Bolthole Index

Antrim County, Michigan

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Central Lake, Michigan

The Village of Central Lake in Antrim County requires a zoning permit for covered development, while Antrim County administers building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits.12 Central Lake has village zoning, and the Health Department of Northwest Michigan handles septic review where public sewer is not used.34

At a glance

Building permit
Required for covered construction and occupancy changes through Antrim County5
Zoning
The Village of Central Lake administers its own zoning ordinance3
Septic
HDNW evaluates the site and issues a permit where municipal wastewater is not used4
Public sewer
Connection can be mandatory in the service area when the distance and notice conditions apply6
RV living
No village-specific occupancy rule confirmed; ask the Village Office before relying on an RV for housing7
Tiny home
No separate village rule confirmed; zoning-district and construction-code review still apply89
R-1 home site
District standards include lot, setback, height, width and coverage limits1011

Who to call

Zoning

Village of Central Lake Office

Village zoning questions, zoning-permit materials and zoning-ordinance information

231-544-6483

[email protected]

2530 N. Main Street, Central Lake, MI 49622

Building permits

Antrim County Construction Code Department

Building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits and inspections

231-533-8373

[email protected]

203 E. Cayuga St. PO Box 188 Bellaire, MI 49615

Septic permits

Health Department of Northwest Michigan — Antrim County office

Septic-system permitting and site review, plus drinking-water and well services

800-432-4121

209 Portage Dr. Bellaire, MI 49615

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 9, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Central Lake means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in Central Lake, Michigan?

Yes. Covered construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, occupancy changes and regulated electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing work require an application to the Antrim County building official before work begins.5 Michigan guidance exempts ordinary repairs only within stated limits, so confirm borderline work before starting.12

A separate Village zoning permit is required before a covered building or structure is erected, structurally altered, reconstructed, used or moved.1 An accessory structure smaller than 200 square feet does not need that Village zoning permit, but the exemption does not by itself waive construction-code or other approvals.13 A new or altered building cannot be occupied until the code official issues a certificate of occupancy.14

Who issues building and zoning permits in Central Lake?

The Antrim County Construction Code Department retains building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits for Central Lake projects.2 Call 231-533-8373 or email [email protected] to confirm the construction-code submittals and inspections for the proposed work.2 County fee schedules and permit-requirement documents are published online.15

The Village of Central Lake administers and enforces its zoning ordinance through the Village Zoning Administrator.16 The Village Office provides zoning documents, land-use zoning applications and the published fee schedule; call 231-544-6483 or email [email protected] for parcel-specific zoning questions.7 The zoning permit does not replace the county building permit: the Village process expressly coordinates other statutory approvals while excepting Antrim County permits from the pre-issuance sequence.17

Does Central Lake have zoning, and what are the R-1 rules?

Central Lake has its own village zoning even though Antrim County does not administer countywide zoning.318 The published village districts are Village Mixed Use, R-1 Residential, Manufacturing and Conservation/Recreation.19

In the R-1 Residential District, the schedule sets a 10,000-square-foot minimum lot area and 100-foot minimum lot width.10 R-1 structures have minimum setbacks of 20 feet in front and 5 feet at the side and rear; a lot bordering a lake or stream has a 50-foot waterfront-side setback from the ordinary high-water mark.11 The general R-1 height limit is 2 stories or 35 feet, whichever is less, and maximum lot coverage is 35%.2021 The confirmed dwelling standard is a minimum width of 14 feet, not a minimum floor area.22

How do sewer, septic and well permits work in Central Lake?

A Central Lake property in the Village sewer service area must connect after official notice when the premises meets the ordinance conditions and a public sewer is within 200 feet of the structure; the connection deadline is 12 months after notice.6 Where municipal wastewater is not used, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan evaluates the site and issues the septic permit before installation.4

Contact the HDNW Antrim County office at 800-432-4121 before treating a parcel as septic-ready.23 Only 8% of mapped Antrim County soils avoid severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so make the site evaluation a purchase contingency rather than assuming a standard system will fit.24 For a private well where municipal water is not used, HDNW evaluates the site, issues the permit and performs a final review after installation.25

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Central Lake?

