County Zoning & Jurisdiction

COUNTY ZONING

Emmet County began administering a County Zoning Ordinance on October 30, 1972, following the completion of the first County Comprehensive Plan. As intended, Emmet County serves Township zoning functions through a County-wide Code, and few zoning actions are taken without consulting the Township community affected.

Advantages to County Zoning:

  • Convenience to Permit Applicants who must coordinate construction plans with the County Sanitary Code, the County Building Code, and the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance.
  • Full-time office hours to answer inquiries, take permit applications, disseminate planning-zoning information, and assist in filling out permits.
  • Administrative services pertinent to permit records, published legal notices, notifying property owners, minutes of meetings and the like.
  • Update work on the County Zoning Text effectively applies to all of the unincorporated areas that have County Zoning without the need to have such updates done township by township..
  • The County Zoning Ordinance is based on the adopted County Master Plan which effectively satisfies Enabling Statute directives to base zoning on a Plan.
  • Establishes uniform procedures and standards for zoning administration and enforcement throughout the County, and draws upon the legal services of the office of the County Civil Counsel.

JURISDICTION

Emmet County administers Zoning for the Townships of Bear Creek, Bliss, Carp Lake, Center, Cross Village, Friendship, Littlefield, Maple River, McKinley, Readmond, Springvale and Wawatam.

The Townships of Little Traverse, Pleasantview, Resort and West Traverse administer separate Zoning Ordinances, as well as all incorporated areas within Emmet County, which include the Villages of Alanson, Mackinaw City and Pellston, and the Cities of Harbor Springs and Petoskey.

To apply for a Zoning Permit in a Township under Emmet County Zoning jurisdiction, contact staff at the Emmet County Office of Planning and Zoning (see Hours and Location).

To apply for a Zoning Permit outside of Emmet County Zoning jurisdiction, contact the appropriate Township, Village or City. Contact list, click here

Contact Information

Little Traverse Township
Little Traverse Township Zoning Administrator
William Dohm
8288 Pleasantview Road
Harbor Springs, MI 49740
231-526-0351
http://www.harborinc.org/
Emmet County acts as Assistant Zoning Administrators to Little Traverse Township. Site Plan Review, Special Use Permits and Zoning Variances are reviewed through the Township Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. Residential permit applications are reviewed by the Emmet County Office of Planning, Zoning and Construction Resources. After plans have been approved, Zoning Permits are issued through Emmet County Zoning Office.

Pleasantview Township
Pleasantview Township Zoning Administrator
Jack Sommerville
2540 S. Pleasantview Road
Harbor Springs, MI 49740
231-526-2739
http://www.harborinc.org/pleasantview-township-15/

Resort Township
Resort Township Zoning Administrator
Larry Houghton
2232 Resort Pike Road
Petoskey, MI 49770
231-347-7915
www.resorttownship.org

West Traverse Township
West Traverse Township Zoning Administrator
Bob Sanford
8000 S. M-119
Harbor Springs, MI 49740
231-526-7361
http://www.harborinc.org/west-traverse-township-17/
Emmet County acts as Assistant Zoning Administrators to West Traverse Township. Site Plan Review, Special Use Permits and Zoning Variances are reviewed through the Township Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. Residential permit applications are reviewed by the Emmet County Office of Planning, Zoning and Construction Resources. After plans have been approved, Zoning Permits are issued through Emmet County Zoning Office.

Alanson
Village of Alanson Zoning Administrator
Lamar Eby  [email protected]
5421 Valley Road
Alanson, MI 49706
231-548-5269
www.villageofalanson.com

Mackinaw City
Village of Mackinaw City
Community Development Director
[email protected]
Mackinaw City, MI 49701
231-436-5351
fax: 231-436-4166
http://www.mackinawcity.org

Pellston
Village of Pellston Zoning Administrator
Jeffrey Drier
6301 Edgar Street
Pellston, MI 49769
231-539-8593
www.pellstonmi.com

Harbor Springs
City of Harbor Springs Zoning Administrators
Tim Grimm  [email protected]
City Hall
160 Zoll Street
Harbor Springs, MI 49740
231-526-2104  ext 122
http://www.harborinc.org/city-of-harbor-springs-11/

Petoskey
City of Petoskey
Zoning Administrator
Amy Tweeten
101 East Lake Street
Petoskey, MI 49770
231-347-2500
www.petoskey.us

Emmet County, Michigan
200 Division Street, Petoskey MI 49770
(231) 348-1700 | Contact Us