Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Boyne City, Michigan

Boyne City’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Boyne City city limits: the city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Zoning Ordinance, Ordinance No. A-28) with districts including the Rural Estate District (RED) and Traditional Residential District (TRD).

  • The city's own short-term rental chapter refers to the traditional residential district as mapped in the Boyne City zoning ordinance.
  • The archived 2022 code printout is the only full copy of the zoning text located; the current official text was not opened.

  “the zoning ordinance, ordinance no. a-28 100.00 150.00 250.00”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory dwelling units on lots inside Boyne City city limits

  • The unit must meet all requirements of the city zoning code of ordinances.
  • Definition permits units within an existing single-family home, detached garage, or carriage house.

  “accessory dwelling unit: a second residential dwelling unit that may be contained within an existing single-family home, detached garage, or carriage house, and that meets all of the requirements, of the city of boyne city zoning code of ordinances.”

• Short-term rentalsLimited

  Short-term rentals of dwelling units inside Boyne City city limits

  • Owner must hold an annual city short-term rental license for the dwelling unit.
  • Short-term rental defined as renting for more than 28 days total per calendar year, for terms of no more than 29 consecutive nights.

  “an owner of any property located within the city of boyne city shall not rent, or allow to be rented a short-term rental unless the owner has obtained a license for that dwelling unit”

• Permit feesPublished

  City of Boyne City zoning, planning and related permit fees inside city limits

  • Permit fees are tripled if the structure is not built as shown on the zoning permit/site plan or is not placed as represented on the approved site plan.
  • Fee schedule is for 1 May 2025 to 30 April 2026; a later schedule was not checked.

  “permit fees are tripled if the structure is not built as shown on the zoning permit/site plan or if the structure is not placed on the parcel as represented on the approved site plan”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Boyne City city limits
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permits for construction inside Boyne City city limits
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Boyne City city limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for buildings inside Boyne City city limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for RED and TRD districts inside Boyne City city limits

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.