Bolthole Index

Antrim County, Michigan

Building permits and land rules in Torch Lake Township, Michigan

Torch Lake Township in Antrim County, Michigan requires township zoning approval for new construction, while Antrim County handles building and trade permits.12 The Health Department of Northwest Michigan handles septic site evaluations and permits, and Torch Lake Township adds septic-inspection rules.34

At a glance

Building permit
Required for covered construction through Antrim County52
Zoning permit
Township approval required for new construction and changes of use16
Septic permit
HDNW evaluates the site and issues the installation permit3
RV or temporary dwelling
Only under limited temporary-dwelling conditions with township approval7
R-1 home size
At least 960 square feet of usable floor area8
Private well
HDNW site evaluation and permit required before installation9
Owner-builder
State licensing exception may apply, but required permits still apply10

Who to call

Zoning

Torch Lake Township Zoning and Planning Office

Township zoning permits, zoning questions and ordinance enforcement

(231) 599-2036, x105

[email protected]

2355 N US-31 | Kewadin, MI 49648

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 site evaluations, septic permits, transfer evaluations and well permits

800-432-4121

209 Portage Dr. Bellaire, MI 49615

Roads & driveways

Antrim County Road Commission

Driveway and other work permits in county road rights-of-way

231-587-8521

[email protected]

319 East Lincoln Street, P.O. Box 308, Mancelona, MI 49659

Online permits →

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 Torch Lake Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Torch Lake Township, Michigan?

Yes. Covered construction in Torch Lake Township requires a building-permit application to the appropriate enforcing agency, and Antrim County's Construction Code Department retains building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits.52 A change in a structure's use or occupancy also requires a building permit, while ordinary repairs are exempt only within the state rule's limits.5

Township zoning approval is separate from the county construction-code permit. Torch Lake Township is zoned, and new construction must comply with its zoning ordinance.11 The zoning application requires a site drawing with lot dimensions and the locations and sizes of existing and proposed structures and uses.6 Contact the Zoning Administrator for a staking inspection before construction, post the zoning permit at the site, and request an extension if work will miss the permit's stated deadlines.6

Who issues building and zoning permits in Torch Lake Township?

The Antrim County Construction Code Department issues building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits for covered work in Torch Lake Township.2 Reach the county office at 231-533-8373 or [email protected], or visit 203 E. Cayuga St. PO Box 188 Bellaire, MI 49615.2 The county publishes permit requirements, fee schedules, inspection information and code-compliance checklists online.12

The Torch Lake Township Zoning and Planning Office handles township zoning permits and ordinance questions.11 Reach that office at (231) 599-2036, x105 or [email protected], or visit 2355 N US-31 | Kewadin, MI 49648.11 Township and county approvals are not substitutes for one another: obtain zoning approval for the proposed location and use, then obtain the applicable construction and trade permits before work begins.113

What does Torch Lake Township zoning mean for a home or lot?

Torch Lake Township, rather than Antrim County, sets the local zoning rules inside the township.14 Standards depend on the zoning district. In the R-1 Residential District, a lot must generally contain at least 20,000 square feet and have at least 100 feet of frontage, subject to the stated cul-de-sac and dead-end-road exception.15 An R-1 one-unit dwelling must have at least 960 square feet of usable floor area, including a core living area with the required dimensions, and buildings may not exceed 35 feet in height.816

A manufactured home may be used where a one-unit dwelling is permitted without special approval if it meets the ordinance definition, is skirted around its perimeter and satisfies the tie-down requirement.17 Setback distances vary by district and were not confirmed in the supplied rules, so ask the Zoning Administrator to identify the parcel's district and setbacks before drawing the site plan.

How do septic and well permits work inside Torch Lake Township?

Before installing a septic system in Torch Lake Township, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan evaluates the site and issues the permit.3 The district health department also issues the required well-construction permit before a private well is installed.9 Reach the Antrim County health office at 800-432-4121 or visit 209 Portage Dr. Bellaire, MI 49615.18

Torch Lake Township adds a property-transfer and waterfront inspection program. Except for listed exemptions, a property served by septic cannot be transferred until the system has been evaluated and the report given to the buyer.4 Specified properties within 500 feet of the water also require an inspection within 3 years after township notice, and only the health department or its contracted evaluators may conduct the required evaluation.4 Only 8% of Antrim County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make the health-department site evaluation an early purchase contingency.19

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Torch Lake Township?

