Marquette County, Michigan
Sands Township is a township in Marquette County, Michigan. Sands Township adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Sands Township’s rules apply, not the county’s. 11 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on November 11, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Marquette County page.
All land in Sands Township, Marquette County, MI
“sands township zoning ordinance sands township 987 s m-553 gwinn, mi 49841 marquette county adopted february 1995”
Zoning districts in Sands Township
“section 308 district r: residential 33 section 309 district rr: rural residential 34 section 310 district c: commercial 35 section 311 district fa: forestry and agriculture 37”
Single/two-family dwellings in Sands Township (all districts, except seasonal dwellings in FA)
minimum floor area: >= 720 sq ft (seasonal dwellings in the FA district)
“every single/two-family dwelling, excluding seasonal dwellings in the fa district, shall have a floor area of not less than 720 square feet, exclusive of unfinished basements, garages, porches, and breezeways. every unit in a multiple family dwelling shall have a minimum floor area of at least 350 square feet.”
R Residential and RR Rural Residential districts, Sands Township
minimum lot size: >= 30000 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 120 ft (waterfront development rules)
“r 30,000 120(c) 25(d) 10(f) 35 30(g) rr 30,000 120(c) 25(d) 10(f) 35 30(g)”
“fa 5 acres 300 25 20 35 30 i 1 acre 150(c) 30 (h),(i) 30 (h)”
R and RR districts, Sands Township
front setback: >= 25 ft · each side setback: >= 10 ft · rear setback: >= 35 ft
“r 30,000 120(c) 25(d) 10(f) 35 30(g) rr 30,000 120(c) 25(d) 10(f) 35 30(g)”
“fa 5 acres 300 25 20 35 30 i 1 acre 150(c) 30 (h),(i) 30 (h)”
All zoning districts in Sands Township
maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent
“section 403 maximum lot coverage ratio the maximum lot coverage ratio in all districts shall be 35 percent.”
FA Forestry and Agriculture district, Sands Township
maximum building height: <= 30 ft (see Section 409)
“fa 5 acres 300 25 20 35 30 i 1 acre 150(c) 30 (h),(i) 30 (h)”
Mobile homes and manufactured housing as single-family dwellings in R, RR and C districts, Sands Township
minimum exterior width: >= 20 ft
“a single-family dwelling, including mobile homes and manufactured housing, shall have a minimum exterior breadth/caliper/width of twenty (20) feet in the r, rr, and c districts.”
Zoning compliance permit for building/use in Sands Township (zoning only, not building code permits)
“it shall be unlawful to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any building or premises, or both, or part thereof hereafter created, erected, changed, converted, or wholly or partly altered, or enlarged in its use or structure until a zoning compliance permit shall have been issued therefore by the zoning administrator.”
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Sands Township or Marquette County directly.
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.
Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Sands Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Marquette County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Sands Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.
