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

Arthur Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Arthur Township, Clare County, Michigan.

  • A zoning permit is required before a building permit can be obtained.

  “The following Townships are zoned and require a zoning permit before a building permit can be obtained:”

Rules another office applies inside Arthur Township

Arthur 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

  Construction of a building or structure inside Arthur Township, subject to statutory and code exceptions and locally administered by Clare County for Arthur Township.

  • The statute begins 'Except as otherwise provided in the code.'
  • parameters are not a substitute for any local zoning permit required before a building permit.

  “before construction [...] shall submit [...] an application [...] for a building permit.”

• Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  An owner constructing a structure on the owner's property inside Arthur Township for the owner's own use and occupancy.

  • This is a state residential-builder licensure exception; it does not remove building-permit, zoning-permit, code, or inspection requirements.

  “An owner of property, with reference to a structure on the property for the owner's own use and occupancy.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  A building or structure constructed inside Arthur Township.

  • The statute prohibits use or occupancy until the appropriate enforcing agency issues the certificate.

  “shall not be used or occupied in whole or in part until a certificate of use and occupancy has been issued”

• Septic permitRequired

  New-build sites using an on-site septic system inside Arthur Township.

  • The permit is required before a building permit.
  • Construction before permit issuance violates the sanitary code.
  • A reserve area for future drainfield replacement is required.
  • No variations or deviations are allowed.
  • Applicable local codes, including subdivisions, must also be followed.

  “A septic permit is required from the health department”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Construction of an on-site septic system inside Arthur Township.

  • In rare circumstances, a contractor affidavit may approve construction without a final inspection by a Sanitarian.

  “without a final inspection by a Sanitarian.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private wells inside Arthur Township, because Arthur Township is in Clare County, which CMDHD states it serves.

  • For new build sites, a health-department well permit is required before the building permit.
  • Construction before permit issuance is a sanitary-code violation.
  • No variations or deviations are allowed.

  “The State of Michigan and CMDHD Sanitary Code require private wells to be permitted.”

• Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

  A building incidental to agricultural use of land inside Arthur Township.

  • The building must not be used in retail trade.
  • This is a building-permit exemption and does not establish an exemption from Arthur Township zoning or other permits.

  “A building permit is not required for a building incidental to [...] agricultural purposes”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  New parcels under one acre not served by public sewer and/or public water inside Arthur Township, because it is in CMDHD's Clare County service area.

  • The rule applies to parcels less than one acre and not served by public sewer and/or public water.
  • On-site water-supply and sewage-treatment information must be submitted for review before approval may be granted.

  new parcel size: < 1 acre (Only when not served by public sewer and/or public water.)

  “requires local health department approval for new parcels less than one acre and not served by public sewer and/or public water”

Still unanswered

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

• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Arthur Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Arthur Township.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Arthur Township.
• Setbacks — Structures inside Arthur Township.
• Lot coverage — Lots inside Arthur 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.