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

Bay Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Excavation, fill, new construction, exterior enlargement, parking-area construction, and moving a building or structure inside Bay Township.

  • The claim concerns the Township zoning permit; other construction permits may be administered by another authority.
  • Zoning permits are valid one year; construction must start within one year or a new permit is required.
  • Repairs and normal maintenance are excluded when they do not conflict with the ordinance and do not change use or occupancy.

  zoning permit validity: 1 year (Construction must start within one year or a new permit must be obtained.)

  “Zoning permits are required before any person shall excavate, fill, build, add to the exterior dimension of a building”

• InspectionsLimited

  Premises inside Bay Township for compliance with the Township zoning ordinance.

  • This is a zoning-compliance inspection function; the source does not establish a construction-stage building-inspection schedule.

  “c. Inspecting premises for compliance, and”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Bay Township.

  • The official zoning map is the final authority for current property zoning status and is displayed at Township Hall.

  “The official zoning map shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of property in the Township.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Lots with accessory buildings inside Bay Township.

  • For lots under two acres, the aggregate accessory-building area cannot exceed the principal structure's building footprint and cannot exceed 10 percent of total lot area.
  • For lots of two acres or more, all structures and impervious surfaces cannot exceed 20 percent of total lot area.

  accessory-building coverage on lots under 2 acres: <= 10 percent of lot area (Aggregate accessory-building area also may not exceed the principal structure footprint.) · structures and impervious-surface coverage on lots 2 acres or more: <= 20 percent of lot area

  “the total aggregate area of accessory buildings shall not exceed the total building footprint area of the principal structure.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units in Bay Township Residential and Agricultural districts.

  • An ADU is a special use.
  • It is allowed only accessory to an owner-occupied single-family dwelling.
  • Only one ADU is allowed per parcel.
  • It must be permanent, no larger than 800 square feet, and comply with County building occupancy standards.
  • Applicants must provide Northwest Michigan health-department certification that water supply and sewage disposal are adequate.

  maximum ADU size: <= 800 square feet · ADUs per parcel: <= 1

  “ADUs are permitted only as an accessory use to an owner occupied single-family dwelling.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Single-family condominium and platted subdivisions in Bay Township Agricultural and Residential districts.

  • The ordinance classifies these subdivisions as uses subject to approval as PUDs.

  “a. Single family condominium and platted subdivisions.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  A lot proposed for construction of a structure inside Bay Township.

  • The lot must have legal frontage on a public or private road, or the applicant must document a recorded easement providing legal access.
  • The rule applies to site-condominium and planned-unit-development projects and platted or unplatted lots.

  “No zoning permit will be issued for construction of a structure on a lot, unless the lot has legal frontage”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Bay Township zoning-permit applications.

  • Applications must be submitted in writing, signed by the applicant or authorized agent, and include the required scale drawing and listed supporting materials.
  • A written Northwest Michigan Community Health Agency approval for water supply and sewage disposal is required with the application.

  “Applications shall be filed in writing with the Zoning Administrator, and shall be signed by the applicant, or by his or her authorized agent.”

Rules another office applies inside Bay Township

Bay Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Dwellings in Bay Township's Agricultural District.

  • Habitable floor area excludes porches, patios, terraces, breezeways, carports, verandas, attached garages, basements, and attics with headroom under seven feet.
  • Every dwelling must include a core habitable area at least 16 feet wide and 16 feet deep.

  minimum habitable floor area: >= 720 square feet

  “Agricultural 1 acre1 150’ 150’ 30’ 65’ 15’ 35’ 720 sf”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Dwellings in Bay Township's Residential District.

    “Residential 20,000 sf 100’ 150’ 30’ 35’ 15’ 35’ 860 sf”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Lots in Bay Township's Agricultural District.

  • Agricultural density cannot exceed one lot per eight acres; lot averaging is allowed only when all lots meet minimum area and Northwest Michigan Community Health Agency septic-disposal requirements, and total density remains within the parent parcel's permitted agricultural density.

  minimum lot area: >= 1 acre (Agricultural density and lot-averaging rules also apply.)

  “Agricultural 1 acre1 150’ 150’ 30’ 65’ 15’ 35’ 720 sf”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Lots in Bay Township's Residential District.

    “Residential 20,000 sf 100’ 150’ 30’ 35’ 15’ 35’ 860 sf”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal structures in Bay Township's Agricultural District.

  • On corner and through lots, front-yard setbacks apply to both yards fronting streets.

  front setback: >= 65 feet · side setback: >= 15 feet · rear setback: >= 35 feet

  “Agricultural 1 acre1 150’ 150’ 30’ 65’ 15’ 35’ 720 sf”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Principal structures in Bay Township's Residential District.

    “Residential 20,000 sf 100’ 150’ 30’ 35’ 15’ 35’ 860 sf”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in Bay Township's Agricultural District.

  maximum height: <= 30 feet

  “Agricultural 1 acre1 150’ 150’ 30’ 65’ 15’ 35’ 720 sf”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Buildings in Bay Township's Residential District.

    “Residential 20,000 sf 100’ 150’ 30’ 35’ 15’ 35’ 860 sf”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-site sewage systems inside Bay Township, which is in Charlevoix County.

  • The Health Department of Northwest Michigan's sewage page serves Charlevoix County and identifies HDNW as the entity evaluating sites and issuing septic permits.

  “Prior to installing a sewage (septic) system, HDNW works with the property owner to evaluate the site and issue a permit.”

• Well permitRequired

  A Bay Township building-permit site without existing access to municipal sewer or water.

  • The County Building Safety page states that a valid well permit from the Health Department is needed when the site lacks access to municipal sewer/water.

  “A valid septic and well permit is needed from the Health Department if the site does not already have access to municipal sewer/water.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Bay Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Bay Township.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Bay Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Bay Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Bay 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.