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

Hayes Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in the unincorporated portion of Hayes Township, Charlevoix County, Michigan.

  • The ordinance is administered concurrently with other governmental entities having jurisdiction.

  “An Ordinance to establish zoning districts in the unincorporated portion of Hayes Township, Charlevoix County, Michigan”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts in Hayes Township.

  • District boundaries are on the official Hayes Township Zoning Map, which is the final authority in a boundary dispute.

  “For the purpose of this Ordinance, the following Zoning Districts shall be established in Hayes Township.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal dwellings in the A-1 Agricultural, RR-1 Rural Residential, R-1 Low Density Residential, R-2 Small Lot Residential, and R-3 One and Two Family Residential districts.

  • The cited schedule is district-specific.
  • The ordinance's 2020 amendment states that the RR-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 minimum square footage was reduced from 900 to 600 square feet; the published schedule shown in the same official PDF contains 900-square-foot entries for several districts and requires current ordinance verification before parcel-specific reliance.

  minimum dwelling size shown for A-1 Agricultural: 600 square feet · minimum dwelling size shown for RR-1, R-1, and R-2: 900 square feet (The PDF also includes a 2020 amendment stating this was reduced to 600 square feet.)

  “reduce the Minimum Square Footage in the Table of Regulations from 900 to 600”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures in the A-1 Agricultural, RR-1 Rural Residential, and R-1 Low Density Residential districts.

  • Waterfront property is also subject to Section 3.14 Waterfront Regulations.
  • The schedule lists A-1 side and rear setbacks as NA.

  A-1 Agricultural front setback: 50 feet (Waterfront property is also subject to Section 3.14.) · RR-1 Rural Residential front-side-rear setbacks: 25 / 25 / 25 feet · R-1 Low Density Residential front-side-rear setbacks: 25 / 25 / 25 feet

  “RR-1 | Rural Residential | 5 Ac | 2 ac | 330 ft | 35 (d) | 25 | 25 | 25”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lots in the A-1 Agricultural, RR-1 Rural Residential, and R-1 Low Density Residential districts.

  • The schedule expresses this control as maximum percentage of impervious surface.

  A-1 Agricultural maximum impervious surface: <= 30 percent · RR-1 Rural Residential maximum impervious surface: <= 15 percent · R-1 Low Density Residential maximum impervious surface: <= 15 percent

  “Maximum Square Footage | Max % of Impervious Surface”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Structures in the A-1 Agricultural, RR-1 Rural Residential, and R-1 Low Density Residential districts.

  • Maximum height is 30 feet for structures within 1,000 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of lakes unless the Planning Commission specifically waives the limit after making the stated topographic-visibility finding.
  • Agricultural accessory structures essential and customary to farm operations may be 45 feet; silos have the stated residential-dwelling separation condition.

  maximum structure height shown for A-1, RR-1, and R-1: 35 feet (Subject to schedule footnotes.)

  “Maximum height shall be 30' for structures located within 1,000 feet of the ordinary high water mark of lakes”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Travel trailers, motor homes, and similar vehicles in Hayes Township.

  • Temporary occupancy may not exceed 90 days in a calendar year.
  • The vehicle may not be connected to utility, water supply, or sanitary sewer.
  • No more than two recreational vehicles are allowed on a parcel with an existing dwelling unit.
  • Vehicles must be in a side or rear yard and comply with district setbacks.
  • If two or more recreational vehicles occupy a parcel longer than 90 days, they must be stored in an enclosed structure.

  maximum temporary occupancy: <= 90 days per calendar year · maximum recreational vehicles on parcel with existing dwelling: <= 2 vehicles

  “shall not exceed ninety (90) days in any calendar year”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Newly sited mobile homes on individual lots in Hayes Township.

  • The mobile home must meet applicable district minimum lot-size, yard-setback, floor-area, and dwelling-unit-width standards.
  • It must be attached to an approved permanent foundation or basement and anchored to Michigan Mobile Home Commission requirements.
  • It must be installed according to manufacturer set-up requirements and comply with the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974.
  • Wheels, axles, and towing assembly must be removed, and no undercarriage or chassis may be exposed.
  • It may not be used as an accessory building.

  “Newly sited mobile homes sited on individual lots shall meet the standards”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  Use of an accessory building as a dwelling in Hayes Township.

  “An accessory building shall not be used, in whole or in part, as a dwelling.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Private water-supply and sanitary-sewage systems for buildings erected, altered, or moved onto premises in Hayes Township.

  • Systems must comply with local-health-department sanitary-code requirements.
  • Plans must be submitted to and approved by responsible agencies.
  • Written local-health-department approval must be filed with the zoning-permit application.

  “All water supply and sanitary sewage disposal systems either public or private”

• Shed and accessory-building permit exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  Accessory structures without permanent foundations in Hayes Township.

  • The structure must be less than 200 square feet and without a permanent foundation.
  • All structures must comply with applicable district setback requirements even if a zoning permit is not required.

  accessory structure area: < 200 square feet (Only when without a permanent foundation.)

  “without a permanent foundation and which is less than two hundred (200) square feet in size.”

• Short-term rentalsAllowed (with conditions)

  Short-term rentals in all Hayes Township zoning districts.

  • They are regulated by the Hayes Township Short Term Rental Ordinance.

  “Short term rentals are permitted in all zoning districts”

• Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

  Township zoning permits, applications, and petitions.

  • A zoning permit is not valid until required fees are paid.
  • Accessory buildings or structures under 200 square feet that do not require a zoning permit have no separate fee when part of a principal-building application.
  • Filing fees are specified by the Township Board of Trustees; no dollar schedule was established in the opened ordinance.

  “Applications and petitions filed pursuant to the provisions of this Ordinance shall be accompanied by the filing fees”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Township zoning permits for structures and associated excavation or filling inside Hayes Township.

  • The ordinance exceptions apply.
  • Existing lawful structures as of ordinance adoption do not require a zoning permit.
  • Accessory structures without permanent foundations and under 200 square feet do not require a zoning permit.
  • Planning Commission applications must be submitted at least 30 days before the scheduled meeting.
  • A zoning permit cannot issue until other statutory permits are obtained or waived, except Charlevoix County Building Department permits.

  Planning Commission submission lead time: >= 30 days

  “a Zoning Permit application has been filed with the Township Zoning Administrator”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential building permits inside Hayes Township, distinct from the Township zoning permit.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder treatment for construction inside Hayes Township.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Hayes Township.
• Inspections — Building-code inspections inside Hayes Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for residential construction inside Hayes 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.