Services
Every County service, one counter
Each service names the office that handles it, a direct phone line, and the fastest way to get it done. Buttons that reach a County system point at the County's real current endpoints.
Treasurer Buffy Jo Weldon · (231) 627-8821 · taxinfo@cheboygancounty.net
Taxes & payments
Look up a bill by parcel number, name, or address, and pay summer or winter property taxes online, by mail, or at the Treasurer's counter. The County collects delinquent taxes for every township and city in the county, so past-due bills, interest, and forfeiture questions land here too.
- Pay or look up a property-tax billBS&A Online, the County's current payment portal · 2.95% card fee or $2.95 e‑check, set by the processorPay online ↗
- Estimate property taxesState of Michigan property-tax estimatorEstimator ↗
- Behind on taxes? Start hereDelinquent-tax timeline, payment plans, and who to callGuide →
- Dog licensesSold through the Treasurer; current rabies certificate requiredDetails →
- Principal Residence ExemptionLower the school-tax share on the home you live inPRE info →
- Poverty exemptionProperty-tax relief for qualifying householdsHow to apply →
Online payment runs on the BS&A back end the County already pays for. The redesign frames that hand‑off inside the County's own page with the fee stated up front, so nobody is surprised when the address bar changes.
Equalization (231) 627-8810 · GIS (231) 627-8811 · gis@cheboygancounty.net
Property, parcels & maps
Ownership, assessed and taxable value, acreage, and zoning are public records. The County's parcel viewer answers most questions without a phone call. Maps are for planning; a survey governs exact boundaries.
- Open the parcel viewerThe County's live GIS: ownership, values, and map layersParcel viewer ↗
- Search recorded deeds & land recordsRegister of Deeds online search, with a free Property Activity Alert that emails you when anything is recorded on your parcelLand records ↗
- Property Transfer AffidavitFile with Equalization within 45 days of a transferForm →
- Combine or split a parcelApplication and review through EqualizationHow it works →
Building Official Matthew J. Cronk · (231) 627-8813 · Room 102 · Mon–Fri 8–12 & 1–4
Permits, building & zoning
Building Safety reviews plans, issues building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits, and schedules inspections. Zoning questions, the Master Plan, and land-use permits run through Planning & Zoning, Director Michael Turisk, (231) 627-8485. Earth work near lakes, rivers, and drains usually needs a soil-erosion permit first.
- Building permitNew construction, additions, decks, garages, and alterationsApplication →
- Electrical, mechanical & plumbing permitsTrade permits and the inspections that close them outApplications →
- Zoning permit & land useSetbacks, lot coverage, and what your district allowsZoning →
- Soil erosion & sedimentation permitRequired for most earth work near the waterWhen you need one →
- Special use & variancesPlanning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals processProcess →
- 2026 Master PlanThe County's land-use plan, with the public-comment recordRead the plan →
Today, County building permits are submitted in person, by mail, by email, or by fax. This prototype shows the destination: each application above becomes a screen‑reader‑friendly online form with status tracking, and the paper path stays open for residents who prefer it.
Clerk & Register of Deeds Karen Brewster · (231) 627-8808 · clerk@cheboygancounty.net
Records & licenses
The Clerk & Register of Deeds keeps the County's vital records and issues its licenses. Certified copies are available at the counter or by mail; bring photo ID.
- Birth & death certificatesCertified copies for events recorded in Cheboygan CountyRequest →
- Marriage licenseApply at the Clerk's counter; Michigan's three-day wait appliesApply →
- Concealed pistol license (CPL)Applications and renewals through the ClerkCPL info →
- Recording feesFee schedule for deeds, mortgages, and other instrumentsFee schedule →
County Clerk · (231) 627-8808
Elections & voting
The County Clerk administers elections together with the township and city clerks. Michigan's statewide primary is Tuesday, August 4, 2026, and the general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
- Register to vote, or check your registrationMichigan Voter Information CenterMVIC ↗
- Request an absentee ballotAvailable to every Michigan voter, no reason requiredHow to →
- Find your polling place & sample ballotLook up by address before election dayElections guide →
Mark the calendar
2026 election dates
Primary: Tuesday, August 4
General: Tuesday, November 3
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. statewide.
Veterans Services · (231) 627-8833
Veterans services
County Veterans Service Officers help veterans and their families file VA claims, obtain a certified copy of a DD‑214, and apply for emergency relief. The service is free, and an appointment puts a real person across the desk from you.
- VA claims & benefits helpDisability, pension, education, and survivor benefitsStart →
- Emergency relief for veteransShort-term help with housing, utilities, and necessitiesRelief fund →
County Marina · (231) 627-4944
Marina & recreation
The County Marina sits at the mouth of the Cheboygan River, the Lake Huron gateway to the 38‑mile Inland Waterway. Slips, a launch, and pump‑out service run mid‑April through late October, with the locks passing boats up to 60 feet.
- Reserve a slipSeasonal and transient moorage at the river mouthSlip application →
- Marina ratesCurrent seasonal, transient, and launch ratesRates →
- Trails, parks & the Waterway290+ miles of trails, three state parks, and elk country in Pigeon River Country State ForestRecreation guide →
Emergency Management · via the County Building, (231) 627-8855
Flood recovery
High water this spring damaged homes, docks, and shoreline across the county. Start with the damage self-report so the County can document impacts, then check the repair guidance before you rebuild. Repairs to flood-damaged structures often need a permit, and shoreline work usually needs a soil-erosion permit.
- Report flood damageSelf-reporting survey for residents and businessesReport →
- Repair & rebuilding guidanceWhat to check before you fix a flooded structureGuidance →
- Hazard Mitigation PlanThe County's plan for floods and other hazardsPlan →
- All flood noticesEvery active notice, in one placeNotices →
FOIA Coordinator: County Administrator Jeffery Lawson · (231) 627-8855
FOIA & public records
Most County records are public under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. The County responds within five business days, with one ten‑day extension allowed by statute. Many records, like board minutes, budgets, and recorded documents, are already published and free to download without a request.
- Submit a FOIA requestRequest form, addressed to the FOIA CoordinatorRequest form →
- FOIA procedures & feesThe County's written procedures and fee summaryProcedures →
- Work for the CountyCurrent openings and the employment applicationEmployment →