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

Bay Mills Township’s own rules

• InspectionsLimited

  Township zoning inspections for work under a township zoning permit in Bay Mills township

  • Only the township zoning inspections are confirmed here; the zoning permit form says inspections will be made as needed.
  • Building and trade inspections by the county or state were not confirmed in the pages opened.

  “inspections there will be inspections as needed. bay mills township zoning administrator”

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Bay Mills township limits (Brimley area, Chippewa County)

  • The township's zoning ordinance is the copy hosted on energyzoning.org; the township zoning-documents page returned HTTP 404 when opened, so the copy's currency is unconfirmed.
  • Adoption or effective date of the ordinance copy was not stated in the text opened.

  “permits: zoning (bay mills township zoning administrator)”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Any structure meant for habitation inside Bay Mills township (township-wide, not district-specific in the permit form)

  • Applies to structures meant for habitation.
  • The permit form gives no district split; the ordinance floor-area section was not extracted.

  minimum habitable structure area: >= 480 sq ft

  “minimum size of any structure meant for habitation shall not be less than 480 square feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  New buildings in Bay Mills township under the township zoning permit setback schedule (the form does not name a district for these numbers)

  • County road: 66 ft from the centerline of the road to the structure.
  • Other roads: 25 ft from the right-of-way.
  • Side property lines: 10 ft.
  • Rear: 25 ft from the rear lot line or county right-of-way (per form).
  • Waterfront: 100 ft from high water mark (see waterfront claim).
  • Pre-2000 lots may build if they comply with current setbacks.

  county road setback from centerline: 66 ft · other road setback from right-of-way: 25 ft · side setback: 10 ft · rear setback: 25 ft

  “d. side property lines; 10 feet from property lines.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Structures on lots inside Bay Mills township under the township zoning permit notes

  • Structures may occupy at most 25% of the property area, per the township permit form; the district-specific coverage in ordinance section 6.06 was not extracted.

  maximum structure coverage: <= 25 percent

  “structures can only occupy 25% of property square footage.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Buildings in Bay Mills township under the township zoning permit height rule

  • Maximum 30 ft from finished grade, per the township form.
  • Ordinance height section 5.05 was not extracted; the form figure is used.

  maximum building height: <= 30 ft

  “height of building; not to exceed 30 feet from finished grade.”

• Tiny homesLimited

  Small dwellings (including tiny homes) used for habitation inside Bay Mills township

  • Any structure meant for habitation must be at least 480 sq ft under the township permit form, which limits tiny-home occupancy.
  • No separate tiny-home rule was found in the sources opened.

  minimum habitable structure area: >= 480 sq ft

  “minimum size of any structure meant for habitation shall not be less than 480 square feet.”

• Permit processPartial

  Township zoning permit process inside Bay Mills township; building permits follow the county/state process

  • Site plan including all existing and new buildings, the well and the septic must accompany the zoning application.
  • Zoning permit is void one year after issuance unless an up-to-date building permit is held.
  • From September 28, 2026 building permit applications are being handled through the State of Michigan LARA website (county notice).

  “this zoning permit shall become void one (1) year from the date of the issuance except when an applicant has received and maintained an up-to-date building permit.”

Rules another office applies inside Bay Mills Township

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

• Building permitRequired

  New construction and alteration of buildings inside Bay Mills township; the county building department issues the building permit

  • A township zoning permit is also required before construction; both must be obtained.
  • From 2026-09-28 building permit applications are being handled temporarily through the State of Michigan LARA website (per county notice).

  “any person who begins construction of a building without first obtaining a township zoning permit and a county building permit will be penalized as set forth in the bay mills township zoning ordinance.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Building construction inside Bay Mills township, under the Michigan building code as applied by the Chippewa County building department

  • The county page quotes Michigan Building Code section 106.1 for construction documents, with a 3,500 sq ft exemption for residential buildings.
  • Electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits are issued by the State of Michigan, not the township or county.

  “section 106.1 of the michigan building code states, the construction documents shall be prepared by or under the direct supervision of a registered design professional”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Private sewage (septic) systems on land inside Bay Mills township

  • The Chippewa County Health Department is named for wells and septic systems; the ordinance requires an approved sewage system, approved by the county health department where soil is inadequate.

  “wells and septic systems (chippewa county health department)”

• Septic permitRequired

  New or replacement septic systems serving buildings inside Bay Mills township

  • Permit issued by the Chippewa County Health Department, not the township.
  • The zoning permit form asks for the well and septic approval status and a site plan showing the septic system.

  “permits: zoning (bay mills township zoning administrator) building (chippewa county building department) wells and septic systems (chippewa county health department)”

• Well permitRequired

  New wells serving dwellings inside Bay Mills township

  • Permit issued by the Chippewa County Health Department.
  • Zoning permit form asks for well approval status.

  “wells and septic systems (chippewa county health department)”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveways and culverts in Bay Mills township

  • Permit issued by the Chippewa County Road Commission, not the township.

  “new driveways and/or culverts (chippewa county road commission)”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from licensing or permit requirements for work inside Bay Mills township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Bay Mills township
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units on lots inside Bay Mills township
• Septic inspection — Septic system inspection inside Bay Mills township
• Agricultural exemption — Agricultural exemption from building or zoning rules for farm buildings in Bay Mills 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.