Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Portsmouth Township, Michigan

Portsmouth Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Structural work and the listed residential alterations inside Portsmouth Charter Township.

  • A site plan may also apply.
  • Other permits may be required by the Health Department, MDOT, EGLE, or other applicable agencies.
  • Commercial drawings may require an architect or engineer as determined by the Building Inspector.
  • Commercial projects may require Planning Commission site-plan review.

  accessory-building threshold: > 200 sq ft (Building permit listed as needed for accessory buildings over this size.)

  “A permit is required when any type of structural work is done on your home.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction and dwelling placement inside Portsmouth Charter Township.

  • Construction must also comply with applicable building, plumbing, electrical, and federal HUD mobile-home standards where applicable.

  “Construction, including mobile home placement may be commenced only after a building permit has been obtained in accordance with the applicable building, plumbing and/or electrical codes applicable within the Township”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Buildings and structures subject to final Township zoning inspection inside Portsmouth Charter Township.

  • This is a Township certificate of zoning compliance, issued after final inspection and before occupancy begins if the work complies with the application, plans, drawings, and specifications.

  “If such building or alterations comply with the statements in the application, plans, working drawings, and specifications, a certificate of zoning compliance shall be issued.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Portsmouth Charter Township, Michigan.

  • The ordinance is effective July 1, 2026.

  “Portsmouth Charter Township Zoning Ordinance Effective July 1, 2026 Adopted June 15, 2026”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Mapped zoning districts inside Portsmouth Charter Township.

  • The ordinance identifies Agricultural Estate, Single Family Residential, Residential Flex, Mobile Home Park, Local Business, General Business, Light Industrial, and General Industrial districts.

  “For the purpose of this Ordinance, Portsmouth Charter Township is hereby divided into the following zoning districts:”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured-home placement inside Portsmouth Charter Township.

  • Outside manufactured-home parks, single- and two-family dwelling standards apply.
  • A manufactured home must be anchored to its foundation under HUD standards and have wheels, pulling mechanism, and tongue removed before foundation placement.
  • Construction/placement may begin only after required building permit and code compliance.

  minimum single-family dwelling width: >= 24 feet (For at least 67 percent of the dwelling length; applies outside manufactured-home parks.)

  “All single- and two-family dwelling units located outside of manufactured home parks shall comply with the following requirements”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site sewage systems for sites inside Portsmouth Charter Township that are not served by municipal sewage collection.

  • Township zoning permits for buildings served by private well and/or septic require Bay County Health Department permits.
  • The County's stated rule applies where the site is not served by municipal water supply and/or sewage collection.

  “all necessary permits have been issued by the Bay County Health Department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  On-site sewage disposal systems inside Portsmouth Charter Township where municipal sewage collection is unavailable.

  • Permit must be secured from Bay County Health Department before work begins.
  • System must be at least 50 feet from water-supply wells.
  • Changes from the County permit require prior approval.
  • Permit is non-transferable; a new permit is required for a new owner or changed OSDS location.

  minimum separation from water-supply well: >= 50 feet

  “The permit(s) must be secured from this department prior to beginning any work.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New on-site sewage disposal-system installation inside Portsmouth Charter Township where municipal sewage collection is unavailable.

  • Bay County Health Department final inspection must occur before the system is covered.

  “A Final Inspection of the onsite sewage disposal system installation must be conducted by this department prior to covering the system.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Dwellings using private sanitation inside Portsmouth Charter Township.

  • Private septic must be approved by Bay County Health Department.
  • For a zoning permit involving private well and/or septic tank and drainfield, all necessary Bay County Health Department permits must be issued.

  “No zoning permit will be issued for the construction of a building or structure which is to be served by a private well and/or a septic tank and drainfield unless the facilities comply with all rules and regulations”

• Well permitRequired

  Private wells inside Portsmouth Charter Township where municipal water service is unavailable.

  • Permit must be secured from Bay County Health Department before work begins.
  • Well must be installed by a Registered Well Driller.
  • Health Department must be notified after installation for final inspection and water sampling.
  • County rule is stated for Bay County sites not served by municipal water supply and/or sewage collection.

  “Your water supply well must be installed by a Registered Well Driller.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Dwellings inside Portsmouth Charter Township.

  • Each dwelling must connect to public sewer and water, or instead use a well or septic system approved by Bay County Health Department.

  “All dwellings shall be connected to a public sewer system and water supply system and/or a well or septic system approved by the Bay County Health Department.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Condominium subdivisions and single-family condominium projects inside Portsmouth Charter Township.

  • Condominium subdivisions must comply with zone-district use, area, parking, general requirements, and conditions.
  • Condominium project plan information must be submitted to the Planning Commission for site-plan review.
  • A master deed and attachments/amendments must be filed with the Township Clerk within 10 days after recording with the Bay County Register of Deeds.

  master-deed filing deadline: <= 10 days (After recording with the Bay County Register of Deeds.)

  “All condominium subdivisions, structures and uses therein shall comply with all use, area, parking, general requirements, and conditions of the zone district within which the project is located.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Construction involving a new driveway opening to a public street inside Portsmouth Charter Township.

  • State and/or County driveway permit must be submitted to Township Zoning Administrator before construction permit grant.

  “a permit for such driveway from the State and/or County agency shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator.”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Portsmouth Charter Township.

  • Fee is based on estimated construction cost.

  building-permit fee basis: estimated cost of construction

  “The cost of a building permit is based on the estimated cost of construction.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits inside Portsmouth Charter Township.

  • Detailed drawings must include site plan, foundation plan, floor plans, elevations, and wall section showing basic materials and methods.
  • Application, potentially a soil-erosion permit, other agency permits, and a permit fee are listed.
  • All new residential construction requires a soil-erosion permit according to the Township page.

  “The drawing should include a site plan, foundation plan, floor plans, elevations and wall section showing basic materials and methods of construction.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Portsmouth Charter Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Single-family dwellings inside Portsmouth Charter Township.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Portsmouth Charter Township.
• Setbacks — Principal residential buildings inside Portsmouth Charter Township.
• Lot coverage — Residential lots inside Portsmouth Charter 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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Portsmouth Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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