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

Rapid River Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Rapid River township's limits: the township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Rapid River Township Zoning Ordinance, adopted June 2011).

  • Based on a third-party PDF copy of the ordinance; the county page says the official copy is kept at the township office, so the current text must be confirmed there.
  • The copy shows amendments in May 2015 (#15-01) and #1-01; their current status is not verified.
  • Use requires a zoning permit or land use permit from the township zoning administrator.

  “note: the 'official' copy of the rapid river township zoning ordinance is maintained at the rapid river township office.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts established by the Rapid River township zoning ordinance

  • Districts named in the copy include residential (R), lakefront-residential (L-R), resort-residential (R-R), agricultural-residential (A-R), forest-recreational (F-R), commercial (C-1), general industrial (G-1), and light industrial (L-1).
  • The zoning map is linked from the county page; the map itself was not opened.

  “zoning map land use (zoning) permit application site plan review application special land use application (also requires site plan review application)”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Principal dwelling in the residential (R) district inside Rapid River township

  • Minimum floor area excludes porches, basements, attics and garages.
  • Single-family dwelling width must be at least 14 feet for at least 67 percent of its length (section 21.12).

  minimum principal structure floor area: >= 720 square feet (excluding porches, basements, attics and garages)

  “2. minimum floor area in residential (r) district, for a principal structure shall be seven hundred twenty (720) square feet excluding porches, basements, attics and garages.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Each dwelling unit on a lot created after the amendment in the lakefront-residential (L-R) district inside Rapid River township

  • Applies to lots created after the amendment date establishing the section.
  • Waterfront lots have additional setback and green belt rules (article 16).

  minimum lot area: >= 20000 square feet · minimum lot width at building line: >= 100 feet

  “not less than twentythousand (20,000) square feet in size, and at least one hundred (100) feet in width at the building line.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Single dwelling on a lot in the residential (R) district inside Rapid River township

    “each lot shall be at least 65 feet in width at the building line.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Waterfront lots inside Rapid River township (all districts with lake frontage)

  • The waterfront setback may be decreased by one foot for every foot of bank rise above the water's edge, up to 30 feet.
  • All other district setbacks still apply, except that where a rear yard abuts the waterfront, the waterfront setback governs.
  • Septic tanks and absorption fields must be at least 100 feet from the water's edge, subject to a health department exception where lot dimensions do not permit.

  waterfront setback: >= 60 feet (may be decreased 1 foot per foot of bank rise above water's edge, up to 30 feet)

  “all waterfront lots must have a waterfront setback of sixty (60) feet, except that the waterfront setback may be decreased one (1) foot for every one (1) foot of rise in bank height above the water's edge up to a distance of thirty (30) feet.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  A manufactured or mobile home used as a dwelling outside a mobile home park inside Rapid River township

  • Wheels, pulling mechanism, and tongue must be removed before placement on a foundation or anchoring.
  • Foundation must comply with building codes and the home must be enclosed with acceptable skirting.
  • Anchoring to HUD standards is required by the same section.

  “6. the wheels, pulling mechanism, and tongue of any mobile home shall be removed prior to placement on a foundation or anchoring to the ground.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Detached accessory dwelling units on a parcel in the residential (R), lakefront-residential (L-R), resort-residential (R-R), agricultural-residential (A-R), and forest-recreational (F-R) districts inside Rapid River township

  • Detached accessory dwellings are a special use requiring a special use permit in listed districts (section 23.10.z).
  • The primary structure or the accessory dwelling must be owner occupied.
  • Accessory dwelling total square footage must not exceed 45% of the primary residence or 900 square feet, whichever is less, and must meet the minimum building code requirement.
  • One to two designated parking spaces are required.
  • No more than one detached accessory dwelling unit per parcel.
  • Within a platted residential subdivision, deed restrictions and covenants apply.

  maximum accessory dwelling size: <= 900 square feet (or 45% of the primary residence square footage, whichever is less)

  “4. the total square footage of the accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed 45% of the square footage contained in the primary residence or 900 square feet, whatever is less, subject to the minimum requirement of the building codes.”

• Off-grid sanitationAllowed (with conditions)

  A dwelling with private sanitation (septic) inside Rapid River township where no public sewer is available

  • Septic system and water supply must be approved by the county health department.
  • Septic tanks and absorption fields must be at least 100 feet from the water's edge on waterfront lots, with a health department exception only where lot dimensions do not permit.

  “septic tanks and absorption fields shall be located at least one hundred (100) feet from the water's edge on all waterfront lots except, where lot dimensions do not permit such a setback and the health department authorizes a lesser setback.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New dwelling units outside mobile home parks inside Rapid River township

  • Dwellings must connect to public sewer and public water if available.
  • If public sewer or water is not available, a septic system and water supply approved by the county health department are required.

  “7. all dwellings shall be connected to a public sewer system and water supply system if available, and if not, shall have a septic system and water supply approved by the county health department.”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning permit process inside Rapid River township

  • The zoning administrator may hold a zoning permit until county, state, or federal permits are verified.
  • Application forms are listed on the county page (zoning permit, site plan review, special land use, ZBA).

  “zoning map land use (zoning) permit application site plan review application special land use application (also requires site plan review application)”

Rules another office applies inside Rapid River Township

Rapid 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 and alterations inside Rapid River township, handled through the Kalkaska County Construction Codes office

  • Zoning, septic, and water well permits must be approved and issued before a building permit is issued.
  • Copies of approved zoning, septic, and water well permits must accompany the building application.
  • Whether the county office handles all building permits in Rapid River township is not confirmed on a township page.

  “you must have zoning, soil erosion, septic and water well permits - approved and issued - before you can receive a building permit.”

• Septic permitRequired

  A septic system serving a dwelling inside Rapid River township where public sewer is not available

  • The approval must be in writing and must accompany the zoning permit application.
  • Permit must be approved and issued before a building permit is issued.

  “you must have zoning, soil erosion, septic and water well permits - approved and issued - before you can receive a building permit.”

• Well permitRequired

  A private water well serving a dwelling inside Rapid River township where no public water is available

  • Approval must be shown with the zoning permit application.
  • Permit must be approved and issued before a building permit is issued.

  “copies of approved zoning, septic and water well permits must accompany your building application when it is submitted to us for review.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a homeowner building a home inside Rapid River township
• Building code adopted — Residential building code adopted for construction inside Rapid River township
• Inspections — Building inspections for residential construction inside Rapid River township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside Rapid River township
• Living in an RV — Occupancy of an RV or travel trailer on private land inside Rapid 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.