Zoning, building permits and septic rules in South Branch Township, Michigan
South Branch Township is a township in Crawford County, Michigan. South Branch Township adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits South Branch Township’s rules apply, not the county’s. 15 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 30, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Crawford County page.
Answers from the rulebook for South Branch Township
South Branch Township’s own rules
Local zoningPresent (with conditions)
Land and buildings inside South Branch township limits: the township administers its own zoning ordinance and zoning permit.
A zoning permit must be issued before erecting, structurally altering, reconstructing, using or moving a building, or starting excavation or filling.
No zoning permit is required for an accessory structure under 200 square feet, except in the stream corridor overlay.
A zoning permit requires a firewise audit (free township fire department service).
“no building or structure subject to the provisions of this ordinance shall hereafter be erected, structurally altered, reconstructed, used, or moved, nor shall any associated excavation or filling of land commence until a zoning permit application, including a firewise audit, has been filed with the township zoning administrator and a zoning permit has been issued by the zoning administrator”
Zoning districtsPublished
Zoning districts for land inside South Branch township
The 2018-amended ordinance lists districts RC, FF, LDR, MR, CB, I and SC; the 2026 ordinance was not opened and may change the list.
“low density residential district (ldr) mixed residential district (mr)”
Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)
Single-family dwelling in the Farm Forest (FF) district of South Branch township
Table values were read from the extracted text of the 2018-amended schedule of regulations; column alignment is garbled, so confirm against the current ordinance.
Lot in the Farm Forest (FF) district of South Branch township
Table values were read from the extracted text of the 2018-amended schedule of regulations; column alignment is garbled, so confirm against the current ordinance.
The 2026 ordinance was reported but not opened.
Minimum lot width is shown in the same row as 200 feet.
minimum lot area: >= 5 acres · minimum lot width: >= 200 feet
Temporary camping on private land inside South Branch township
Group camping of up to four tents or recreational vehicles for up to four consecutive nights is allowed in all districts on a parcel of at least one acre.
Longer camping with a recreational vehicle needs an annual long-term camping permit from the township.
minimum parcel size for group camping: >= 1 acres
“temporary group camping for up to four (4) tent or recreational vehicles for up to four (4) consecutive nights shall be an allowed use in all districts provided the parcel is a minimum of one (1) acre in size”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Establishing a plat or condominium subdivision inside South Branch township
The township fee schedule lists a public hearing fee for establishing a plat or condominium subdivision; the fee amount is in a garbled table cell and was not extracted.
The township menu lists a land division ordinance (2024), not opened.
“establishment of a plat, or condominium subdivision”
Permit feesPublished
Township zoning permit and zoning approval fees inside South Branch township
The schedule header shows est. 3/12/2008 and adpt. 6/14/2011; the upload is dated 2026/02 and was not confirmed as the current adopted schedule.
Table columns are garbled; the $100 figure is the first row in the residential zoning-administrator-approval line; verify with the township before relying on it.
Building permit fees are issued by Crawford County, not the township; not in this schedule.
Zoning permit application process inside South Branch township
Zoning permit requires a firewise audit (free township fire department service).
Zoning permit is void until required fees are paid.
Building permit is issued by Crawford County after the township zoning permit.
Septic, well and inspection steps are not covered by the township page.
“no zoning permit shall be valid until the required fees have been paid.”
Rules another office applies inside South Branch Township
South Branch 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 permitRequired
New, renovated, residential, commercial, agricultural and accessory buildings inside South Branch township; the building permit is issued by the Crawford County Building Department, after the township zoning permit.
A zoning permit must be obtained from the township first; the township does not issue a zoning permit until other statutory permits are obtained, except those issued by the Crawford County building department.
Construction may not start until the building permit is obtained.
“all buildings, new, renovation for commercial, residential, agriculture, and accessory buildings must obtain a building permit prior to starting construction.”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask South Branch Township or Crawford County directly.
Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permits for a home inside South Branch township
Building code adopted — Construction code applied to homes inside South Branch township
Inspections — Building inspections for new homes inside South Branch township
Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for a new home inside South Branch township
Tiny homes — Tiny home used as a dwelling inside South Branch township
11 more unanswered
Manufactured homes
Accessory dwellings
Septic permit
Septic inspection
Off-grid sanitation
Well permit
Mandatory utility hookup
Agricultural exemption
Driveway access
Building in a floodplain
Short-term rentals
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.
Unanswered questions are usually a sign that South Branch Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Crawford County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in South Branch Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
