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

Clark Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Clark township's limits: the township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Clark Township Zoning Ordinance, revised 1-14/26).

  • The township's own page lists an earlier copy of the September 18, 2013 ordinance; the 1-14/26 revision was used here and the township clerk should confirm it is current.
  • Township section 4.1 lists the zoning districts; the zoning map is part of the ordinance.

  “the following zoning districts are hereby established within clark township.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Clark township: agricultural, residential, business and industrial districts named in the township ordinance.

  • Districts named in section 4.1: AG, RS resort, R-1 single family residential, R-2 rural residential, MH mobile home park, C commercial, M industrial, LM light industrial, SS shore strip.
  • The zoning map is part of the ordinance, but the map itself was not opened.

  “agricultural districts: • ag recreation, sylviculture and agriculture district residential districts: • rs resort district • r-1 single family residential district • r-2 rural residential district family • mh mobile home park district business districts: • c commercial district • m industrial district • lm light industrial district • ss shore strip district”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Occupancy of mobile or manufactured homes for habitation inside Clark township

  • Habitation is confined to mobile home parks or other designated districts.
  • The MH mobile home park district requires a minimum of five acres and access of at least 50 feet to a primary or major county street, state trunkline, or similarly adequate thoroughfare.

  minimum mobile home park district size: >= 5 acres

  “mobile homes used for habitation shall be confined to mobile home parks or other designated districts.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Dividing land inside Clark township into parcels (land divisions)

  • Land divisions must meet the state land division act and the ordinance standards in section 21.7, including access to a public right-of-way or dedicated easement.
  • Exemptions exist for recorded plats and certain exempt splits (section 21.4).

  “land in the township shall not be divided without the prior review and approval of the township assessor, or other official designated by the governing body, in accordance with this ordinance and the state land division act”

• Permit processPartial

  Land use permit process for construction inside Clark township

  • The zoning administrator reviews the application and site plan, then approves, approves with conditions, or denies.
  • Permit denial is written and lists violations and necessary changes.
  • Building permit steps beyond the land use permit are not described in the ordinance.

  “the zoning administrator shall send a written permit denial to the applicant which lists each violation of this ordinance and what changes would be necessary to obtain a permit”

Rules another office applies inside Clark Township

Clark 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)

  On-site sewage disposal in open space preservation developments inside Clark township (unincorporated township; county health department standards apply).

  • The quoted rule applies to open space preservation developments under section 12.2; it is not a general rule for every septic system.
  • Development under this option does not depend on public sewer or water; county health department standards apply to soils and groundwater.

  “county health department standards relating to the suitability of groundwater for on-site water supply and the suitability of soils for on-site sewage disposal shall apply.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a home built by the owner inside Clark township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Clark township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new homes inside Clark township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for a single-family home inside Clark township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the R-1 single family residential district inside Clark 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.