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

Acme Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Acme township's limits: Acme Township's own zoning ordinance governs use and dimensional rules there.

  • The adopted text is the Acme Township Zoning Ordinance (final 07-31-2022); the township's own page gives adoption and effective dates.
  • Some rules listed on the township page (e.g. the 2026 data-center moratorium amendment) are separate and not part of this record.

  “acme township zoning ordinance: adopted july 5, 2022; effective july 31, 2022”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts of Acme township.

  • Dimensional schedule covers AG, SFR, SFN, MHN, RMH, CS and C districts; districts beyond the schedule were not read.

  “3.4 schedule of dimensional requirements the regulations on the following pages of this section specify parcel dimensions, setback requirements and design standards for parcels in each zoning district.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal dwelling in the AG (agricultural) district inside Acme township.

  • Applies to the minimum ground floor livable floor area per unit.

  minimum ground floor livable floor area: >= 500 square feet

  “minimum ground floor livable floor area 500 square feet minimum floor area / unit”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Principal dwelling in the SFN (single family neighborhood) district inside Acme township.

    “minimum ground floor livable floor area 500 square feet minimum floor area / unit”

  • District specific (with conditions) — Principal dwelling in the SFR (single family rural) district inside Acme township.

    “minimum ground floor livable floor area 500 square feet minimum floor area / unit”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Agricultural district (AG - agricultural) inside Acme township.

  • Waterfront parcels in the AG district must also meet the waterfront requirements in article 4.

  minimum lot area: >= 5 acres · minimum lot width: >= 330 feet

  “ag - agricultural district lot occupation standard minimum lot width 330 feet minimum lot area 5 acres maximum lot coverage --maximum impervious surface --”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Main single-family residential district (SFN - single family neighborhood) inside Acme township.

    “sfn - single family neighborhood district lot occupation standard minimum lot width 100 feet minimum lot area 10,000 square feet maximum lot coverage 30% maximum impervious surface 35%”

  • District specific (with conditions) — Rural single-family residential district (SFR - single family rural) inside Acme township.

    “sfr - single family rural district lot occupation standard minimum lot width 150 feet minimum lot area 1 acre maximum lot coverage 25% maximum impervious surface 30%”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal building in the AG (agricultural) district inside Acme township.

  • Accessory buildings in AG: front setback 50 feet; side setback 25 feet; rear setback 40 feet; principal building setback 10 feet; maximum height not greater than the principal building except as allowed.

  front setback: >= 50 feet · side setback: >= 25 feet · rear setback: >= 40 feet

  “principal building standard front setback 50 feet side setback 25 feet rear setback 40 feet maximum height 2.5 stories - not to exceed 38 feet”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Principal building in the SFN (single family neighborhood) district inside Acme township.

    “principal building standard front setback 30 feet side setback 10 feet rear setback 20 feet maximum height 2.5 stories - not to exceed 38 feet”

  • District specific (with conditions) — Principal building in the SFR (single family rural) district inside Acme township.

    “principal building standard front setback 30 feet side setback 20 feet rear setback 35 feet maximum height 2.5 stories - not to exceed 38 feet”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  SFN (single family neighborhood) district inside Acme township.

  • Maximum impervious surface in SFN is 35 percent.

  maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent

  “maximum lot coverage 30% maximum impervious surface 35%”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — SFR (single family rural) district inside Acme township.

    “maximum lot coverage 25% maximum impervious surface 30%”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal building in the AG (agricultural) district inside Acme township.

  • Structures for agricultural uses, such as barns and silos, may be permitted up to one hundred (100) feet in height.

  maximum principal building height: <= 38 feet (not to exceed 38 feet; agricultural structures up to 100 feet) · maximum principal building height: <= 2.5 stories (not to exceed 38 feet)

  “structures for agricultural uses, such as barns and silos, may be permitted up to one hundred (100) feet in height.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Principal building in the SFN (single family neighborhood) district inside Acme township.

    “maximum height 2.5 stories - not to exceed 38 feet”

  • District specific (with conditions) — Principal building in the SFR (single family rural) district inside Acme township.