Torch Lake Township does not provide a general right to live in an RV, tent, garage, basement or other temporary structure. A temporary structure may be approved as a dwelling for up to 6 months, with one possible extension of up to 6 additional months, when a permanent dwelling is uninhabitable because of an emergency or the applicant shows undue hardship; adequate temporary water and sewage disposal are also required.7 Ask the Zoning Administrator whether a particular camper and situation fit that rule before occupancy.

The supplied rules do not specifically classify tiny homes. In the R-1 Residential District, a one-unit dwelling must contain at least 960 square feet of usable floor area, so a smaller proposed home would not satisfy that district's stated dwelling-size rule.8 Every covered dwelling or gathering building must have an approved safe water supply and wastewater-disposal method, with written health-department approval filed with the zoning-permit application.20

Building a home in Torch Lake Township: what are the steps?

  1. Ask the Torch Lake Township Zoning and Planning Office to confirm the parcel's district, allowed use, setbacks and site-plan requirements.11
  1. Arrange the septic-site evaluation and private-well review with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan before fixing the house location.39
  1. Submit the township zoning-permit application with the required site drawing, specifications and payment, then arrange the staking inspection before construction.6
  1. Apply to the Antrim County Construction Code Department for the required building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits before regulated work begins.132
  1. If the driveway uses a county-road right-of-way, obtain the Road Commission permit for a new, reconstructed or paved driveway.21
  1. Request required inspections as work progresses, then obtain the certificate of occupancy before using the new or altered building.2223

What should you check before buying land in Torch Lake Township?

Confirm the zoning district, buildable area, sanitation and legal access before the inspection period ends. The township controls zoning; Antrim County handles construction-code permits; the Health Department of Northwest Michigan handles septic and well permits; and the Road Commission handles qualifying work in county-road rights-of-way.1423921

Make septic feasibility a purchase contingency because only 8% of Antrim County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field.19 For waterfront building work, Antrim County requires elevations and flood certification before back-fill inspections.24 For budget context, Antrim County's effective property-tax rate is about 0.9%, and its median annual property-tax bill is about $2,033; the actual parcel bill can differ.2526 A transfer involving an existing septic system may also trigger Torch Lake Township's evaluation requirement, so address that before closing.4

Watch-outs

  • A township zoning permit and an Antrim County building permit are separate approvals; covered construction can require both.12
  • Long-term RV living is not established by the temporary-dwelling rule; ask the Zoning Administrator about the exact unit, parcel and proposed occupancy before moving onto the land.7
  • Only 8% of Antrim County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so obtain a site evaluation early.19
  • A property transfer can require a township septic evaluation, subject to the ordinance's listed exemptions.4

Sources

  1. Torch Lake Township Zoning Administrator (Torch Lake Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Antrim County Construction Code Department (antrimcountymi.gov)
  3. District Sanitary Code, quoted and re-checked
  4. Septic Inspection and Property Transfer Ordinance (Torch Lake Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Building Permit Information (Torch Lake Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Torch Lake Township Forms and Applications (Torch Lake Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Torch Lake Township Zoning Ordinance (Torch Lake Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. torchlaketownship.org (Torch Lake Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. District Sanitary Code, quoted and re-checked
  10. Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Torch Lake Township Zoning and Planning Office (torchlaketownship.org)
  12. Building Information, quoted and re-checked
  13. Building Information, quoted and re-checked
  14. Torch Lake Township Zoning Administrator (Torch Lake Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. torchlaketownship.org (Torch Lake Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. torchlaketownship.org (Torch Lake Township), quoted and re-checked
  17. Torch Lake Township Zoning Ordinance (Torch Lake Township), quoted and re-checked
  18. Health Department of Northwest Michigan — Antrim County office (nwhealth.org)
  19. 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
  20. Torch Lake Township Zoning Ordinance (Torch Lake Township), quoted and re-checked
  21. Permits – Antrim County Road Commission, quoted and re-checked
  22. Statewide Jurisdiction List (Torch Lake Township), quoted and re-checked
  23. Certificate of Occupancy Request (Torch Lake Township), quoted and re-checked
  24. Building Information, quoted and re-checked
  25. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

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 Torch Lake Township

Torch Lake Township’s own rules

  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction or work requiring a permit inside Torch Lake Township is inspected by the applicable code official under the county building-code enforcement program.

