Building permits, zoning and land rules in Arenac County, Michigan

Yes, for residential and commercial construction within the Arenac County Building Department's service jurisdiction, although the department does not serve every part of the county¹. New homes, residential conversions, additions, porches, decks, pools, garages, carports, sheds, pole barns, lean-tos and demolitions are examples the county identifies as potentially subject to the Michigan Residential Code, so the Building Inspector should decide whether a particular project needs a permit¹. Michigan's State Construction Code applies statewide, but its jurisdiction list assigns enforcement to state, county or local agencies by location⁹. Permit fees vary with the structure's total square footage, use group and construction type². Before paying or filing, use the department's jurisdiction list or call the office to confirm that Arenac County rather than another enforcing agency covers the parcel¹⁰.

The Arenac County Building Department issues residential and commercial construction permits and conducts inspections only within its listed service jurisdiction¹⁰. The office is at 120 N. Grove Street, P.O. Box 724, Standish, MI 48658; call 989-846-9791 or email permits@arenaccountymi.gov¹⁰. A homeowner may pull an Arenac County permit and perform the work personally; if another person performs it, that person must hold the Michigan license applicable to the work⁷. Separate applications are required for electrical, mechanical and plumbing work². Most structures require at least three inspections, although the project may require more or fewer, and the permit holder must call at least two days before an inspection is needed². A final inspection occurs after other permits are closed out and before occupancy¹¹.

Arenac County's building process sends zoning and land-use approval to the township, city or village that governs the parcel³. For a new build or an addition that expands an existing structure's footprint, that local zoning permit must accompany the building permit³. Michigan law allows counties, townships, cities and villages to establish zoning districts, but the actual districts and standards come from the applicable local ordinance¹². The City of Omer illustrates why the exact jurisdiction matters: its residential district generally requires a one-acre lot, subject to a City Council variation through a Special Use Permit⁶. Omer also requires a single-family dwelling to have at least 385 square feet of living space⁶. We could not confirm one countywide schedule for setbacks, lot size, dwelling size, lot coverage or building height, so ask the parcel's local zoning administrator for the current map and ordinance.

Central Michigan District Health Department serves Arenac County for sewage-system and private-well permitting through its Arenac office^4,13. A new septic system needs a health-department permit before the building permit⁵. For new construction, bedroom additions and replacement mobile or modular homes, an existing septic system must be evaluated when that evaluation is used instead of a new-system permit⁵. CMDHD evaluates the proposed site and issues the permit⁵. Septic installation normally receives a final inspection by a Sanitarian; only rare circumstances allow a contractor affidavit instead⁵. Private wells require a permit under Michigan and CMDHD rules, while permit conditions can vary locally⁴. Only about 0.4% of Arenac County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so arrange the site evaluation early¹⁴. Michigan requires sanitary sewage to go to an available public sewer or an approved private sewage-disposal system^15,16.

We could not confirm a countywide rule allowing or prohibiting long-term RV occupancy or temporary camping on private land in Arenac County. Because land-use approval comes from the applicable township, city or village, ask that local zoning administrator about RV occupancy, temporary camping, setbacks and utility requirements for the specific parcel³. Tiny-home rules also vary locally. In the City of Omer, a tiny house must have a footprint of at least 225 square feet and comply with every applicable single-family dwelling standard⁶. Omer separately requires at least 385 square feet of living space for a single-family dwelling⁶. Those Omer standards do not answer the question for land elsewhere in Arenac County. For either housing type, confirm land-use approval first, then ask the applicable building authority what construction permits apply^3,9.

1. Identify the township, city or village and obtain its zoning or land-use approval, including the plot-plan details it requires³.

1. Ask the zoning administrator whether subdivision approval applies to the parcel².

1. Ask Central Michigan District Health Department which septic permit or existing-system evaluation and private-well documentation the proposed home requires^4,5.

1. Ask the Arenac County Road Commission whether a driveway permit is required before the building application; the county instructions do not establish that every driveway needs one^2,17.

1. Confirm that the Arenac County Building Department serves the site, then file a complete application with the supporting approvals and separate trade applications; incomplete submissions may be returned or delayed^2,10.

1. Keep the permit posted, request inspections at least two days before they are needed, and wait for the final inspection before occupying the completed home².

Start with zoning jurisdiction: the township, city or village controls the parcel's land-use approval, so obtain its current map and ordinance before relying on a proposed use or building envelope³. Test the septic path early because only about 0.4% of county soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field¹⁴. Verify whether public sewer is available or CMDHD will approve a private system, and confirm the private-well permit path if there is no public water^4,15. Check legal road access and ask the Arenac County Road Commission whether a driveway permit is needed before applying for the building permit^2,17. For a river, stream or drain with a drainage area of at least 2 square miles, altering or occupying the 100-year floodplain requires EGLE review; new residential construction is prohibited in the floodway¹⁸. The effective property-tax rate is about 1.3%, and the median annual bill is about $1,676¹⁴.