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

Munising Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction and alterations of homes, camps, garages, decks, porches, and storage buildings inside Munising Township.

  • The Township states that Alger County issues building permits.
  • A Township zoning-compliance permit is required to receive the Alger County building permit.
  • Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits are separate issues.

  “A reminder as to which projects we need a building permit for new construction and alteration of homes, camps, garages, decks, porches, and storage buildings. In the case of fire restoration contact this department for special inspection. Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits are separate issues.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land within Munising Township, Alger County, Michigan.

  • The Township Zoning Administrator administers the ordinance; site-plan-review requests go to the Planning Commission and variance requests go to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

  “The Township’s Zoning Ordinance (PDF) is administered by the Township Zoning Administrator. Requests for site plan review are heard by the Planning Commission. Requests for variances to current zoning requirements are heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Proposed new building sites created by a lot or outlot division in Munising Township.

  • Where public sewer and water are available, the proposed lots or outlots must be approved by the Township for connection.
  • If public sewer and water are not available, the County Health Department must approve septic-system and private-well installation.

  “The proposed lots or outlots shall be approved by the County Health Department for installation of septic systems and private wells, unless public sewer and water are available, in which case they shall be approved by the Township for connection thereto;”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits issued for construction inside Munising Township by the Alger County Building Code Administrator.

  • The fee schedule says it was adopted January 20, 2014.
  • The published residential minimum permit fee is $75.
  • Residential plan review is $0.0015 of permit valuation; incomplete-or-violation re-inspections are $100 each; work without proper permits has doubled permit prices.

  minimum residential permit fee: 75 USD · residential plan review fee: 0.0015 of permit valuation

  “Fee Schedule For Building Permits Adopted 1-20-2014 RESIDENTIAL Minimal Permit Fee $ 75.00”

• Permit processPartial

  Building-permit process for construction inside Munising Township.

  • A Township zoning-compliance permit is required before Alger County will issue the building permit.
  • For a home, camp, or structure, County instructions identify zoning, well/septic approval, soil erosion and sedimentation control when applicable, fire number, driveway permit when applicable, and building-permit drawings as application steps.
  • The County specifies that electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits are required.

  “Building permits are issued by the Alger County Building Code Administrator, located at 101 Court Street in Munising. A zoning compliance permit from the Township is required to receive a building permit from Alger County.”

Rules another office applies inside Munising Township

Munising 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 septicCounty (with conditions)

  Proposed new building sites created by a land or outlot division in Munising Township.

  • The County Health Department approval applies to installation of septic systems and private wells.
  • Where public sewer and water are available, the proposed lots or outlots instead require Township approval for connection.

  “The proposed lots or outlots shall be approved by the County Health Department for installation of septic systems and private wells, unless public sewer and water are available, in which case they shall be approved by the Township for connection thereto;”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Munising Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption applicable inside Munising Township.
• Inspections — Residential building inspections inside Munising Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for dwellings inside Munising Township.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts within Munising 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.