Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Lake Ann, Michigan

Village of Lake Ann’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside the limits of Lake Ann village, Benzie County, Michigan. The village adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (titled Zoning Ordinance, compiled August 25, 2019, per the village site). This is not the county's or Almira Township's zoning.

  • Uses that conform to the zoning ordinance and their zone do not require planning commission, village council or zoning board of appeals approval; nonconforming or unlisted uses need the special use permit process.
  • Day-to-day administration, including land use permits, is by the village zoning administrator.

  “the village of lake ann is a master planned and zoned community, governed by a rolling 5 year master plan and zoning ordinance.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Land inside Lake Ann village limits: the village zoning ordinance divides land use into two broad zones, residential and commercial.

  • The village page names only two broad zones; individual district names, boundaries and zoning map were not opened.
  • Dimensional limits per district are not recorded here and remain open.

  “land use in the village of lake ann falls into two broad zones, residential and commercial.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Village of Lake Ann land-use and zoning applications inside village limits.

  • The village lists a village fee schedule effective January 1, 2027 on its forms page; the schedule document itself was not opened, so amounts are not recorded.
  • Application fees are set by the village trustees under the fee schedule, per the zoning page.

  “in all cases an application fee applies according to a fee schedule determined by the village trustees.”

• Permit processPartial

  New development and building projects inside Lake Ann village limits.

  • Site plans for new developments or buildings need planning commission and village council approval before development.
  • Land use permits are issued through the zoning administrator; the permit steps, forms and timelines were not opened (land use permit application and zoning board of appeals application are listed on the village forms page).

  “site plans for new developments or buildings must be approved by the planning commission and village council prior to development.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Lake Ann or Benzie County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits for new construction inside Lake Ann village
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from licensing or permitting inside Lake Ann village
• Building code adopted — State construction codes for new construction inside Lake Ann village
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Lake Ann village
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Lake Ann village

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.