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

Bergland Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New building construction and additions, decks, docks, storage buildings and roof replacements in Bergland township

  • Zoning compliance is reviewed at the time of building permit application.
  • Other state, health department and county road commission permits may also be required.

  “permits are required in bergland township for work including, but not limited to, new building construction and additions, decks, docks, storage buildings, and roof replacements.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Single-family dwellings built inside Bergland township

  • The ordinance refers to compliance with the township building code; the code edition and the adopting instrument were not identified.
  • State construction code requirements may also apply and were not checked here.

  “it has a minimum width across any front, side or rear elevation of 20 feet and complies in all respects with the township building code”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in the unincorporated portions of Bergland township, Ontonagon County, MI, as covered by the township zoning ordinance

  • Township-adopted zoning ordinance, adopted April 17, 2008, effective April 28, 2008, amended October 16, 2025 (copy opened: BTZO-2025-Amended.pdf).
  • The township planning page also lists a zoning ordinance dated 5/21/2026, which was not opened; these claims rest on the 2025 amended text and may be superseded.
  • The ordinance title limits its scope to the unincorporated portions of Bergland township; section 20.904 says land not specifically zoned is designated agricultural (AG).

  “an ordinance enacted pursuant to the authority contained in the zoning enabling act mcl 125.3208, as amended, for the establishment of zoning districts in the unincorporated portions of bergland township”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Bergland township's zoning districts (AG agricultural, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, commercial, industrial and lake districts) as set by the township ordinance

  • The district list appears in the ordinance index and articles II-VI; the official zoning map (2025 overall map) was not opened.
  • Land not specifically zoned is designated agricultural.

  “all land contained within the township of bergland which is not specifically zoned by this ordinance is hereby designated as an agricultural district.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Buildings in the AG agricultural district of Bergland township

  • Street setback may be reduced to the average of built-up residential frontage (not more than 25 feet) where 25% or more of the frontage on one side of a street between two intersecting streets was built up at passage of the ordinance.
  • Section 20.601 covers the AG district together with R-1 to R-4 and C-1; private garages may be erected not less than 3 ft from the interior side line if at least 60 ft from the front street line (per 20.601).

  street right-of-way setback: >= 25 ft (average built-up frontage setback, not more than 25 ft, applies where 25% or more of frontage on one side of the street is built up) · rear setback: >= 5 ft (as stated in section 20.601; quoted as written)

  “there shall be a setback from all street right-of-way lines of not less than 25 feet for all buildings”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Buildings in the R-1 residence district of Bergland township (single-family residential)

    “there shall be a setback from all street right-of-way lines of not less than 25 feet for all buildings”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Recreational vehicles used as a dwelling on private land in Bergland township

  • Travel trailers or automobile trailers may be used as temporary dwellings only on premises with running water and sewage facilities.
  • Occupancy is also allowed inside duly licensed travel trailer camps under their own requirements.

  temporary dwelling period: <= 21 days per year (premises must have running water and sewage facilities; licensed travel trailer camps excepted)

  “recreational vehicles, tents, travel trailers and/or automobile trailers shall not be used for dwelling purposes within the township limits; provided, however, that travel trailers or automobile trailers may be used for temporary dwellings for a total period of not more than 21 days in any one year when located upon premises having running water and sewage facilities”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Tent and RV camping on private land in Bergland township

  • Tents, recreational vehicles and travel trailers may not be used for dwelling purposes except as stated in the temporary-dwelling exception (21 days per year on premises with water and sewage) or in licensed travel trailer camps.
  • Parking and storage location rules apply under section 20.1202 (rear of lot in R-1 to R-4 and lake districts).

  “recreational vehicles, tents, travel trailers and/or automobile trailers shall not be used for dwelling purposes within the township limits”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile and manufactured homes used as dwellings in Bergland township

  • Mobile homes not conforming to section 20.209 may be used for dwelling only in a mobile home park or mobile home plat zoned for such use, or as temporary residence.
  • Temporary residence by variance from the zoning board of appeals is limited to one year (renewable for one more year on showing of substantial progress).

  “mobile homes which do not conform to the standards of section 20.209 of this ordinance shall not be used for dwelling purposes within the township unless located within a mobile home park or a mobile home plat zoned for such uses, or unless used for temporary residence purposes as hereinafter provided.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Outside toilets and privies on private land in Bergland township

  • Outside toilets are allowed only as temporary construction facilities or as otherwise authorized by applicable Michigan public health laws and regulations.
  • Outside toilets are not allowed where sewer service is available.

  “no outside toilets shall hereafter be erected except such as may temporarily be needed during construction on the premises, or as otherwise authorized by applicable michigan public health laws and regulations”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New dwellings in Bergland township, with respect to connection to water and sewer service

  • Water and sewage facilities are required only where such services are available.
  • Outside toilets are barred where sewer service is available (section 20.1502).

  “every structure hereafter erected for dwelling purposes shall be provided with running water, adequate inside water closet accommodations and sewage facilities, where such services are available, with the exception of hunting camps”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit fees in Bergland township

  • The township lists a permit fee schedule dated 2021; the schedule PDF itself was not opened, and it may be superseded.
  • Fee amounts were not verified.

  “zoning compliance will be reviewed at the time of building permit application. permit fee schedule 2021 (pdf)”

• Permit processPartial

  Building permit application process in Bergland township

  • Application forms for new homes and for garages, decks, docks, roofs and storage buildings are posted; the process steps are not described on the page.
  • Contact the building inspector and zoning administrator for more information.

  “contact roman tauer, building inspector and zoning administrator, for more information at (906) 932-2226 or (906) 364-9645.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction in Bergland township
• Inspections — Inspections for construction in Bergland township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings in Bergland township
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage limits in Bergland township
• Building height — Building height limits in Bergland township districts

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.