Acme Township
​Frequently Asked Questions

PERMITTING AND LAND USE:
When is a land use permit required?
  • For any structure over 100 SF – including sheds, decks, porches
  • No land use permit is required for patios that are to grade
  • Acme does not require a permit for fences
  • For any change in use to a property – residential or commercial
​What else requires a permit?
  • Signage – permanent and temporary ($50 for permanent signs; $20 for temporary)
  • Special Events
  • Mobile Food Vending
  • These permit forms can be found here. 

Where can I find the application and what is the cost?
  • A copy of the residential application for residential use can be found here.
  • The cost is $50 for an addition or accessory structure & $75 for a new single-family home.
  • A copy of the commercial application for commercial use can be found here.
  • The cost is $150 first 1000 SF plus $25 per additional 1000 SF.
  • Each stand-alone structure requires a separate permit (example: new home and detached garage).
  • PLEASE SUBMIT ALL REQUIRED ITEMS FROM THE CHECK LIST ON THE APPLICATION AT ONE TIME FOR A COMPLETE PACKET – INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL BE RETURNED TO APPLICANT.
  • Applications can be mailed, delivered, or emailed to [email protected] & [email protected] 

​What can I do on my property?
  • A copy of the list of uses for the zoning districts can be found here.
  • More specific information can be found in the zoning ordinance.

What are my setbacks? Where can I place an accessory structure? 
  • Setbacks are specific to the zoning district your parcel is within. The zoning map can be found here.
  • Setbacks for each zoning district can be found by clicking on the district below:
  1. AG: Agricultural 
  2. SFR: Single Family Rural
  3. SFN: Single Family Neighborhood
  4. MHN: Mixed Housing Neighborhood
  5. RMH: Manufactured Housing 
  6. CS: Corridor Shoreline
  7. C: Corridor Commercial
  8. CF: Corridor Flexible
  9. LIW: Light Industrial and Warehouse
  • If your property lies within a site condominium the master deed will disclose any specific setbacks (examples: Windward Ridge, Lochenheath, Arrowhead Estates)
Additional Rules for an Accessory Building: 
5.15 ACCESSORY BUILDINGS
A. Authorized accessory buildings may be erected as part of the principal building or may be connected to it by a roofed-over porch, patio, breezeway, or similar structure, or they may be completely detached.
B. If attached to the principal building, an accessory building shall be made structurally a part of it, and shall comply in all respects with the requirements applicable to the principal building under this Ordinance.
C. An accessory building not attached and not made a part of the principal building shall be subject to the standards applicable for accessory buildings in Article 3.
D. Accessory buildings shall be on the same lot as the principal building they are intended to serve.
E. No person shall place or cause to be placed or use or permit the use of any shipping container as an accessory building, storage building, or living unit within the Township. Licensed and bonded contractors may use shipping containers for temporary housing of equipment and materials during construction as authorized by a land use permit issued by the Township, subject to the standards for Temporary Buildings for Construction in Article 5.

What are Acme’s fence regulations?
5.27 FENCES All fences, walls or structural screens, other than plant material, in the residential zoning districts shall meet the following standards:
A. Side and rear yard height limited to seven (7) feet.
B. Front yard height limited to four (4) feet.
C. Not be constructed in the clear vision area.
D. The finished side of the fence shall face out away from the property.
E. Be entirely erected on the owner’s property and maintained in good repair and safe condition.
F. Electric fences, barbed wire, or similar style fences shall be prohibited on any lot that is not involved in a qualified farm operation.
*No permit required 
​
Can I have more than one dwelling on a parcel?
No
 
Can I build a pole barn without a house on a parcel?
No

5.31 RIGHT TO FARM ACT This Ordinance is not intended to extend or revise in any manner the provisions of the Right to Farm Act, MCL 286.471, et seq, or the Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices developed under the Right to Farm Act (“GAAMPs”). To the extent that a requirement or requirements of this Ordinance is preempted by the Right to Farm Act, or the landowner is otherwise entitled to protection or an exemption due to the landowner’s compliance with GAAMPs, the requirement or requirements in question shall not apply to the landowner. A landowner may request pre-certification of a particular use of property as consistent with GAAMPs from the Zoning Administrator through a written request for precertification and providing information sufficient to establish compliance with the Right to Farm Act or a GAAMP. 
 