We could not confirm a Village of Central Lake rule that generally allows long-term RV occupancy or temporary camping on a private residential lot. Ask the Village Office for a written parcel-specific answer that covers the zoning district, duration, utility connections and sanitation plan.7

The reviewed Village materials also do not define or separately authorize tiny homes. A tiny home proposed as a dwelling still faces the applicable zoning-district standards and Michigan construction-code permit process.89 In R-1, the confirmed dwelling standard is at least 14 feet in width, while the district also controls lot size, setbacks, height and coverage.2210 A small accessory structure is not automatically a dwelling: the under-200-square-foot rule is only a zoning-permit exemption for an accessory structure.13

Building a home in Central Lake: what are the steps?

  1. Ask the Village Office to confirm the parcel's zoning district, allowed dwelling use, lot dimensions, setbacks and site-plan needs.16
  2. Resolve wastewater and water service before fixing the house location: confirm public-service availability or arrange HDNW site evaluation and permits for septic and a private well.6425
  3. File the Village zoning-permit application, stake the property boundaries and proposed structures, and pay the required zoning fee.1726
  4. Apply to the Antrim County Construction Code Department for the required building and trade permits before work begins.27
  5. Complete the required construction and septic reviews without covering work prematurely.28
  6. Obtain the code official's certificate of occupancy before using the completed new or altered building.14

What should you check before buying land in Central Lake?

Confirm that the parcel is inside Village limits before relying on Central Lake zoning, then obtain its district and test the proposed house footprint against lot size, setbacks, coverage and height.1911 Do not assume a listing can use septic: public-sewer connection may be mandatory under the service-area rule, while onsite sewage requires HDNW review.294

For waterfront land, account for the Village's 50-foot R-1 waterfront-side setback and the county requirement for elevations and flood certification before back-fill inspections on waterfront properties.1130 Antrim County's effective property-tax rate is about 0.9%, and its median annual property-tax bill is about $2,033.3132 If dividing land, the Village regulates lot divisions and property transfers under its land-division chapter.33

Watch-outs

  • A Village zoning permit and an Antrim County building permit are separate approvals; one does not replace the other.15
  • Public-sewer connection can become mandatory when the Village service-area, distance and notice conditions apply.6
  • Only 8% of mapped Antrim County soils avoid severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so obtain the site evaluation before committing to a house location.24
  • Central Lake's RV-occupancy and temporary-camping rules could not be confirmed; ask the Village Office for a written parcel-specific answer.7

Sources

  1. Village of Central Lake Zoning Ordinance, Article 10: Administration and Enforcement of Ordinance (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  2. Antrim County Construction Code Department (antrimcountymi.gov)
  3. Village of Central Lake Zoning Information (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  4. Sewage Systems - Health Department of Northwest Michigan (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  5. Building Information, quoted and re-checked
  6. centrallakemi.org (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  7. Village of Central Lake Office (centrallakemi.org)
  8. Zoning - Village of Central Lake (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  9. Building Permit Information (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of Central Lake Zoning Ordinance, Article 5: District Regulations (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article 5: District Regulations — Village of Central Lake Zoning Ordinance (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  12. Building Permit Information (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  13. Article 10: Administration and Enforcement of Ordinance — Village of Central Lake Zoning Ordinance (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  14. Certificate of Occupancy Request (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  15. Building Information, quoted and re-checked
  16. Zoning - Village of Central Lake (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  17. Article 10: Administration and Enforcement of Ordinance (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  18. Zoning, quoted and re-checked
  19. Zoning - Village of Central Lake (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  20. Article 5: District Regulations (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  21. Article 5: District Regulations (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  22. Article 5: District Regulations — Village of Central Lake Zoning Ordinance (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  23. Health Department of Northwest Michigan — Antrim County office (nwhealth.org)
  24. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Drinking Water and Wells (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  26. Village of Central Lake Zoning Ordinance, Article 10: Administration and Enforcement of Ordinance (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  27. Building Information, quoted and re-checked
  28. On-Site Sewage Systems (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  29. centrallakemi.org (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked
  30. Building Information, quoted and re-checked
  31. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  32. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  33. Chapter 5 - Land Division (Village of Central Lake), quoted and re-checked

Written October 9, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Village of Central Lake

Village of Central Lake’s own rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Buildings or structures subject to the Village Zoning Ordinance inside Central Lake village limits; this is a Village zoning-permit requirement, not proof of the separate state building-code permit process.

