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

Union Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Union Township (Grand Traverse County) limits. Union Township administers its own zoning ordinance through a zoning administrator.

  • The zoning page links the Union Township zoning ordinance and map as 'rev. 12-13-2004'; the ordinance copy is the 1980 ordinance as amended through December 13, 2004 and no later amendment was located.
  • Land use permits are issued by the township zoning administrator under the ordinance.

  “eric johnson, zoning administrator 989-350-6825 [email protected]”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Union Township limits.

  • Two districts: Forest Residential (the whole township except the lakeside lots) and Lakeside Residential (Sherwood Shores on Island Lake and listed Rennie Lake east-shore lots in section 6).
  • The district boundaries are on the township zoning map, which is downloadable from the township zoning page; the map was not opened.

  “the township of union is hereby divided into the following two zoning districts”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Forest Residential District, Union Township.

  • Road yard is measured from the state, county or township roadway, excluding the road right-of-way.
  • Side yards are as stated in Section 8.13.
  • Ordinance provisions on nonconforming lots and variances (Board of Zoning Appeals) still apply.

  minimum front yard from state, county or township roadway: >= 35 feet · minimum side yard (each side): >= 50 feet

  “each lot shall have a yard, clear of any buildings or structures of not less than thirty-five (35) feet from any state, county or township roadway.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Lakeside Residential District, Union Township (platted lakeshore lots on Island Lake and Rennie Lake in section 6).

    “each lot shall have side yards, clear of any buildings or structures, of not less than twenty (20) feet in width on each side.”

• Building heightSpecified

  One-family detached dwellings in the Forest Residential District, Union Township.

  • The ordinance states a story limit only; no feet-based height limit was located in the text opened.
  • Height rules for accessory buildings and the lakeside district were not confirmed.

  maximum stories above ground: <= 2 stories

  “one family detached dwellings, not exceeding two (2) stories above ground and associated residential accessory building”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Travel trailers and campers used as living quarters on private land inside Union Township.

  • Short-term tourist use up to 15 consecutive days in any 12 months is allowed without a permit (Section 10.14).
  • Longer seasonal use requires a zoning administrator land use permit valid for six months and renewable.
  • Not a permanent residence under the ordinance text opened; long-term RV living was not confirmed.

  seasonal land use permit validity: <= 6 months (may be renewed)

  “tents, travel trailers, campers and other sporting and recreational facilities may be used for primary temporary housing on a noncommercial, non-rental basis by tourists, campers and sportsmen for periods not to exceed fifteen (15) consecutive days in any twelve (12) month period.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Tents, travel trailers and campers used for temporary housing on private land inside Union Township.

  • Allowed only on a noncommercial, non-rental basis by tourists, campers and sportsmen.
  • Stays longer than 15 consecutive days in any 12-month period require a permit from the zoning administrator, subject to the local health department's limits and the same setbacks as principal structures.
  • Health department requirements also apply.

  maximum consecutive days without permit: <= 15 days (Longer use allowed with zoning administrator permit.)

  “tents, travel trailers, campers and other sporting and recreational facilities may be used for primary temporary housing on a noncommercial, non-rental basis by tourists, campers and sportsmen for periods not to exceed fifteen (15) consecutive days in any twelve (12) month period.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Residential structures inside an established floodplain in the Lakeside Residential District of Union Township.

  • Lower floors, excluding basements, must be at least one foot above the floodplain limit contour.
  • Basement openings must not be below the floodplain limit contour elevation.
  • Must be protected against sewer and septic backup and anchored against flotation.
  • Applies to lakeside district text (Section 9.13) as opened; floodplain rules for the forest district were not located.

  lowest floor (excluding basement) above floodplain limit contour: >= 1 feet

  “(a) have lower floors, excluding basements, a minimum of one (1) foot higher than the contour defining the floodplain limit.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Township zoning and land use permit fees inside Union Township.

  • The 2026-2027 fee schedule PDF is linked from the township site; its amounts were not opened and are not stated here.
  • A land use permit application and fees form dated rev. 8-26-26 is also linked from the zoning page.

  “fee schedule 2026-2027 fee schedule (pdf) download”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning land use permits for work inside Union Township.

  • The township zoning page links a land use permit application and fees form (rev. 8-26-26) and a Bureau code for online payment, but the form itself was not opened; steps and documents are not stated here.
  • Zoning administrator office hours are Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

  “land use permit app & fees rev. 8-26-26 (pdf) download”

Rules another office applies inside Union Township

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Septic and well matters for land inside Union Township, handled by Grand Traverse County Environmental Health (county health service area; the township is not a separate rule-maker for this topic).

  • The township zoning page lists the county Environmental Health contact for well and septic; the county septic permit process was not opened.
  • Health department conditions must be met for land use permits (zoning ordinance Section 4.11).

  “grand traverse county soil erosion, well & septic, environmental health 231-995-6051”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — General building (structural) permit for new construction in Union Township, MI.
• Building code adopted — Building code adoption for Union Township, MI.
• Inspections — Township-level building inspection for new construction in Union Township, MI.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Union Township, MI.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Union Township, MI.

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.