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

Almira Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Almira Township, Benzie County, Michigan

  • Zoning ordinance text could not be opened (the PDF link returned HTTP 404), so district rules are not recorded.

  “the zoning administrator, or designee, shall enforce this ordinance, and shall have the authority to: a. approve all zoning permits and certificates of compliance.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units inside Almira Township

  • The township lists an application for an accessory dwelling unit and charges a minor site plan review fee; ordinance standards (Section 4.28) were not read.
  • Fee schedule effective 17 June 2024.

  minor site plan review fee: 200 USD (accessory dwelling unit, temporary dwelling)

  “minor site plan / amendment (accessory dwelling unit, temporary dwelling)”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions inside Almira Township

  • Only the existence of a township land division ordinance and application is shown; its terms were not read.

  “dismantled or inoperable motor vehicle ordinance nuisance ordinance fireworks ordinance special events data center moratorium ordinance land division ordinance noise ordinance”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rentals, tourist homes and bed and breakfasts inside Almira Township

  • Township requires an application and a major site plan review; renewal is also charged.
  • Fee schedule effective 17 June 2024; ordinance standards not read.

  major site plan review fee: 500 USD (STR, tourist home / B&B, WECS, utility scale SES)

  “major site plan / amendment (str, tourist home / b & b, wecs, utility scale ses)”

• Permit feesPublished

  Zoning permit and related application fees inside Almira Township

  • Fee schedule effective 17 June 2024; check for a newer schedule.
  • Per-permit zoning amounts are listed in a table that did not extract in line with their labels.

  application for uses subject to special approval: 750 USD · request for variance from the zoning board of appeals: 500 USD

  “2. application for uses subject to special approval $750.00 3. appeals to or requests for interpretation by the zoning board of appeals $500.00”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permit process inside Almira Township

  • Permit expires one year from issue.
  • Staking and setback inspection before construction; failure may bring revocation, a $100 additional fee and a $500 fine.
  • Site plan must be submitted.

  “i agree to physically stake on the ground the location of proposed structures and the location of each property line at the points closest to proposed structures, i agree to notify the zoning administrator for inspection of setbacks before the start of construction, and i understand that failure to do so may result in revocation of this permit, a $100 additional fee, and a $500 fine.”

Rules another office applies inside Almira Township

Almira 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 code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  State construction codes enforced by Benzie County Building Safety and Code Enforcement; applied to Almira Township as a township in Benzie County

  • The county page names Benzie County and does not list Almira Township by name.
  • Townships may appoint their own building official, per the page.

  “this department is responsible for administration and enforcement of the state code or codes, in benzie county and springdale township in manistee county”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Almira Township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Almira Township
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Almira Township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy inside Almira Township
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Almira 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.