    • Torch Lake Township is listed as COUNTY for building-code enforcement, so the county is the enforcing agency for the township.
    • Construction or work requiring a permit must remain visible and accessible for inspection until approved.
    • The claim concerns code-required inspections, not township zoning-administrator staking inspections.
    “Construction or work that requires a permit shall be subject to inspection by the code official. This construction or work shall remain visible and be accessible for inspection purposes until approved.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    All land inside Torch Lake township.

    • All new construction projects must comply with the Township Zoning Ordinance.
    “Torch Lake Township is a zoned community.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    One-unit dwellings in the R-1 Residential District.

    • At least one section must contain a core living area with minimum horizontal dimensions of 20 feet by 20 feet.

    minimum usable floor area: >= 960 square feet

    “nine hundred and sixty (960) square feet”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Lots in the R-1 Residential District.

    • Minimum frontage is 100 feet, except the stated cul-de-sac/dead-end-road exception.

    minimum lot area: >= 20000 square feet (cul-de-sac or dead-end road may have a 60-foot front lot line if lot width at the setback line is 100 feet)

    “All lots in this zone shall have a minimum width of one hundred (100) feet at the front lot line, and shall have a minimum lot area of twenty thousand (20,000) square feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-3 residential zoning district inside Torch Lake township.

    • The ordinance states that not more than 35 percent of the area may be covered by buildings.

    maximum building coverage: <= 35 percent

    “Not more than thirty-five (35) percent of the area may be covered by buildings located thereon.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings in the R-1 Residential District.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet

    “Building height shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary dwelling or camping-like occupancy in a temporary structure inside Torch Lake Township.

    • A temporary structure may be used as a temporary dwelling only after zoning-administrator permit approval.
    • The ordinary maximum is six months, extendable once for no more than one additional six-month period with reasonable justification.
    • The permanent dwelling must be uninhabitable due to fire, wind, natural calamity, or emergency, or the applicant must show undue hardship.
    • Adequate temporary water supply and sewage disposal are required.
    • The structure must meet minimum health, safety, and welfare requirements.

    initial period: 6 months (one additional six-month extension may be granted) · maximum extension: 6 months (reasonable justification required)

    “No cabin, garage, basement, tent or other temporary structure shall be used in whole or in part for dwelling purposes in any zone provided that such structure may be used for a temporary dwelling for a period not to exceed six (6) months upon application to and approval of a permit for such occupancy by the Zoning Administrator”
  • Manufactured homesAllowed (with conditions)

    Manufactured/mobile-home occupancy inside Torch Lake Township.

    • A mobile home may be used in any zone where a one-unit dwelling is permitted without special approval if it meets the ordinance definition of a one-unit dwelling.
    • Under-skirting is required around the entire perimeter.
    • At least four tie-downs, or HUD requirements if stricter, are required.
    • A mobile home not meeting the one-unit-dwelling definition is generally prohibited, subject to the agricultural farm-worker exception.

    minimum tie-downs: >= 4 tie-downs (HUD requirements apply if stricter)

    “A mobile home may be used in any zone in which a 1-unit dwelling is permitted without application for special approval if the mobile home complies with the definition of "dwelling, 1-unit" as defined in this ordinance.”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Sewage treatment and disposal systems and private water-supply evaluations inside Torch Lake Township.

    • The township imposes supplemental standards through its Septic Inspection and Property Transfer Ordinance.
    • The Health Department of Northwest Michigan conducts the evaluations under an intergovernmental agreement.
    • HDNW regulations and state and federal laws also apply.
    “The intent of this Ordinance is to impose standards that supplement HDNW regulations”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Premises served by septic systems inside Torch Lake Township.

    • Before transfer, the existing STDS must be evaluated and the report provided to the transferee, except for listed exemptions.
    • Properties within 500 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of Traverse Bay/Lake Michigan or the water's edge of an inland lake or body of water must undergo a one-time inspection within three years after township notification.
    • Evaluations may only be conducted by HDNW or HDNW-contracted evaluators.
    • A septic tank generally must be pumped before evaluation, subject to the five-year documentation and insufficient-sludge exceptions.

    waterfront inspection distance: <= 500 feet (from the ordinary high-water mark or water's edge) · inspection deadline after notification: 3 years

    “are required to perform a septic inspection within 3 years”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Property transfers and specified waterfront properties served by a sewage treatment and disposal system inside Torch Lake Township.
      “an owner of any premises in the Township shall not transfer a premises until the following conditions are met”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    On-site or off-grid water and sanitation systems for buildings inside Torch Lake Township.