    “maximum height 2.5 stories - not to exceed 38 feet”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles on private land inside Acme township; the township's rule limits outdoor storage of RVs and bars RVs from counting as dwellings.

  • Outdoor storage of recreational vehicles is limited to two stored outdoors on any AG, SFR or SFN lot.
  • RVs may not be located in any front yard.
  • RVs must be registered to the occupant of the property unless established as an approved storage use.
  • RVs may not be parked overnight on any street, alley, highway or public space.
  • A travel trailer, motor home, automobile, tent or other portable building not defined as a recreational vehicle is not considered a dwelling under the ordinance definition.

  stored RVs outdoors per lot (AG, SFR, SFN): <= 2 vehicles

  “5.26 recreational vehicles the outdoor storage of recreational vehicles shall be subject to the following: a. be limited to two (2) stored outdoors on any ag, sfr and sfn lot. b. not be located in any front yard. c. be registered to the occupant of the property, unless established as an approved storage use. d. not be parked overnight on any street, alley, highway or public space.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and subdivisions inside Acme township.

  • The township also lists a land division ordinance (1997) and a 2022 land division ordinance amendment; those texts were not opened.

  “subdivision control ordinance #80-1 april 5, 1980; amended march 1989”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Township residential land use permit applications for projects inside Acme township.

  • Fees listed on the 2025 form are the township's own; county well/septic and sewer-benefit charges are separate.
  • The form title block carries a 07/28/21 fee schedule note; the full fee schedule was not opened.

  application fee, single family home: 75 USD · application fee, accessory structures or additions: 50 USD

  “application fee – $50 accessory structures/additions; $75 single family homes”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Residential land use permit for projects inside Acme township, processed by the township planning and zoning administrator.

  • Requires a site plan, floor plans with elevations, property owner authorization, county soil erosion determination or permit, county well/septic permit if applicable, and county sewer benefits paid if applicable.
  • Application fee is listed on the same form.
  • The township zoning ordinance check ('the proposed use is permitted by acme township zoning ordinance of 2022, as amended') is made by the township.

  “please complete this application and submit all of the applicable items from the list below. incomplete applications will not be accepted and returned to the applicant.”

Rules another office applies inside Acme Township

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

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits pulled by a homeowner for work in a home they live in, inside Acme township.

  • Applies to electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits; the FAQ says these fees do not pertain to building permits, so no building-permit owner exemption is established.
  • A licensed contractor must pull the permit when doing the work; rental property work requires a licensed contractor.

  “if you are a homeowner, live in the home, and you are doing the work, then you may pull the permit.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  On-site septic systems on properties inside Acme township, administered by the Grand Traverse County Health Department, Environmental Health Division.

  • Applies to properties without access to municipal systems.
  • Acme township does not administer septic permits in the sources read.

  “the grand traverse county health department (gtchd) environmental health division is responsible for issuing permits and designing and ensuring the proper installation of on-site septic systems”

• Septic permitRequired

  New or replacement on-site septic systems inside Acme township.

  • Permit applies for properties that do not have access to municipal systems.
  • Applications are submitted through the county's online permitting system, EPIC GT.
  • Payment is due at submission per the county fee schedule.

  “to obtain a permit for the installation of a new or replacement septic system, applications may be submitted through our online permitting system epic gt.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New or replacement on-site septic systems inside Acme township.

  • Final inspection by county Environmental Health is required before the system is approved for use; it is included in the permit.

  “final inspections are required before being approved for use, which is included in the permit.”

• Well permitRequired

  New private wells for homes and small businesses inside Acme township.

  • Permit is issued by the county, and the applicant then uses a registered well driller.
  • Well driller must follow state of Michigan and Grand Traverse County codes.

  “to obtain a permit for the construction of a new well, applications may be submitted through our online permitting system, epic gt.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Acme township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Acme township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Acme township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy inside Acme township.
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured home occupancy inside Acme township, including the RMH residential manufactured housing district.

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.