How does Michigan's bottomlands rule affect buying lakefront property in West Michigan?
Under Michigan's bottomlands doctrine, a lakefront owner holds title only to the ordinary high-water mark; the lakebed below is owned by the state in public trust, which means EGLE permits are required for docks, seawalls, dredging, and boat hoists.
Michigan's bottomlands doctrine, anchored in state common law and codified through the Great Lakes Submerged Lands Act and EGLE regulations, holds that the lakebed below the ordinary high-water mark belongs to the state in public trust. Lakefront owners on Reeds Lake, Bostwick Lake, Lincoln Lake, Murray Lake, Wabasis Lake, Big Pine Island Lake, Lake Bella Vista, and Lake Michigan itself hold title only down to the ordinary high-water mark, not to the lake bottom. The practical impact for buyers is permit requirements. Adding a dock, replacing a seawall, dredging a swim area, installing a boat hoist, or building a marine railway all require EGLE authorization and, in some cases, township or county sign-off as well. Permit costs run $50 to $1,000+ depending on the structure, and major projects can take 6 to 12 months for approval.
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