    • Every covered building must have a safe and sanitary water supply and means for collecting and disposing of human excreta and wastewater.
    • Written approval of the District Health Department must be filed with the zoning-permit application.
    • Temporary sanitation facilities used for more than two days require signed zoning-administrator approval and screening from public view.

    temporary sanitation duration threshold: > 2 days

    “Every building hereafter erected, altered or moved upon any premises and used in whole or in part for dwelling, recreational, business, commercial or industrial purposes, including churches, schools and other buildings in which persons customarily congregate, shall be provided with a safe and sanitary water supply system, and with means for collecting and disposal of all human excreta and of all water carried domestic, commercial, industrial, and other wastes that may adversely affect health conditions. The written approval of such facilities by the District Health Department 3 shall be filed with the application for a Zoning Permit as hereinafter provided.”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Torch Lake Township zoning and land-use permits.

    • The cited schedule is effective July 20, 2021; the zoning ordinance allows fees to be changed by the Township Board, effective 30 days after publication.

    residential zoning permit: 150 USD (residential-related construction) · camper as temporary dwelling permit: 50 USD (30 days) · special use permit: 450 USD (plus escrow, minimum $2,000) · land division permit: 300 USD (split or merger)

    “TORCH LAKE TOWNSHIP ANTRIM COUNTY, MICHIGAN FEE & PERMIT SCHEDULE Effective July 20, 2021”
  • Permit processPartial

    Township zoning-permit process for development inside Torch Lake township.

    • Submit a completed application with a site drawing, dimensions, locations of existing and proposed structures and uses, and specifications.
    • Contact the zoning administrator for a staking inspection before construction.
    • The permit expires in 12 months if work has not started and 18 months from issuance; extensions require contacting the zoning administrator.
    • Setbacks are measured from the farthest protrusion, such as eaves or balconies, but not gutters.
    • A copy of the permit must be posted on site.

    permit expiration if work has not started: 12 months · permit expiration from issuance: 18 months

    “Permit expires in 12 months if work not started and 18 months from date of issuance.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Published (with conditions) — Township zoning-permit applications for construction inside Torch Lake township.
      “Contact zoning administrator for staking inspection prior to construction. Permit expires in 12 months if work not started and 18 months from date of issuance. If extension is needed contact zoning administrator.”

Rules another office applies inside Torch Lake Township

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

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction of a building or structure inside Torch Lake township, with the application submitted to the appropriate enforcing agency.

    • A permit is also required when the use or occupancy of a structure or portion thereof is changed.
    • Ordinary repairs are exempt, but not structural, egress, utility, electrical, mechanical, or other work affecting public health or general safety.
    “Before construction of a building or structure, an owner, or the owner's builder, architect, engineer, or agent, shall submit an application in writing to the appropriate enforcing agency for a building permit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Construction of a building or structure, and changes in use or occupancy, inside Torch Lake township.
      “Before construction of a building or structure, [...] shall submit an application in writing to the appropriate enforcing agency for a building permit.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction and occupancy inside Torch Lake Township under the Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code.

    • One- and two-family dwelling provisions are in the Michigan Residential Code.
    • The appropriate enforcing agency may be state, county, or local; the source directs applicants to the appropriate enforcing agency.
    “The Michigan Building Code controls all matters concerning the construction”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Adopted (with conditions) — Building construction and one- and two-family residential construction inside Torch Lake township, subject to the Michigan Building Code and 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.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    A new or altered building inside Torch Lake township.

    • The permit holder or authorized agent must submit a written request upon project completion.
    • All fees must be paid, permits finalized, and 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 — New or altered buildings inside Torch Lake Township subject to the Michigan construction code.
      “A new building or a building that is altered shall not be used or occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder licensing or permit exemptions inside Torch Lake township.
  • Setbacks — Building setbacks inside Torch Lake township.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Torch Lake township.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Torch Lake township.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Torch Lake township.
8 more unanswered
  • Septic permit
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 Torch Lake Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Antrim County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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