5 rules for unincorporated Ottawa County, Michigan.
Verified from official government sources
Ottawa County does not zone; your city or township does. In Holland Charter Township, a home occupation must be clearly incidental and subordinate to residential use, and no more than 20 percent of the dwelling's floor area may be used for it. A no-customer, no-employee home office is fully exempt.
Holland Charter Township (Ottawa Co.) Zoning Ordinance §9.13(B)(3)
The use of the dwelling for the home occupation shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to its use for residential purposes, and not more than 20 percent of the floor area of the dwelling shall be used for the conduct of the home occupation.
Home occupations in Ottawa County townships generally cannot advertise with visible signage. Holland Charter Township allows no change in the outside appearance of the dwelling and no other visible evidence that a home occupation is being conducted, effectively barring exterior business signs.
Holland Charter Township (Ottawa Co.) Zoning Ordinance §9.13(B)(4)
There shall be no change in the outside appearance of the dwelling or any other visible evidence of the conduct of the home occupation in the dwelling. The home occupation shall be conducted and operated entirely within the confines of the dwelling.
Michigan's Cottage Food Law lets Ottawa County residents make and sell certain non-hazardous foods from an uninspected home kitchen without a license. Products must be prepackaged and labeled, including a statement that they were made in an uninspected home kitchen. Annual gross sales are capped (currently $50,000).
MCL 289.4102 (Michigan Food Law — cottage food operation)
Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan department of agriculture and rural development. ... printed in at least the equivalent of 11-point font size in a color that provides a clear contrast to the background.
Under Michigan law, a family day care home for 1 to 6 children is a residential use allowed in Ottawa County residential districts. A larger group day care home (7+ children) faces township conditions — in Holland Charter Township, a 1,500-foot separation and a 16-hour daily cap.
Holland Charter Township (Ottawa Co.) Zoning Ordinance §9.5(D)
Operations shall not exceed 16 hours of operation during a 24-hour period. The Planning Commission may limit but not prohibit the operation of a group day care home between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
In Ottawa County, home-occupation approval comes from your city or township. Holland Charter Township exempts a pure home office (no on-site sales, employees, or client visits) from its standards; a licensed home occupation with customers is limited to family workers only and client visits between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Holland Charter Township (Ottawa Co.) Zoning Ordinance §9.13(B)(2)
No person other than members of the family residing in the dwelling shall be engaged in the conduct of the home occupation.
See every category we cover for Ottawa County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Ottawa County Ordinance Hub →