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

Backus Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Backus Township, Roscommon County, MI

  • Enacted under the Township Rural Zoning Act (Act 184 of 1943); the township's site hosts the 2025 articles.

  “an ordinance enacted pursuant to the authority contained in act 184 of the public acts of michigan for 1943, as amended, known as the "township rural zoning act" for the establishment of zoning districts in the unincorporated portions of backus township”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Backus Township zoning districts R-1, R-2, R-3, PPRF, manufactured housing community, C, I, planned development

  • Schedule of regulations published as Table 4.1 in Article IV.

  “r-3 medium density residential 12,000 sf 80 2 35 25 10 40 na 25”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  All districts where residential uses are permitted, Backus Township

  • Applies unless otherwise specified in the ordinance.

  single family minimum floor area: >= 1000 sq ft · two-family minimum floor area per unit: >= 720 sq ft

  “single family two-family (b) 1,000 square feet 720 square feet, per unit”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  R-1 Rural Preservation district, Backus Township

  • Lots without public sewer or water (well and septic) need at least 1 acre, subject to Roscommon County health department requirements.

  minimum lot area: >= 5 acres · minimum lot width: >= 220 feet

  “r-1 rural preservation 5 acres 220 2 35 50 35 60 na 35”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — R-2 Low Density Residential district, Backus Township

    “r-2 low density residential 2 acres 200 2 35 35 25 60 na 25”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  R-1 and R-2 districts, Backus Township (principal structure)

  • Exceptions for chimneys, spires, antennae, institutional buildings; accessory building height 35 ft in R-1 and 25 ft in R-2 per table.

  maximum stories: <= 2 stories · maximum height: <= 35 feet

  “r-1 rural preservation 5 acres 220 2 35 50 35 60 na 35 r-2 low density residential 2 acres 200 2 35 35 25 60 na 25”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Backus Township
• Owner-builder exemption — Backus Township
• Building code adopted — Backus Township
• Inspections — Backus Township
• Certificate of occupancy — Backus 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.