A Grand Place to Build
Our March theme is “A Grand Place to Build.” Grand Traverse County is a fantastic place to build, offering a stunning natural landscape, a thriving economy, and a supportive community. Whether you're constructing a home, a business, or a development project, the county provides a welcoming environment with streamlined processes to make building as smooth as possible. The County is continuously working to improve permitting efficiency and offer resources to help residents and builders navigate regulations with ease. With a focus on responsible growth and accessibility, Grand Traverse County is making it easier than ever to bring new projects to life.
EPIC-GT Self Service Portal:
EPIC-GT is Grand Traverse County's Electronic Permitting and Inspections Center. Residents and builders must access this self-service portal for permitting and inspection needs. We developed the portal to streamline communications for users, make applying for permits and inspections easy and to aid in speeding up the approvals process.
Learning how to use the self service portal is critical as we move forward with moving all permitting processes online. In the future we will be sunsetting the majority of all paper applications.
Learn about applying for permits here.
Frost Law:
In Michigan, frost laws are seasonal weight restrictions placed on roads to prevent damage during the spring thaw when pavement is most vulnerable. These restrictions typically begin in late winter and are gradually lifted as temperatures rise and the ground stabilizes. The lifting of frost laws allows heavier loads to resume normal travel, benefiting industries like construction, agriculture, and trucking. The exact timing varies by region, depending on weather conditions and roadbed stability, with updates provided by the Michigan Department of Transportation and local road agencies.
The Grand Traverse Road Commission maintains a page that informs the public on when weight restrictions are in effect. You can check on updates here.
Zoning Atlas Project: Coming Soon!
Grand Traverse County will be the first in Northwest Michigan to pilot a groundbreaking zoning atlas and growth corridor project, an initiative led by
Housing North. Addressing the challenge of creating vibrant, affordable, welcoming, and sustainable communities has been at the core of Housing North’s mission, making this project a significant step forward. Housing North is partnering with the Grand Traverse County Economic Development Corporation, Flywheel Companies, University of Michigan and Michigan Association of Planning to bring this tool to Grand Traverse County.
The final products will include a database and interactive map of all the housing-related zoning codes in the county. The value of this resource will be a shared understanding among residents, policy makers, lenders, developers, and nonprofits of exactly what types of housing, including single family, multifamily, and mixed-used development can be built by right throughout the county.
Upcoming Spring Cleaning Events
Spring is just around the corner and our Resource Recovery Department is here to help you with your Spring cleaning. Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
Household Hazardous Waste & Pesticide Collection (Grand Traverse County Residents Only): Thursday, April 10 from 1pm - 6pm. Sign up opens March 10!
Brush Drop-Off: The brush site will open for the 2025 season in early to mid April depending on weather. The site will be closed if there is 4 or more inches of snow on the ground. Be aware that the conditions at the site can be difficult for non all-wheel drive vehicles when there is any standing water.
Learn more about Grand Traverse County’s Resource Recovery Program, Recycle Smart, here.
Recess Event on March 12th
Recess is an afterwork networking event for business professionals in Grand Traverse County. Recess 2025 is brought to you by us. Our theme this year is “Grand Traverse County: A grand place to live, work and play.” At each Recess we will be delivering Public Service Announcements relevant to what’s going on in the county that month.
In March our mini theme is “A Grand Place to Build” and county admin and Lauren Tucker, Executive Director from the Homebuilders Association will be delivering messaging on building in Grand Traverse County and how they are making strides to improve the process.
Recess will be at the Short’s Pull Barn in Elk Rapids on March 12th from 5pm-7pm with a $10 cover charge. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, beverages and prizes while mingling with your peers and friends!