City Home Rules

Selling a house in Long Lake Township, MI: what the city requires

Grand Traverse County, Michigan · Last checked November 2026

Required at sale

Long Lake Township requires a septic system inspection report to be filed with the township, and given to the buyer, before a property is sold.

What Long Lake Township requires

Septic inspection at time of property transfer

Who does it
Certified inspector or the Grand Traverse County Health Department.
What is checked
On-site sewage disposal system.
Valid for
Exempt if the system was installed or passed inspection within the previous 36 months.

Housing in Long Lake Township

Median year homes were built
1994
Median home value
$410,600
Owner-occupied homes
3,456 of 3,889 (89%)
Total housing units
4,240

With a median build year of 1994, many septic systems and wells here are decades old. Pumping and inspecting before you list avoids surprises.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for Long Lake township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan.

Need this done in Long Lake Township?

Get quotes from a local certified septic and well evaluator, help with repairs, or a cash offer to sell as-is. We pass your request to independent local providers. Free, no obligation.

What do you need?

How the michigan time of transfer evaluation process works

Michigan has no statewide rule, but several county health departments and townships require the private well and septic system to be evaluated before a property is sold. The written results go to the buyer, and failing systems must be corrected or the correction assured.

  1. Check whether the property is on a private well or septic system. Homes on public water and sewer are not affected.
  2. Apply to the local health department, or hire an evaluator it has certified. Some townships only accept the health department itself.
  3. Pump the septic tank if the rule requires it. Some codes require pumping within the last 2 or 5 years.
  4. Give the written evaluation to the buyer before closing. If the system fails, agree on who will repair it and when.
Typical cost ranges (estimates, not quotes)
ItemTypical range
Septic and well evaluation$300 to $700
Septic tank pumping$300 to $600
Drain field replacement$8,000 to $25,000 or more

Read the full michigan time of transfer evaluation guide

Other towns with the same requirement: Septic and well inspection

If the house fails

You can repair before closing, use an escrow or extension where the city allows it, let the buyer assume the work for a credit, or sell as-is. Compare the options.

Frequently asked questions

What does Long Lake Township require before I sell my house?

Long Lake Township requires a septic system inspection report to be filed with the township, and given to the buyer, before a property is sold.

How long is it valid?

Exempt if the system was installed or passed inspection within the previous 36 months.

What if my house fails?

You can make the repairs before closing, negotiate a credit with the buyer, or sell as-is to a buyer who will handle the work. Ask the municipality whether it allows a buyer to assume the work or an escrow.

Who pays, the buyer or the seller?

The ordinance usually makes the seller responsible for ordering it, but who pays for repairs is negotiable in the purchase agreement.

How old are the homes in Long Lake Township?

The median home in Long Lake Township was built in 1994, and the median home value is $410,600, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.

Nearby: Northern Michigan

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Sources

Last checked November 2026. Rules and fees change by ordinance and resolution. Confirm with the municipality before you list. See something out of date? Report a change.