Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Spring Lake, Michigan

Village of Spring Lake’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land and structures inside Spring Lake village limits. Spring Lake village adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 390 (Zoning), enacted under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act.

  • Adopted by the village council on August 17, 2020; the chapter takes effect eight days after publication in the Grand Haven Tribune.
  • Chapter 390 states it is enacted under the zoning enabling act, P.A. 110 of 2006 (MCL 125.3101 et seq.), as amended.
  • Status is conditional because all use of land and erection of structures must conform to the chapter; dimensional and use rules are not yet verified for this record.

  “this chapter was adopted by the village council on august 17, 2020, and is ordered to take effect upon the expiration of eight days following publication of adoption in the grand haven tribune”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residential accessory buildings and structures on lots inside Spring Lake village (accessory setbacks only; principal-building setbacks by district are not covered by this claim).

  • Accessory buildings may not be constructed within any front yard: "f. location: no accessory building shall be constructed within any front yard."
  • The front yard setback for an accessory building may be reduced under § 390-26a; in no case may it be less than the existing dwelling's front yard setback.
  • For accessory buildings on the street side of waterfront lots, a minimum 20-foot setback from the street right-of-way applies.
  • Setbacks are measured from the foundation of the accessory building or structure; cantilevers or roof overhangs may extend no more than three feet into the required setback.
  • Permitted size depends on lot size: 2 lots up to 950 sq ft total accessory floor area at 0.5 to 3 acres up to 1,100 sq ft; properties of at least one acre get an additional 150 sq ft and one accessory building per acre of lot area.

  front yard setback, accessory building total floor area 200 sqft or less: 25 ft (may be reduced under § 390-26a; never less than existing dwelling front setback) · side yard setback, accessory building total floor area 200 sqft or less: 3 ft · rear yard setback, accessory building total floor area 200 sqft or less: 3 ft · setback from all other structures, accessory building total floor area 200 sqft or less: 3 ft · side yard setback, accessory building total floor area 201 to 600 sqft: 5 ft · rear yard setback, accessory building total floor area 201 to 600 sqft: 5 ft · setback from all other structures, accessory building total floor area 201 to 600 sqft: 5 ft · side yard setback, accessory building total floor area 601 sqft or greater: 8 ft · rear yard setback, accessory building total floor area 601 sqft or greater: 8 ft · setback from all other structures, accessory building total floor area 601 sqft or greater: 8 ft · front yard setback, accessory building total floor area 201 to 600 sqft and 601 sqft or greater: 25 ft (same § 390-26a reduction applies)

  “(3) residential accessory buildings and structures shall be set back in accordance with the following table: residential accessory building setback regulations total floor area of the accessory building front yard setback side yard setback rear yard setback setback from all other structures 200 sqft or less 25'* 3' 3' 3' 201 to 600 sqft 25'* 5' 5' 5' 601 sqft or greater 25'* 8' 8' 8'”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential accessory buildings on lots inside Spring Lake village. Principal-building height by district is not covered by this claim.

  • Accessory building height is limited to the lesser of one story or 16 feet.

  maximum height, residential accessory building: <= 16 ft (or one story, whichever is less)

  “(2) building height. a residential accessory building shall be no greater than one story or 16 feet, whichever is less.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Spring Lake or Ottawa County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits for construction in Spring Lake village
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption in Spring Lake village
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption in Spring Lake village
• Inspections — Building inspections in Spring Lake village
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy in Spring Lake village

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 Village of Spring Lake 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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