Benzie County, Michigan
Homestead Township is a township in Benzie County, Michigan. Homestead Township adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Homestead Township’s rules apply, not the county’s. 19 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on November 11, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Benzie County page.
Land inside Homestead township; administered under the joint ordinance adopted with Inland Township
“this ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the "homestead inland joint zoning ordinance" and will be referred to herein as "this ordinance".”
Zoning districts in Homestead township (joint ordinance with Inland Township)
districts: FR, RR, R-1, MR, MH, C-1
“fr forest residential district rr rural residential district r-1 single family residential district mr mixed residential district mh manufactured housing community district c -1 general commercial district”
Forest Residential (FR) district in Homestead township
minimum lot size: >= 5 acres · minimum lot width: >= 300 feet
“b. lot width - each lot or parcel of land shall have a minimum width of three hundred (300) feet of frontage on a public or private road.”
“b. lot width - each lot or parcel of land shall have a minimum width of two hundred (200) feet of frontage on a public or private road.”
“b. lot width - each lot or parcel of land shall have a minimum width of one hundred fifty (150) feet of frontage on a public or private road.”
Forest Residential (FR) district in Homestead township
front setback: >= 40 feet · side setback: >= 20 feet · rear setback: >= 20 feet · water setback: >= 50 feet
“c. setbacks - 1. front - forty (40) feet. 2. sides - twenty (20) feet. 3. rear - twenty (20) feet.”
“setbacks - 1. front - forty (40) feet. 2. sides - twenty (20) feet. 3. rear - twenty (20) feet.”
“setbacks - 1. front - forty (40) feet. 2. sides - twenty (20) feet. 3. rear - twenty (20) feet.”
Forest Residential (FR) district in Homestead township
maximum height: <= 35 feet (farm related structures)
“height - maximum of thirty five (35) feet except for farm related structures.”
“height - thirty five feet (35) except for farm structures.”
“height - thirty five feet (35) except for farm structures.”
RV or camper used as a dwelling inside Homestead township
temporary dwelling duration: <= 12 months (one additional 12-month extension)
“the use shall be for the sole purpose of providing dwelling facilities for the owner of the premises during the period in which a dwelling conforming to the provisions of this ordinance is in process of erection and completion, but not to exceed twelve (12) months. one (1) additional twelve (12) month extension may be obtained from the zoning administrator beginning with the date of issuance of the zoning permit.”
Private non-commercial camping on vacant or improved land inside Homestead township
camping limit: <= 180 days per calendar year
“camping on any property shall not exceed a total of one hundred eighty (180) days in any calendar year. the temporary occupancy of multiple tents, travel trailers, motor homes and other similar vehicles used for camping shall have access to sanitary facilities and all waste disposals shall meet health department requirements.”
Mobile/manufactured homes outside licensed parks inside Homestead township
“mobile homes located outside of licensed mobile home parks shall be considered single-family dwellings as defined in this ordinance and shall comply with all regulations applicable to single family dwellings.”
Site condominium and subdivision developments in the FR district (RR and R-1 articles list the same use) in Homestead township
“f. site condominium and subdivision developments subject to section 3.27.”
New driveways on county roads in Homestead township, permitted by the Benzie County Road Commission
“benzie county driveway permit - for new driveway if on a county road”
Short-term rentals in any Homestead zoning district allowing single-family dwellings
“short-term rentals shall be permitted in any zoning district in which single-family dwellings are permitted, subject to planning commission approval per article xiii, site plan review.”
Land use permit process in Homestead township
review time: <= 10 business days
“we will review and respond within 10 business days.”
Homestead Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.
State construction codes enforced by the Benzie County Building Department in Benzie County, which includes Homestead township
“this department is responsible for administration and enforcement of the state code or codes, in benzie county and springdale township in manistee county”
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Homestead Township or Benzie County directly.
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 Homestead Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Benzie County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Homestead Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
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