Natural Resources>Activities Requiring Permits

Certain Activities Impacting Natural Resources Require Permits

Soil Erosion Control - Any earth change within 500 feet of any lake or stream or which distrubs one acre or more regardless of its proximity to water requires Soil Erosion and sedimentation Control Permit from ther Leelanau Consrvation District.

Lake Michigan - Any change activity which takes place below the Ordinary High Water Mark on the Great Lakes may require a permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers and/or the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. A joint application may be filed.

Building Construction or Alteration - Every project requires a permit from the Leelanau County Inspections Department. The only exception is the construction of one accessory building up to a maximum of 200 square feet.

Inland Lakes - A permit from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is required to:

Dredge or fill bottomland.
Construct, alter, or remove a structure (e.g.dock or boathouse) on bottomland.
Erect, maintain, or operate a marina.
Create, enlatge, or diminish an inland lake or stream.
Structurally interfere with the natural flow of an inland lake or stream.
Construct or alter any channel connecting to an inland lake or stream.
Construct any channel connecting an inland lake or stream with another body of water for the purpose of navigation.

Wetlands - A permit from the michigan Department of Environmental Quality is required to:

Deposit or place fill in a wetland.
Dredge or remove soil or minerals from a wetland. Removal of tree roots or stumps is included in this requirement.
Any construction (e.g. - buildings or walkways).
Drain surface water from a wetland.

Sanitary Waste Disposal (Septic Systems) - The Installation or alteration of a sanitary waste disposal system requires a permit from the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department. For facilities serving more than one residential unit or for non-residential waste, a permit must be obtained from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

Click here to learn more: Leelanau Conservation District