots in the ag (agricultural) district in Almena township

  • Maximum lot coverage 20% per table 2.70-b, footnote 4 not read.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 20 % (footnote 4 not read)

  “max. lot coverage (%)4 20 30 front7 50 50 min. setback side 20 20 (ft.) for principal rear 25 25”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Lots in the agld (agricultural low density) district in Almena township

    “max. lot coverage (%)4 20 30 front7 50 50 min. setback side 20 20 (ft.) for principal rear 25 25”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal buildings in the ag (agricultural) district in Almena township

  • Maximum building height 35 ft per table 2.70-b, footnote 3 not read.

  maximum building height: <= 35 ft (footnote 3 not read)

  “max. principal nonresidential building size --(s.f.) max. building 35 35 height (ft.)3”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Principal buildings in the agld (agricultural low density) district in Almena township

    “max. principal nonresidential building size --(s.f.) max. building 35 35 height (ft.)3”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Travel trailers, camping trailers, motor homes, and truck campers on private land in Almena township

  • Not allowed to be stored or parked on a property without a principal building.
  • Must not be parked within the minimum principal-building setbacks unless on a formal driveway to a garage.
  • Must be licensed, operable, and regularly used unless stored, per the section's licensing clause (only part of the section was read).

  “recreational vehicles shall not be stored or parked on any property without a principal building.”

• Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

  Manufactured homes used as single-family dwellings inside Almena township

  • Must meet the zoning ordinance standards for single-family dwellings in the residential district, which apply regardless of construction type.
  • Placement of a manufactured home needs a building permit per the township building page.

  “the purpose of this provision of the zoning ordinance is to provide reasonable standards that ensure that all single-family and two-family dwellings, regardless of construction type (e.g. site-built, manufactured, prefabricated, or modular), are safe and compatible and compare aesthetically within the same residential district.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units on a lot with a principal dwelling inside Almena township

  • Limited to single-family lots and parcels.
  • Only one attached or detached accessory dwelling unit per principal dwelling.
  • Attached units follow principal-dwelling setbacks; detached units follow accessory-building setbacks; residential appearance required.
  • The area limits in section 6.120 a.5 were not read.

  accessory dwelling units per principal dwelling: <= 1 count

  “only one (1) attached or detached accessory dwelling unit shall be permitted per principal dwelling.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Occupied buildings inside Almena township that are not on public sewer

  • Sanitary disposal must be an approved system; the township does not describe a separate off-grid option.

  “no building meant for human occupancy may be used without connection to an approved water source and sanitary disposal system.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New home inside Almena township when public water or sewer is available

  • Permits may be issued when the home is proposed to connect to public or community water and sewer, otherwise a well and septic permit is needed.
  • No distance-to-main or mandatory-connection rule was found in the text opened.

  “zoning and building permits shall not be issued for any structure required to have water and sanitary facilities unless well and septic permits are issued by the van buren/cass district health department or are proposed to be connected to a public or community water and sewer systems.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and lot splits inside Almena township

  • Fee for the initial split is $200 and $50 for each additional parcel created, per the township fee schedule.
  • The township's subdivision regulations document is listed on the site but was not opened.

  land division fee, initial split: 200 USD (plus $50 for each additional parcel created)

  “land divisions $200 for the initial split (create one new parcel and a remainder) and $50 for each additional parcel created.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning permits and planning fees in Almena township

  • Building permit fees are variable and are set by the building department through Antwerp Township.
  • Dwelling zoning permit is $25; accessory, garage, or addition zoning permit is $15, per the township fee schedule on the building page.

  zoning permit, dwelling: 25 USD · zoning permit, accessory garage or addition: 15 USD

  “zoning permit - dwelling $25 - zoning permit - accessory, garage, additions $15”

• Permit processPartial

  Building, electrical, and mechanical permit applications in Almena township

  • Applications and payment go to Antwerp Township hall; checks payable to Antwerp Township; Antwerp mails permits.
  • Process steps for zoning permits, plan review, and the building department's timing were not published on the pages opened.

  “applications and payment are received at the antwerp township hall. checks must be made out to antwerp township.”

Rules another office applies inside Almena Township

Almena 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 septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic and well permits for land inside Almena township, administered by the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department

  • Named in the township zoning ordinance section 5.80; the zoning ordinance does not itself set septic design rules.
  • The health department service area was not separately confirmed on a health department page.

  “zoning and building permits shall not be issued for any structure required to have water and sanitary facilities unless well and septic permits are issued by the van buren/cass district health department or are proposed to be connected to a public or community water and sewer systems.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic permit for a building that needs sanitary facilities inside Almena township

  • Zoning and building permits are not issued unless well and septic permits are issued, or the building is proposed to connect to public or community water and sewer.
  • Permit conditions and fees were not opened.

  “zoning and building permits shall not be issued for any structure required to have water and sanitary facilities unless well and septic permits are issued by the van buren/cass district health department or are proposed to be connected to a public or community water and sewer systems.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private well for a building inside Almena township that is not connected to public or community water

  • Permit is issued by the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department per the township ordinance.

  “zoning and building permits shall not be issued for any structure required to have water and sanitary facilities unless well and septic permits are issued by the van buren/cass district health department or are proposed to be connected to a public or community water and sewer systems.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Almena township
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Almena township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Almena township
• Tiny homes — Tiny home used as a dwelling inside Almena township
• Septic inspection — Septic inspection for a new home inside Almena 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.