    • No zoning permit is required for a lawful use of a building or structure existing when the ordinance was adopted.
    • No zoning permit is required for an accessory structure less than 200 square feet.
    • A zoning permit is not issued until other necessary statutory permits are obtained or waived, except permits issued by the Antrim County Building Department.

    accessory-structure exemption threshold: < 200 square feet (No zoning permit required for an accessory structure less than this size.)

    “No building or structure subject to the provisions of this Ordinance shall hereafter be erected, structurally altered, reconstructed, used, or moved until a Zoning Permit application has been filed with the Village Zoning Administrator and a Zoning Permit has been issued by the Zoning Administrator, except as otherwise permitted for in this ordinance.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Central Lake village limits.

    • The Village Zoning Administrator administers and enforces the ordinance.
    “The provisions of this Ordinance shall be administered and enforced by the Village Zoning Administrator, appointed by the Village Council for such term and subject to such conditions and at such rate of compensation as said Council shall determine as reasonable.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Present — Land inside Central Lake village; the Village publishes and administers its own zoning ordinance.
      “Our zoning ordinance is the cornerstone of land use planning in Central Lake.”
    • Present — Land inside Central Lake village limits; the village adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance.
      “Our zoning ordinance is the cornerstone of land use planning in Central Lake. Download the full document to understand the regulations governing our community.”
    • Present — Land inside Central Lake village limits.
      “Our zoning ordinance is the cornerstone of land use planning in Central Lake.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts and district boundaries inside Central Lake village limits.

    • The official zoning map controls disputes concerning district boundaries.
    • The official map is to be kept up to date with ordinance amendments.
    “For the purpose of this Ordinance, the following Zoning Districts shall be established in the Village of Central Lake: V Village Mixed Use District R-1 Residential District M Manufacturing District C/R Conservation / Recreation District”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published — Zoning districts inside Central Lake village.
      “Section 5.01 Village Mixed Use District (V) [...] Section 5.02 Residential District (R-1) [...] Section 5.03 Manufacturing District (M) [...] Section 5.04 Conservation / Recreation District (C/R)”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family residential development in the Village of Central Lake R-1 Residential District.

    • The R-1 minimum dwelling-unit width is 14 feet.
    • The cited schedule separately lists 100 feet as the R-1 minimum lot width; that figure is not the dwelling-unit width.

    minimum dwelling-unit width: >= 14 feet

    “R-1 Residential 10,000 (b) 100' 2 35’ (f) (h) (i) 20’ (g) 5’ 5’ 14’ 35%”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Structures in the Village of Central Lake R-1 Residential District.

    • Minimum front-yard setback is 20 feet.
    • Minimum side-yard setback is 5 feet.
    • Minimum rear-yard setback is 5 feet.
    • For lots bordering a lake or stream, the minimum structure setback on the waterfront side is 50 feet from the ordinary high water mark.

    front setback: >= 20 feet · side setback: >= 5 feet · rear setback: >= 5 feet · waterfront-side setback from ordinary high water mark: >= 50 feet (For lots bordering a lake or stream)

    “For lots which border a lake or a stream, the minimum structure setback on the waterfront side shall be fifty (50) feet”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Single-family residential development in the R-1 Residential District.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent

    “Max % of Lot Coverage [...] R-1 Residential [...] 35%”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Single-family residential development in the R-1 Residential District.

    • Maximum height is two stories and/or 35 feet, whichever is less.
    • Agricultural accessory-structure exceptions and PUD exceptions may apply.

    maximum stories: <= 2 stories (Whichever is less with 35 feet.) · maximum height: <= 35 feet (Whichever is less with two stories.)

