Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Pine River Township, Michigan

Pine River Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Pine River township limits, except public rights-of-way, under the Pine River Township Zoning Ordinance (revised 6/16/2025)

  • The ordinance header reads 'adopted 12/2012: revised 12/5/2016: revised 12/23/2020: revised 6/16/2025'. The effective date is not stated, so effective_at is null.
  • A search snippet mentioned a Planning Commission public hearing on May 13, 2026 for a proposed zoning amendment and a 2026 zoning map. Neither was opened, so the current text may differ from the 2025 ordinance.

  “all land within pine river township except public rights-of-ways is divided into the following zoning districts”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  All land inside Pine River township limits except public rights-of-way

  • Districts listed in section 201: ag (agricultural), ldr (low density residential), hdr (high density residential), o (office service), lc (light commercial), hc (heavy commercial), i (industrial).
  • The official zoning map is kept by the township clerk and is part of the ordinance (section 202). The 2026 zoning map was not opened.

  “all land within pine river township except public rights-of-ways is divided into the following zoning districts”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family dwellings in every district of Pine River township, under the ordinance definition of 'dwelling, single family' (definitions chapter, sec. 1802)

  • The definition applies to a dwelling used as a single-family residence; the dwelling must also be connected to a public sewer and water supply or approved private facilities, be attached to a foundation meeting the state construction code, and comply with building and fire codes.
  • The 1,000 sq ft minimum applies to the dwelling's floor area; the definition sets a 720 sq ft minimum on the first story of a two-story design.

  minimum floor area: >= 1000 square feet (two-story design: first story minimum 720 square feet)

  “it contains a minimum floor area of one thousand (1000) square feet. if of a two (2) story design, it shall contain a minimum first story floor area of seven hundred twenty (720) square feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — AG (agricultural) district in Pine River township, section 304 dimensional regulations

    “dwelling unit, minimum – one thousand (1000) square feet for a one story dwelling and seven hundred twenty (720) s.f. on the ground floor for two stories.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  AG (agricultural) district in Pine River township, section 304 dimensional regulations

  • Lot width in the AG district is 150 feet minimum (same passage).
  • Section 1103 allows a lot that does not front a public road in the AG district only if the access is an easement at least 20 feet wide, the lot width at the front yard line is at least 150 feet, and the lot is at least 2 acres.

  lot area, minimum: >= 43560 square feet (1 acre; see the AG lot-frontage conditions)

  “lot area, minimum – forty-three thousand, five hundred and sixty (43,560) square feet. lot width, minimum – one hundred and fifty (150’) feet.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — LDR (low density residential) district in Pine River township, section 404 dimensional regulations. The chapter heading was not captured, so the district is identified from the section numbering.

    “lot area, minimum – thirty thousand (30,000) square feet.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  AG (agricultural) district in Pine River township, section 304

  • Front and rear setbacks are measured from the roadway centerline in the front-yard case.
  • Side yard: 15 feet each, but 80 feet from the roadway centerline where the lot abuts a right-of-way.
  • Section 304 also requires dwellings to be no closer than 100 feet from agricultural areas, and there are separate separation rules in other sections that were not read.

  front yard, minimum: >= 80 feet (measured from the centerline of the roadway) · rear yard, minimum: >= 50 feet · side yard each, minimum: >= 15 feet (80 feet from the roadway centerline where abutting a right-of-way)

  “front yard, minimum – eighty (80’) feet from the centerline of the roadway. rear yard, minimum – fifty (50’) feet. side yard, each, minimum – fifteen (15’) feet, except where abutting a right-of-way, the minimum is eighty (80’) feet as measured from the centerline of the roadway.”

• Lot coverageNone

  AG (agricultural) district in Pine River township, section 304 dimensional regulations

  • The table lists lot coverage maximum as none for AG. Planned unit developments (section 603) must still meet the lot-coverage limits of the applicable district.

  “height, maximum – thirty-five (35’) feet. lot coverage, maximum percent- none.”

• Building heightSpecified

  AG (agricultural) district in Pine River township, section 304 dimensional regulations

  • Section 1103-era height exceptions apply to appurtenances and accessory structures (for example, flagpoles and antennae) under a site plan; they do not apply to human-occupied structures.
  • Section 304 gives the maximum height for the AG district only.

  height, maximum: <= 35 feet (accessory-structure and appurtenance exceptions in the general provisions)

  “height, maximum – thirty-five (35’) feet.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Use of a manufactured home as a dwelling in Pine River township, as a temporary dwelling under the temporary-dwelling section (sec. 1523)

  • Allowed only with a temporary use permit and only in the circumstances listed in section 1523. The ordinance lists two circumstances: while a single-family dwelling is under construction, and during repair of a conforming single-family dwelling.
  • While under construction, one manufactured home may be placed for not more than one year, renewable once for the same period by the zoning administrator.
  • Manufactured home developments (sec. 1512) are a separate, permitted use subject to Manufactured Housing Commission rules and the ordinance; the permanent-occupancy rules for manufactured homes outside such developments were not read.

