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

Rules another office applies inside Bismarck Township

Bismarck 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 code adoptedAdopted

  New construction and alterations inside Bismarck township; the Presque Isle County building department applies PA 230 and the Michigan Building Code

  • The county's building department issues permits 'in accordance with pa 230, the michigan building code, and the presque isle county ordinances' (county 2026 policy).
  • Bismarck township has no separately sourced building code of its own in this research.

  “no building permits shall be issued until all of the following items are submitted in accordance with pa 230, the michigan building code, and the presque isle county ordinances.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupancy of a new home or addition with well or septic work inside Bismarck township

  • Well final is required before a certificate of occupancy (county 2022 notice).
  • Septic approval must come before the building permit (county 2022 notice).

  “septic system approvals are needed before a building permit can be issued. well finals are required before a certificate of occupancy can be issued.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic systems for new and replacement homes and bedroom additions inside Bismarck township, in areas not served by municipal water and/or sewer

  • Applies only where the property is not served by municipal water and/or sewer, per the county's 2022 statement.
  • Septic approval is required before a building permit can be issued (county 2022 notice).

  “septic system/well permits for new and/or replacement homes, bedroom additions, and mobile homes, in areas not serviced by municipal water and/or sewers, are secured through the district #4 health department, 106 east huron avenue, rogers city (located in the presque isle county courthouse-annex), (989) 734-4723.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New single-family homes, premanufactured units and additions with bedrooms inside Bismarck township

  • Septic field evaluation and permit must be issued by District Health Department #4 before any building permit is issued (county 2026 policy).
  • The 2022 county notice also lists replacement homes and mobile homes, in areas not served by municipal water and/or sewer.
  • Municipal sewer connection, where available, may remove the septic permit requirement; availability inside Bismarck township was not verified.

  “1.1.4.4 any additions that include bedrooms, new single-family homes, or premanufactured units will require well and/or septic field evaluations and permits from district health department #4 prior to any permit issuance.”

• Well permitRequired

  New single-family homes, premanufactured units and additions with bedrooms inside Bismarck township

  • Well and/or septic field evaluations and permits must issue before any building permit (county 2026 policy).
  • Well final is required before a certificate of occupancy (county 2022 notice).
  • Applies in areas without municipal water (2022 notice).

  “1.1.4.4 any additions that include bedrooms, new single-family homes, or premanufactured units will require well and/or septic field evaluations and permits from district health department #4 prior to any permit issuance.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building and zoning permit process for construction inside Bismarck township

  • Zoning approval comes before the building permit (section 1.1.4.2).
  • Well and septic evaluations must be issued before a building permit for listed building types (section 1.1.4.4).
  • Fee schedule not located.

  “1.1.4.2 expansion of the footprint of a building will require zoning approval and a zoning or special use permit issued prior to the issuance of a building permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from licensing or permits for work inside Bismarck township
• Local zoning — Whether Bismarck township itself adopted and administers a zoning ordinance for land inside its limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts applicable to land inside Bismarck township under county zoning
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum ground floor area per dwelling for R-1 and AR districts under county zoning inside Bismarck township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size for main single-family residential district (R-1) and agricultural resource district (AR) under county zoning, applied inside Bismarck 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.