Where do I get a copy of my subdivision's covenants?

From the Clare County Register of Deeds office in Harrison, Michigan. Reference copies can be found on the Lake of the Pines website. The Rules & Regulations say covenants and deed restrictions are registered there for all lots within each subdivision, and that copies may be obtained from the Register of Deeds.

The Association office can also point you to the right document for your lot.

**Get the one for your subdivision.** There are nine sets of covenants, one for each platted subdivision, and they are not identical. Most provisions are the same across all nine, but some differ — including minimum house size and, in one subdivision, setbacks. Reading the wrong subdivision's covenant can give you the wrong number for your lot. If you are not certain which subdivision your lot is in, the office can confirm it.

**They apply whether or not you have read them.** The Rules & Regulations state that covenants run with the land, and are legally binding and enforceable on all property owners regardless of how ownership was acquired or how many times the property has changed hands.

**They are not the only rules.** The Rules & Regulations note that covenants are sometimes more restrictive than the applicable township zoning requirements, and that the township requirements also apply.

The Rules & Regulations give the same advice this article would: no building or development of a lot should be undertaken without first studying the applicable deed restrictions and consulting the Architectural Committee.

*Source: Rules & Regulations (7/12/2025), Covenants and Deed Restrictions.*