Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Greenwood Township, Michigan

Greenwood Township’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Greenwood Township, Clare County, Michigan.

  “Greenwood Township does not have zoning.”

Rules another office applies inside Greenwood Township

Greenwood Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Greenwood Township, which Clare County identifies as served by its building official.

  • Compliance is with the State of Michigan Construction Codes.

  “Responsible for administering the State of Michigan Construction Codes.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work covered by Clare County building permitting inside Greenwood Township.

  • The work must be inspected and approved before further work starts; separate trade permits and inspections may be required.

  “ALL PHASES OF THE CONSTRUCTION NEED AN INSPECTION”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  On-site sewage systems inside Greenwood Township, Clare County.

  • CMDHD serves Clare County.

  “Proudly serving Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Osceola, and Roscommon Counties”

• Septic permitRequired

  New-build sites using on-site septic inside Greenwood Township.

  • A septic permit is required before a building permit; vacant property must be marked or flagged before the site visit; a reserve area for replacement drainfield is required; no variations or deviations are allowed; applicable local codes must also be followed.

  “Proudly serving Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Osceola, and Roscommon Counties”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Construction of on-site septic systems inside Greenwood Township.

  • In rare circumstances, a contractor affidavit may approve construction without final inspection by a Sanitarian.

  “Proudly serving Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Osceola, and Roscommon Counties”

• Well permitRequired

  Private wells inside Greenwood Township.

  • For new-build sites, the health-department well permit is required before a building permit; construction before permit issuance violates the sanitary code; no variations or deviations are allowed. Irrigation wells of 75 gallons per minute or greater also require registration through EGLE's Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool.

  irrigation-well withdrawal capacity: >= 75 gallons/minute (Requires EGLE Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool registration in addition to CMDHD permit.)

  “Proudly serving Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Osceola, and Roscommon Counties”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Clare County building-permit applications for work inside Greenwood Township.

  • Separate applications may be necessary for soil erosion, zoning, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits.

  “TO PREVENT THE DELAY OF THE ISSUANCE OF THE PERMIT, PLEASE FILL OUT THE APPLICATION COMPLETELY. Separate applications may need to be completed for soil erosion, zoning, plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Greenwood Township or Clare County directly.

• Building permit — Residential construction inside Greenwood Township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Greenwood Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered buildings inside Greenwood Township.
• Mandatory utility hookup — New homes inside Greenwood Township.
• Agricultural exemption — Agricultural construction or uses inside Greenwood Township.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.