Building permits, zoning and land rules in Keweenaw County, Michigan

Yes. Keweenaw County requires permits before regulated construction begins, although listed repair and minor-work exceptions apply¹. An accessory structure of 200 square feet or less does not need a building permit but still needs a zoning permit¹. Building permits are also not required for painting, private sidewalks and driveways, patios, and retaining walls of 18 inches or less³. The county administers the Michigan Building Code and related state construction codes according to the project³. County zoning approval must come before the building-permit application¹. Permitted work is subject to inspections, and county inspection requests require at least 72 hours' notice^3,6. Keweenaw County offers no owner-builder exemption from its permit requirements, although Michigan has a narrow builder-licensing exemption for a person building a residence for personal use and occupancy on that person's own property^3,5.

The Keweenaw County Zoning and Construction Codes Department is the starting point for county zoning and construction permits³. Its permit clerk handles building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and soil-erosion intake at 5095 4th Street, Eagle River, MI 49950, phone 906 523-8570³. Applications may be emailed or hand-delivered with the site plan, required information and permit fee¹. Building applications require floor plans and specifications, and the county says to allow 5 business days when documentation is complete¹. Most buildings need a certificate of occupancy before use, but single-family homes, individual apartment units and individual office suites are exceptions; issuance follows completed construction and final inspection reports¹.

Keweenaw County administers zoning in Grant, Sherman, Houghton and Allouez townships and Ahmeek Village¹. Eagle Harbor Township has separate zoning, so buyers there should use the township's rules rather than county tables¹. In county-administered areas, permitted uses, setbacks and lot coverage depend on the zoning district¹. The Agricultural Zoning District has a 5-acre minimum lot size¹. Lakefront and riverfront structures generally have a 75-foot high-water-mark setback, except in RS-1, while other setbacks vary by district¹. A variance can reduce a waterbody setback to no less than 50 feet where unique conditions make 75 feet economically infeasible⁴. Single-family lots in the CE and RR districts are limited to 30% coverage, and the schedule lists 35 feet and 2.5 stories as the height limit for several residential uses, with a 28-foot maximum on waterfront lots⁴. Single-family dwellings include mobile and manufactured homes, which are permitted by district, while a mobile-home park of three or more homes needs a conditional-use permit in R-2⁴. Short-term rentals are conditional uses in the listed residential, resource, conservation and agricultural districts⁴. The county zoning-permit application fee is $50¹.

Western Upper Peninsula Health Department handles onsite wastewater permits and inspections in Keweenaw County². Its Houghton and Keweenaw office is at 540 Depot St, Hancock, MI 49930, phone (906) 482-7382⁷. A new or replacement septic system needs a suitable site evaluation, an approved application and paid fees before construction². The installer must request final inspection, and the system cannot be covered until it receives final approval and an approved tag². Private well construction likewise requires an approved application and fees before work starts⁸. Do the site work early: 0% of mapped county soils are rated free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field⁹. New construction needs an existing or permitted well and septic system before county zoning approval¹.

Keweenaw County treats temporary dwellings, tents, yurts and recreational vehicles outside campgrounds as a regulated zoning use⁴. The county ordinance generally limits an RV stay to 90 days unless a principal-structure building permit or a qualifying special use applies; residential districts are limited to one RV, and potable-water, sewage and setback rules also apply⁴. A tiny home under the county ordinance must have a foundation, potable water and a health-department-approved sewage system, along with the district's dimensional rules and applicable permits and codes⁴. An ECHO accessory dwelling is allowed in listed districts, with no more than one per lot; a detached unit must meet principal-building setbacks and lot coverage and sit at least 10 feet from the existing dwelling⁴. Eagle Harbor Township has separate zoning, so confirm these uses with the township for parcels there³.

1. Identify the zoning authority; county zoning covers Grant, Sherman, Houghton and Allouez townships and Ahmeek Village, while Eagle Harbor Township has separate rules¹.
2. Confirm the district, use, setbacks and lot coverage before designing¹.
3. Obtain well and septic approvals or document existing systems before seeking county zoning approval¹.
4. Submit the site plan and supporting material with the $50 county zoning fee¹.
5. After zoning approval, submit floor plans and specifications for the building permit¹.
6. Schedule required inspections with at least 72 hours' notice³.
7. Obtain a certificate of occupancy when required; single-family homes are exempt from that county certificate requirement¹.

Start with septic feasibility because 0% of mapped county soils are rated free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field⁹. Confirm the governing zoning authority and district before relying on a proposed use, especially in Eagle Harbor Township³. A proposed lot division must comply with Michigan's Land Division Act and county rules, and the resulting lots must still meet district, well and septic requirements⁴. Development in a county-designated special flood-hazard area is generally prohibited except for listed compliant uses, and occupied levels must be at least 1 foot above base flood elevation⁴. Ask the Keweenaw County Road Commission about access because it processes right-of-way permits through Oxcart¹⁰. The effective property-tax rate is about 0.9%, with a median annual bill near $1,704⁹.