Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Long Rapids Township, Michigan

Long Rapids Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land inside Long Rapids township limits, which the township ordinance describes as its unincorporated portions; the township administers its own zoning ordinance (titled Long Rapids Township Zoning Ordinance, amended 3-14-19 per the township ordinances page).

  • The ordinance text was adopted under the Township Zoning Act and the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, per its effective-date page.
  • The township page lists the amended 3-14-19 zoning ordinance as its current posted version; later amendments were not checked.
  • Uses are subject to the district regulations and general provisions of the ordinance; see the district claims.

  “an ordinance to provide for the establishment in the unincorporated portions of long rapids township of zoning districts within which the proper use of land and natural resources may be encouraged or regulated”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts for land inside Long Rapids township

  • Six districts: agricultural, forestry-recreation, residential, environmental conservation overlay, commercial, and industrial.
  • The district map is filed with the township clerk, entitled zoning districts-long rapids township, dated september 11, 1980 as amended, and a facsimile is attached to the ordinance.

  “for the purpose of this ordinance, long rapids township is divided into six districts designated as follows: agricultural forestry-recreation residential environmental conservation overlay district commercial industrial”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Agricultural (AG) district inside Long Rapids township

  • Applies to building or structure establishment on a lot in the agricultural district (Article II, Section 2.03(a)).
  • The residential district lot area was not captured in this pass; see the followup questions.

  minimum lot area: >= 1 acre

  “no building or structure shall be established on any lot less than one (1) acre of land”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Agricultural (AG) district inside Long Rapids township

  • Front and side yard figures are from Article II, Section 2.03(b); the rear yard paragraph was cut off in the first pass and is not stated here.
  • Paragraphs b.1 and b.2 carry an effective date note of August 26, 2013 in the ordinance text.
  • Residential district setbacks were not captured in this pass.

  front yard setback: >= 40 feet · side yard setback (each side): >= 20 feet · corner lot side yard on road or street side: >= 40 feet

  “least width of either yard shall not be less than twenty (20) feet, except in the case of a corner lot where the side yard on the road or street side shall not be less than forty (40) feet.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Long Rapids township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction inside Long Rapids township
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for land inside Long Rapids township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Long Rapids township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Long Rapids 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.