Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Au Train Township, Michigan

Au Train Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within Au Train Township, Alger County, Michigan.

  • The ordinance is effective September 12, 2022; subsequent township amendments may apply.

  “An Ordinance to establish zoning districts and regulations governing the development and use of land within Au Train Township, Alger County, Michigan, in accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Enabling Act 110 of 2006, as amended;”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land within Au Train Township subject to the official zoning map.

  • The Township Clerk maintains the current official zoning map, which is final authority on current zoning status.

  “For the purpose of this Ordinance, Au Train Township is hereby divided into the following zoning districts, which shall be known by the following respective symbols and names:”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  All zoning districts inside Au Train Township.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 50 percent

  “A. In all districts, the maximum lot coverage shall not exceed 50% of the lot.”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Recreational vehicles at any township location other than an approved campground.

  • Occupancy cannot exceed 180 days; approved campgrounds are excepted.

  maximum occupancy duration: <= 180 days (at an approved campground)

  “A recreational vehicle cannot be occupied for longer than 180 days at any township location other than an approved campground.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Dwellings inside Au Train Township that are not connected to public sewer and water.

  • Facilities must be approved by the local health department.

  “Every dwelling shall be connected to a public sewer and water supply or have such facilities as approved by the local health department.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Every dwelling inside Au Train Township.

  • A dwelling must connect to public sewer and water, or instead have facilities approved by the local health department.

  “Every dwelling shall be connected to a public sewer and water supply or have such facilities as approved by the local health department.”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Agricultural uses included in Michigan's Right to Farm Act inside Au Train Township.

  • The zoning ordinance governs such nonconforming agricultural uses unless it conflicts with the Right to Farm Act; in a conflict, the Act prevails.

  “All nonconforming, agricultural uses included in the RTFA shall be governed by the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance to the extent that they are not in conflict with the provisions of the RTFA, in which case the provisions of RTFA shall prevail.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  A single-family dwelling or recreational structure rented for transient use of less than 30 consecutive days inside Au Train Township.

  • Application must include a qualifying site plan, floor-plan sketch, occupancy-capacity calculation, owner information, and local-contact information. Operation must meet all applicable laws; septic systems not connected to public or community sewer must be properly sized and functional under local health-department regulations.

  short-term rental period: < 30 consecutive days · occupancy capacity: 2 persons per legal bedroom plus 2 persons per occupied finished floor (Accessory structures, recreational vehicles, and tents on the parcel are excluded from capacity calculation.)

  “Short-term Rental: A single-family dwelling or recreational structure rented for transient (less than 30 consecutive days) use. A short-term rental is not occupied by the owner or manager of the dwelling during the rental period.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Township zoning compliance permits, conditional-use permits, variances, planned unit developments, amendments, administrative reviews, and other zoning-administration activities.

  • Fees are established by Township Board resolution, payable to Au Train Township, collected by the Zoning Administrator, and used to defray zoning-administration costs.

  “The Township Board may, by resolution, establish a schedule of fees for zoning compliance permits, conditional use permits, variances, planned unit developments, amendments, administrative reviews or other administrative activities associated with this Ordinance.”

• Permit processPartial

  Changes in land use inside Au Train Township.

  • A township zoning compliance permit is required before a County building permit can be obtained.

  “The Township’s Zoning Ordinance is administered by the Township Zoning Administrator. A Zoning Compliance Permit is required for any land use change. Please visit and review the “Steps for Land Development” prior to submitting any application (for ZCP or CUP) for review by the Zoning Administrator.”

Rules another office applies inside Au Train Township

Au Train Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Manufactured homesAllowed

  Mobile homes, defined by the ordinance as manufactured homes, in the Residential One/Two District.

  • Mobile homes remain subject to applicable dwelling-installation standards.

  “C. Permitted Principal Uses: [...] 6. Mobile home”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential building construction inside Au Train Township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Au Train Township.
• Building code adopted — Residential construction inside Au Train Township.
• Inspections — Residential construction inside Au Train Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered dwellings inside Au Train 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.