    “The maximum height of a structure is two stories and/or thirty five feet, whichever is less.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-1 Residential District inside Central Lake village limits.
      “The maximum height of a structure is two stories and/or thirty five feet, whichever is less.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwellings in the Village Mixed Use District (V) inside Central Lake village.

    • Requires special approval under Section 7.02.
    “Section 5.01.3 Uses Subject to Special Approval [...] 2. Accessory dwellings.”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Septic and onsite sewage regulation inside Central Lake village is administered by the Health Department of Northwest Michigan for Antrim County.

    • HDNW serves Antrim County and administers the District Sanitary Code for Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego Counties.
    “within Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet or Otsego Counties”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Parcels inside Central Lake village that are not connected to the public sewer, including parcels beyond the Village ordinance's 200-foot sewer-distance threshold.

    • A construction permit and final approval from the Health Officer are required for an onsite sewage facility.
    • The Village sewer ordinance requires public sewer connection when the premises is in the sewer service area and a public sewer is within 200 feet of the structure.

    public-sewer connection threshold: <= 200 feet (Applies when any part of the public sewer is within 200 feet of the structure.)

    “within two hundred (200) feet of the structure”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    New or replacement onsite sewage systems inside Central Lake village.

    • HDNW conducts a final review and inspections of permitted facilities.
    • The system must receive final approval under the District Sanitary Code.
    “A final review provides assurance that the system will operate as intended.”
  • Well permitRequired

    A new residential or business well inside Central Lake village where municipal water service is not being used.

    • HDNW evaluates the site, issues the permit, and performs a final review after installation.
    • Residential water testing is required for new wells and is included in the permit fee according to the official HDNW page.
    “Before a resident or business installs a well, we evaluate the site and issue a permit”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Premises inside Central Lake village used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes from which sewage is likely to be discharged, when within the Village sewage-system service area.

    • The premises must abut a street, alley, or right of way within the Village sewage-system service area.
    • A part of the public sewer must be within 200 feet of the structure.
    • Connection must occur within twelve months after official notice, at the owner's expense.

    maximum sewer distance: <= 200 feet · connection deadline after official notice: 12 months

    “The owner of all premises used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes from which sewage is likely to be discharged, situated within the Village and abutting on any street, alley or right of way which is within the service area of the Village of Central Lake Sewage Disposal System is hereby required at his expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance within twelve (12) months after date of official notice to do so provided that any part of said public sewer is within two hundred (200) feet of the structure within which such facilities are located.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Sewer (with conditions) — Premises inside Central Lake village used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes from which sewage is likely to be discharged, when within the Village sewage-system service area.
      “The owner of all premises used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other purposes from which sewage is likely to be discharged, situated within the Village and abutting on any street, alley or right of way which is within the service area of the Village of Central Lake Sewage Disposal System is hereby required at his expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance within twelve (12) months after date of official notice to do so provided that any part of said public sewer is within two hundred (200) feet of the structure within which such facilities are located.”
    • Sewer (with conditions) — Premises inside Central Lake village's sewer service area and abutting a street, alley, or right of way within that service area.
      “within twelve (12) months after date of official notice”
    • Conditional — A proposed planned unit development inside Central Lake village limits.
      “The parcel on which the proposed PUD will be located shall be served by public water and sanitary sewer facilities, if available.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Lot divisions and property transfers inside Central Lake village.

    • Must comply with the Michigan Land Division Act.
    • Resulting parcels must have adequate legal descriptions, public-utility easements, and access.
    • Village approval expires after 90 days unless recording and filing occur as specified.

    approval validity: 90 days (Unless the required conveyance instrument is recorded and filed.)

    “An application to divide a lot, parcel or tract of land or to affect a property transfer shall be granted when all of the following standards are met: (a) The proposed division or property transfer shall comply with all requirements of the Land Division Act of 1967, being Act 288 of the Public Act of 1967, as amended.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Division of existing lots and parcels and property transfers inside Central Lake village limits.
      “This shall be accomplished by regulating the division of existing lots and parcels and the property transfer between two (2) or more adjacent lots or parcels.”
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Division of lots and parcels inside Central Lake village.
      “regulating the division of existing lots and parcels and the property transfer”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Village zoning permits, applications, and petitions inside Central Lake village limits.