How many acres do I need to have a horse in a residential district?
5.22 RIDING HORSES Keeping of riding horses for the use of residents of the property shall be permitted in any zoning district provided the parcel of land shall contain not less than two (2) acres in non-Agricultural zoning districts.

LAND DIVISION:
​Can I create a parcel smaller than 5 acres in the agricultural district?
No

How many splits can I have on my property?
  • Contact the township assessor, Dawn Kuhns: [email protected]
  • Proposed parcels must not exceed a width to depth ratio of 3:1 for anything under an acre and 4:1 for anything over an acre.
  • A surveyor will help you meet the township’s land division ordinance requirements.
  • PLEASE SUBMIT ALL REQUIRED ITEMS WITHIN THE APPLICATION AT ONE TIME FOR A COMPLETE PACKET – INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL BE RETURNED TO APPLICANT. The application can be found here. 

​How is minimum lot area determined? 
LOT AREA, NET: The total horizontal area within the lot lines of the lot, exclusive of any abutting public street right-of-way or private road easements, or the area of any lake or river. The net lot area shall be used in determining compliance with minimum lot area standards.

Where can I get a copy of a survey for my property?
Please contact the Grand Traverse County Register of Deeds.

​Who do I contact if I want to modify or abandon an easement?
Contact your attorney and a surveyor to modify an easement and an attorney to see if abandoning an existing easement is possible. The township does not get involved in these matters.

Where does a current easement exist? 
For any easement that has legally been recorded contact the Grand Traverse County Register of Deeds. 

SHORT-TERM RENTALS:
Can I have a short-term rental on my property (STR)? How many licenses are available?
Short-Term Rental: The commercial use of renting a dwelling unit, or portion thereof, for a period of time less than thirty-one (31) consecutive calendar days.
There are two types of short-term rental licenses in Acme Township – a tourist home and a vacation home. The zoning district will determine which license you are eligible for.
Tourist Home: A short-term rental operation in which a portion of a dwelling unit is rented out where the owner of the property resides full-time in the dwelling unit and is primarily present at the time of occupation.  
Vacation Home: A short-term rental operation in which the entire dwelling unit is rented out without the property owner residing at the dwelling unit at the time of occupation. 
Tourist Homes are allowed in all districts with a license. 
Vacation Homes are only allowed in the Agricultural District and in some EXISTING single-family homes within the Commercial and Corridor Flex Districts.
A copy of the zoning map can be found here.
Grand Traverse County’s mapping website can help you determine where the property falls within the township: http://maps.grandtraverse.org/
  • Acme allows for 50 of each license – there are many available licenses.
  • The cost is $100 for a tourist home & $300 for a vacation home.
  • Licenses are valid for the calendar year. Renewal notices are sent out in the month of September as a reminder to renew before the October 31st deadline.

​OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST:
Does the township have any involvement in an HOA?
No, the township does not enforce any HOA rules or master deed restrictions.
 
What is the township’s stance on adult use marihuana and medical marihuana?
  • The township board has opted out of adult use and does not wish to further any discussions at this time. 
  • The township has opted in for medical marihuana.
 
Does the township have any authority over public roads?
No. Please contact the Grand Traverse County Road Commission.
 
When are public meetings held?
  • The Township Board meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month.
  • The Planning Commission meets on the 2nd Monday of the month. The current schedule can be found here.
  • Meetings are held on these dates unless otherwise noted on the calendar found on the homepage of the website.
 
When do my materials need to be submitted to attend a Planning Commission meeting?
  • At least 3 weeks prior to the scheduled meeting for a use by right.
  • At least 1 month prior to the scheduled meeting for a special use.
  • The cost to attend can be found on the schedule of fees here.