Deed Restriction Program
Note: Purchase is dependent on available funding.
What you need to know about deed restrictions:
Deed-restrictions can be used to preserve year-round housing in any community. Some deed restrictions are for affordability. A deed restriction is a provision in a deed that imposes a limitation, condition, or other restriction upon how the grantee may use the property being conveyed by the deed. The Housing North Deed restriction program is for year-round housing. The Deed Restriction can be specific to one parcel of property or can be common to all lots in a subdivision. They are a great tool for housing if the community has an interest in ensuring year-round housing in a community.
Housing North holds the deed restriction on the property and monitors them each year. We launched this program in the City of Charlevoix, but are hoping to expand it to other communities where there is interest. It can be used as a tool to ensure year-round housing and be part of a development plan and/or encourage new housing that is being built.
If you want to learn more about how this program can be implemented in your community, email yarrow@housingnorth.org.
Charlevoix County Deed Restriction Program
The City of Charlevoix has been proactively creating more housing opportunities with a focus on year-round housing and workforce housing. The Deed restriction program was initiated from discussions with the Charlevoix Housing and Business Park Initiative and the many partners working to address the need for year-round housing. The Program’s primary goal is to create more housing that will always be a primary residence. This will ensure that our important workforce can grow and remain in the community. The program will help balance the housing market that is faced with a growing percentage of the existing housing stock that are summer homes or vacation rentals. Currently, only 38% of homes in the City are principal residences.
The program was launched in April 2020
SEVEN Deed Restrictions are held by Housing North, three in 2020 and two in 2021 and two in 2023.
50% is a goal for the City of Charlevoix to reach for year-round housing. Currently they are at 38%
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Right now we are accepting donations of deed restrictions to a current or prospective property owner to voluntarily agree to require the residence to be inhabited only by year-round residents. This is a voluntary program and when there is a funding source, cash can be negotiated with each property owner and based on an assessment of the property.
As part of some programs in the City of Charlevoix, for any property owner of an existing home or apartments, the deed restriction program can provide cash in exchange for an agreement to always require the housing unit to be inhabited by year-round residents.
This cash can be used to purchase a property that will participate in this program or do improvements to an existing property. This program can provide much needed cash to do a renovation project, invest in an Accessory Dwelling Unit all with the goal to keep people in their homes.
To donate to this program, click here.
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The initial funds that created this program were private donations to a fund administered by the Charlevoix County Community Foundation. The stewardship of this program is managed by Housing North, a regional non-profit. Annual compliance requirements exist and are administered by the Charlevoix County Housing Ready Program Director under Housing North.
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Please contact Yarrow Brown, our Executive Director at yarrow@housingnorth.org. Housing North is proud and excited to be a partner in this groundbreaking program, the first of its kind in Michigan. You can also download the program brief here.