    • A zoning permit is not valid until required fees are paid.
    • No separate fee is required for an accessory building or structure if its application is made at the same time as the principal building or structure.
    • The under-200-square-foot accessory-structure exemption applies.

    accessory-structure exemption threshold: < 200 square feet (No zoning permit required.)

    “No Zoning Permit shall be valid until the required fees have been paid.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published — Village zoning permits and applications inside Central Lake village.
      “This document outlines the fees associated with various zoning permits and applications.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning permit applications for buildings and structures subject to the Village of Central Lake Zoning Ordinance.

    • A zoning permit application must be filed with the Village Zoning Administrator and issued before a covered building or structure is erected, structurally altered, reconstructed, used, or moved.
    • No zoning permit is required for a lawful use of a building or structure existing as of the ordinance adoption date.
    • No zoning permit is required for an accessory structure less than 200 square feet.
    • The application must be signed by the owner or agent and certify compliance with the ordinance and other applicable laws and requirements.
    • Applications requiring Planning Commission approval must be submitted at least 30 days before the scheduled meeting.
    • A zoning permit cannot be issued until other permits required by statute have been obtained or waived, except permits issued by the Antrim County Building Department.
    • Property boundaries and structures must be staked for Zoning Administrator approval before issuance.
    • The permit expires after 12 months if substantial construction has not started.
    • Required fees must be paid; filing fees are specified by the Village Board of Trustees.

    Planning Commission submission lead time: >= 30 days (Applications requiring Planning Commission approval) · permit expiration without substantial construction: 12 months (From date of issuance) · accessory-structure exemption threshold: < 200 square feet (Accessory structures less than 200 square feet do not require a zoning permit)

    “No Zoning permit shall be required for an accessory structure less than 200 sf in size.”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Village zoning-permit process inside Central Lake village limits.
      “A Zoning Permit shall not be issued until all other necessary permits required by statute have been obtained or waived with exception of those permits issued by the Antrim County Building Department.”
    • Published (with conditions) — Village zoning-permit applications for structures subject to the Zoning Ordinance inside Central Lake village limits.
      “Any application requiring approval from the Planning Commission must be submitted not less than thirty (30) days prior to a scheduled meeting for consideration at that Planning Commission meeting.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Central Lake

Village of Central Lake does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Buildings and structures inside Central Lake village under the Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code.

    • One- and two-family dwelling provisions are included in the Michigan Residential Code.
    “The Michigan Building Code controls all matters concerning the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy, and maintenance of all buildings and structures and their service equipment. Presently, provisions for one- and two-family dwellings are included in the Michigan Residential Code.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Adopted — Building construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy, and maintenance inside Central Lake village.
      “The Michigan Building Code controls all matters concerning the construction”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    A new or altered building inside Central Lake village.

    • The permit holder or authorized agent must request the certificate upon project completion.
    • All fees must be paid, permits finaled, and permitted work completed in accordance with the permit, code, and other applicable laws and ordinances.
    “A new building or a building that is altered shall not be used or occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the code official.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — A new or altered building inside Central Lake village.
      “A new building or a building that is altered shall not be used or occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the code official.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1 Residential District inside Central Lake village limits.

    • For residential uses, the schedule provides 7,000 square feet for each dwelling unit in a two-family dwelling; multiple-family formulas and water/supply sewage-disposal requirements also apply.

    minimum lot area: 10000 square feet (R-1 schedule value; additional residential-use rules apply.) · minimum lot width: 100 feet

    “The following Minimum Lot Area shall be required for residential uses in the R-1 and “V” Districts: One Family As provided for in the Schedule of Regulations Table (Section 5.05) Two Family 7,000 square feet for each dwelling unit.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions for construction inside Central Lake village.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Central Lake village.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or permanent RV occupancy on private land inside Central Lake village.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Central Lake village.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Central Lake village.
6 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Village of Central Lake publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Antrim County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Antrim County: county rules, score and offices