  “use of a manufactured home for a temporary dwelling may be authorized by a temporary use permit only under the following circumstances.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Single-family dwellings with private (non-public) water and sewer in Pine River township

  • Private sewer and water is allowed only if the facilities are approved by all applicable health departments.
  • Septic design and placement must also follow the health department and other applicable rules (see septic claims).

  “the dwelling is connected to a public sewer and water supply or to such private facilities approved by all applicable health departments.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  Single-family dwellings in Pine River township, under the ordinance definition of 'dwelling, single family'

  • The ordinance requires a single-family dwelling to be connected to a public sewer and water supply or to private facilities approved by all applicable health departments.
  • No distance-based rule requiring connection to public water or sewer when available was found in the sections read. The rule appears only as a condition of the dwelling definition, so whether a new home must connect to public utilities when a line is available was not confirmed.

  “the dwelling is connected to a public sewer and water supply or to such private facilities approved by all applicable health departments.”

Rules another office applies inside Pine River Township

Pine River 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 residential construction on land inside Pine River township, under the Gratiot County building permit process. The county guidance does not say whether Pine River township issues its own building permits; the county annual report that would say so was not confirmed for this township.

  • A township zoning permit, or a letter of township approval, must be obtained before a building permit can be issued.
  • The applicant, contractor, or homeowner must obtain all necessary permits.
  • Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are issued by the state, not the county.

  “township zoning permit (a copy of zoning permit or letter of township approval is required before a building permit can be issued.)”

• InspectionsRequired

  Building work on land inside Pine River township, under the Gratiot County inspection process. Whether the township or the county performs the inspections was not confirmed.

  • Footing inspection after formwork and before concrete is poured; backfill inspection before backfill; rough inspection after roof, framing, and rough electrical, mechanical, and plumbing are in place; final inspection before occupancy.
  • The permit holder is responsible for all required inspections.

  “the permit holder is responsible for any and all inspections necessary.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New or altered buildings on land inside Pine River township, under the Gratiot County certificate-of-occupancy process

  • Issued by the code official after fees are paid, permits are finaled, and the work is complete per the permit, code, and applicable laws.
  • The permit holder or agent must request the certificate; the request may be verbal, but a written request is recommended, citing the building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permit numbers.

  “a new building or altered building shall not be used/occupied until a certificate of occupancy is issued by the code official.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic systems on land inside Pine River township, through the Mid-Michigan Health Department

  • The county guidance names the Mid-Michigan Health Department as the office that issues the well and septic permits. Its service area was not confirmed on the health department's own site, so applying it to Pine River township rests on the county guidance alone.
  • The township ordinance (section 304) says septic placement must comply with applicable state, county, and local rules, but that text was cut off in the read.

  “contact the mid-michigan health department at (989) 875-3681 or visit their office located at 151 commerce dr., ithaca, mi 48847.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic systems for new construction on land inside Pine River township, through the Mid-Michigan Health Department

  • Applies 'when applicable', per the county guidance.
  • Existing well and septic systems may be used. A copy of the well or septic evaluation must be submitted if the system is older than 10 years and has not been in use.

  “a copy of the well and septic permit is required. existing well and septic systems may be used, however, a copy of the well or septic evaluation must be submitted if the system is older than 10 years and has not been in use.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private wells for new construction on land inside Pine River township, through the Mid-Michigan Health Department

  • Applies 'when applicable', per the county guidance.
  • Existing wells may be used, subject to the same evaluation rule as septic systems.

  “a copy of the well and septic permit is required. existing well and septic systems may be used, however, a copy of the well or septic evaluation must be submitted if the system is older than 10 years and has not been in use.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveway and curb-cut permits only where the access is onto a county road; not township or state roads

  • Driveway permits apply only 'when applicable', per the county guidance.
  • The township ordinance requires lots to front on a public road (section 1103); the driveway rule for township roads was not read.

  “contact gratiot county road commission at (989) 875-3811 for information on these permits, curb cuts, or any activity affecting county roads.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for a home on land inside Pine River township
• Living in an RV — Occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land in Pine River township
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in Pine River township
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings in Pine River township
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwellings in Pine River 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.