Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Au Gres Township, Michigan

Au Gres Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction inside Au Gres township

  • A zoning permit must be issued first.
  • Accessory structures 50-200 sq ft need only a zoning permit; over 200 sq ft also need a building permit.

  “construction activity requiring a building or grading permit shall not commence until a zoning permit and building or grading permit has been issued.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Au Gres township, Arenac County, MI (not the separate City of Au Gres)

  • The township site labels the file a 2024 draft while the text is dated December 11, 2018; confirm the current adopted version.

  “a zoning permit must be obtained prior to the application for a building permit.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Au Gres township zoning districts: FR, AR, LR, R, Commercial and others

  • Township zoning map 2018 is posted on the zoning administrator page.

  “section 5.7 - lakeshore residential (lr) the purpose and intent of this district is to provide for medium-density single-family residential uses in lakefront areas of the township.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings inside Au Gres township

  • Square footage minimum is defined as footprint on the ground, not multiple floor square footage.
  • Two-family dwellings: 1,020 sq ft per unit.

  minimum living space: >= 1020 sq ft (footprint on the ground)

  “a single-family dwelling. shall have a minimum of 1,020 square feet of living space. square footage minimum is defined as footprint on the ground (not multiple floor sq footage).”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Forested/Rural Residential (FR) district, Au Gres township

  • Agricultural/Rural (AR) district uses the same 1 acre/200 ft; Lakeshore Residential (LR) is 1 acre/105 ft; General Residential (R) is 1 acre/120 ft; Commercial 22,500 sq ft.

  minimum lot size: >= 1 acre · minimum lot width: >= 200 feet

  “1. minimum lot size - 1 acre 2. minimum lot width - 200 feet 3. minimum front setback - 60 feet, from the road right of way.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Lakeshore Residential (LR) district, Au Gres township

    “1. minimum lot size - 1 acre 2. minimum lot width - 105 feet 3. minimum front setback - 40 feet from the road right of way, or the ordinary high-water mark if located on lake huron, or canal”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Forested/Rural Residential (FR) district, Au Gres township

  • AR district has the same 60/10/20 setbacks.

  front setback: >= 60 feet (from road right of way) · side yard: >= 10 feet (each) · rear setback: >= 20 feet

  “3. minimum front setback - 60 feet, from the road right of way. 4. minimum side yard setback -10 feet each 5. minimum rear setback - 20 feet”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Lakeshore Residential (LR) district, Au Gres township

    “3. minimum front setback - 40 feet from the road right of way, or the ordinary high-water mark if located on lake huron, or canal 4. minimum side yard setback -10 feet, each 5. minimum rear setback - 20 feet 6. maximum height - 2½ stories or 35 feet”

• Building heightSpecified

  Forested/Rural Residential (FR) district, Au Gres township (AR, LR and R districts also 2½ stories or 35 feet)

  • Accessory structures and detached garages may not exceed 35 feet.

  maximum height: <= 35 feet (or 2½ stories)

  “5. minimum rear setback - 20 feet 6. maximum height - 2½ stories or 35 feet”

• Shed and accessory-building permit exemptionConditional

  Permanent accessory structures inside Au Gres township

  • Zoning permit alone for 50-200 sq ft; building permit plus zoning permit above 200 sq ft.
  • Accessory structure may not exceed 35 feet in height or the footprint of the principal dwelling.

  building permit threshold: > 200 sq ft

  “any accessory structure and use greater than 200 square feet in floor area shall require a building permit, in addition to the required zoning permit.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Zoning permits inside Au Gres township

  • Fee amounts not read; fee schedule is not in the ordinance text opened.

  “fees and an accompanying fee schedule is set by the township board which is adjusted from time to time.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permits inside Au Gres township

  • Permit valid one year, nontransferable; application to the zoning administrator with fee and site plan.

  “all applications for zoning permits shall be made to the zoning administrator with the accompanying fee.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Au Gres township
• Inspections — Inspections inside Au Gres township
• Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy inside Au Gres township
• Lot coverage — Inside Au Gres township
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Au Gres 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.