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

Egelston Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New structures erected inside Egelston township limits.

  • Construction may proceed only after a building permit is issued under the building and energy codes in effect at the time of construction.
  • Which office issues the permit (township or county under an agreement) is not confirmed by this source; Chapter 150 Construction Codes was not opened.

  “no structure shall be erected in egelston township without the issuance of a building permit as set forth in the various building and energy codes in effect at the time of the proposed construction.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land and structures inside Egelston township limits; Egelston township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 450 Zoning of the township code.

  • Zoning applies to every structure and use in the township, subject to the regulations of the district where the land is located.
  • Uses not expressly permitted are prohibited; special land uses require planning commission approval.
  • Research note: the township ordinance's own text, not county zoning, governs land inside the township limits.

  “the township of egelston shall be and is hereby divided into zoning districts as enumerated hereafter, and in each district there are hereafter set forth certain use and area regulations.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Egelston township limits; the township's zoning districts are listed in its ordinance.

  • Listed districts are R-1 residential, R-2 residential, R-3 residential, R-4 mobile home parks, R-5 agricultural and resort uses, C-1 commercial, C-2 commercial, I-1 industrial (light), and I-2 industrial (heavy).
  • The boundaries are set by the zoning map that is part of Chapter 450; the map itself was not opened.
  • The district schedules (uses and dimensions) are in a later article that was not opened.

  “r-1 residential r-2 residential r-3 residential r-4 mobile home parks r-5 agricultural and resort uses c-1 commercial c-2 commercial i-1 industrial (light) i-2 industrial (heavy)”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Any building used as a dwelling, erected or altered inside Egelston township limits (applies across zoning districts).

  • Living area is measured as usable floor space; porches, garages, breezeways, carports, decks or other appendages are excluded.
  • Existing lawfully occupied single-family dwellings that do not meet the minimum may be repaired and continued in occupancy, and may be enlarged, subject to district rules.
  • The amendment stamp [amended 6-16-2003] is a revision note, not an effective date.

  minimum living area, one- or two-bedroom dwelling: >= 850 square feet (plus 110 square feet for each additional bedroom)

  “no building to be used as a dwelling shall be hereafter erected or altered having a living area of less than 850 square feet of usable floor space for a one- or two-bedroom dwelling, plus 110 square feet for each additional bedroom.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Use of tents, trailers, travel trailers, automobile trailers and motor homes or recreational vehicles as a dwelling on private land inside Egelston township limits.

  • Not allowed for dwelling purposes except as temporary dwellings for a total of not more than 14 days in any one year.
  • Temporary use is allowed only on premises having running water and sewage facilities.
  • Exception: automobile trailers and travel trailers may be occupied for dwelling purposes within duly licensed travel trailer camps and subject to the requirements imposed there.

  maximum temporary occupancy: <= 14 days per year (on premises with running water and sewage facilities)

  “tents, trailers, travel trailers, and/or automobile trailers shall not be used for dwelling purposes within the township limits; provided, however, that they may be used for temporary dwellings for a total period of not more than 14 days in any one year when located upon premises having running water and sewage facilities”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Tent or trailer camping on private land inside Egelston township limits.

  • Tents and trailers may be used as temporary dwellings for a total of not more than 14 days in any one year.
  • Only on premises with running water and sewage facilities.
  • Longer dwelling use is allowed only in duly licensed travel trailer camps.

  maximum temporary camping period: <= 14 days per year (on premises with running water and sewage facilities)

  “tents, trailers, travel trailers, and/or automobile trailers shall not be used for dwelling purposes within the township limits; provided, however, that they may be used for temporary dwellings for a total period of not more than 14 days in any one year when located upon premises having running water and sewage facilities”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes on private land outside a licensed mobile home park inside Egelston township limits.

  • Must meet the minimum square footage for the zone in which it is located.
  • Must have a minimum width of 20 feet across any front, side or rear elevation and comply with the township building code.
  • Must be firmly attached to a permanent foundation constructed on site, and installed per the manufacturer's setup instructions and secured by an anchoring system complying with Michigan Mobile Home Commission rules.
  • Temporary mobile home permits are governed by § 450-313, which was not opened.

  minimum width: >= 20 feet

  “no structure which is a mobile home may be used, erected, occupied or permitted outside of a licensed mobile home trailer park unless it meets the following standards”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Any structure or premises used or occupied inside Egelston township limits.

  • Access must be unobstructed, through a public or private easement, to a public street or road that is continuously maintained open and accessible.
  • Any road, private road, driveway or access easement must comply with Chapter 450.
  • Private road standards are in § 450-329, which was not opened.

  “shall be used or occupied in egelston township unless the premises and structure have unobstructed access to either a public or private easement and thereby to a public street or road”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-occupant construction of a dwelling inside Egelston township limits.
• Building code adopted — Building construction inside Egelston township limits.
• Inspections — New construction inside Egelston township limits.
• Certificate of occupancy — New dwellings inside Egelston township limits.
• Minimum lot size — Single-family lots in the R-1 residential district inside Egelston township limits.

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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Egelston Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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