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

Rules another office applies inside Sunfield Township

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

• InspectionsLimited

  Construction-code work inside Sunfield Township administered by Eaton County.

  • The source describes the county department's inspection responsibility but does not identify inspection stages or every project type.

  “The Eaton County Department of Construction Codes enforces the building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing codes in the following Governmental subdivisions:”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Certificates of occupancy for development governed by the Eaton Area Joint Zoning Ordinance in unincorporated Sunfield Township.

  • Requirements of the zoning ordinance, State Construction Code, and any applicable conditional-use, PUD, or site-plan conditions must be satisfied.

  “Certificates of Occupancy shall be issued in accordance with the State Construction Code. No Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued unless the requirements of this Ordinance, the State Construction Code, and any conditions of approval associated with a Conditional Use Permit, Planned Unit Development, or Site Plan Approval have been satisfied.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land in unincorporated Sunfield Township, Eaton County, Michigan; the Village of Sunfield is excluded.

  • The ordinance applies within participating municipalities but outside incorporated cities and villages and municipalities with their own zoning ordinances.

  “The Eaton Area Joint Planning Commission is an intergovernmental planning agency established pursuant to the Michigan Joint Municipal Planning Act by agreement among seven participating townships within Eaton County, Michigan. Bellevue Township | Brookfield Township | Chester Township| Kalamo Township | Sunfield Township | Vermontville Township | Walton Township”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Unincorporated Sunfield Township covered by the Eaton Area Joint Zoning Ordinance.

  • District boundaries are established by the official zoning map.

  “SECTION 7.7 SITE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR PRINCIPAL BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES – TABLE A”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lots and structures created after the ordinance effective date in unincorporated Sunfield Township.

  • The standards vary by agricultural/resource-conservation, residential, commercial, and industrial categories.

  “7.7.2 Minimum Lot Area in Sq. Ft. 36,300 36,300 30,000 (a) 20,000 (a,h) 15,000 (a,b,h)”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal buildings and structures in unincorporated Sunfield Township.

  • The current ordinance uses district-specific Table A site-development standards.

  “7.7.6 Maximum Lot Coverage 20% 20% 25% (a) 25% (b) 25% 30% 50% 50%”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Residence in a travel trailer or motor home while constructing a site-built single-family dwelling in unincorporated Sunfield Township.

  • The Zoning Administrator may grant 30-day permits; occupancy requires active construction, compliance with public-health and construction codes, and may not exceed 360 consecutive or nonconsecutive days.

  maximum temporary occupancy: <= 360 days (during construction of the dwelling)

  “The Zoning Administrator may grant thirty (30) day permits to reside in a temporary dwelling such as a travel trailer, motor home, cellar, garage, barn, or accessory structure when the occupant is actively constructing a site-built single family dwelling, provided that the temporary accommodations meet requirements of public health code and construction code. These permits shall not exceed three-hundred-sixty (360) consecutive or nonconsecutive days during the construction of the dwelling.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Manufactured homes in unincorporated Sunfield Township.

  • The ordinance contains a manufactured-home article; a manufactured-home zoning referral must comply with Development Permit and Article 7 requirements.

  “The application for a Manufactured Home Permit (Zoning Referral) shall be in compliance with requirements for a Development Permit pursuant to Section 3.5.2 and Article 7 of this Ordinance.”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  On-site sewage systems in Sunfield Township, Eaton County.

  • Applies to parcels using on-site sewage rather than municipal wastewater service.

  “Before a resident installs a sewage system, BEDHD must evaluate the site and issue a permit, as well as do a final review once the system is installed.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation of an on-site sewage system in Sunfield Township.

  • BEDHD must evaluate the site; authorization follows a submitted application and payment of the appropriate fee.

  “If the results of the site evaluation allow for the parcel to be developed, the next step in the process is to apply for a sewage system permit. Once the application has been submitted and the appropriate fee is paid, the system’s construction can be authorized by one of our sanitarians.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Newly installed on-site sewage systems in Sunfield Township.

  • Final inspection occurs after BEDHD is notified that the system is complete; it must receive final approval before being covered.

  “Final inspections are performed on newly installed systems after BEDHD is notified by the owner or contractor that the sewage system has been completed. A sanitarian will visit the site and inspect the system, ensuring that it was installed according to the requirements that were indicated on the permit.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  On-site sewage systems where municipal wastewater service is not available in Sunfield Township.

  • BEDHD evaluates site conditions and must issue a sewage-system permit before construction is authorized.

  “A site evaluation (previously called "perk test") is the first step in the process of determining if an existing or proposed land parcel that does not have municipal wastewater services (city sewer) available can be considered for an on-site sewage system.”

• Well permitRequired

  Installation of an on-site well in Sunfield Township.

  • BEDHD must evaluate the site and issue a permit; the applicant submits an application and pays the fee before site-specific issuance.

  “Before a resident or business installs a well, BEDHD must evaluate the site and issue a permit, as well as do a final review once the well is installed.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions and private-road subdivisions inside Sunfield Township.

  • Private-road land divisions require submission of an Eaton County Private Road Application before proceeding; township approval is required for each newly created parcel.

  “If the land division includes a private road for access to the new parcels, an Eaton County Private Road Application must be submitted to the Community Development Department for review and approval prior to proceeding.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New or rehabilitated driveways for development permits in unincorporated Sunfield Township.

  • Documentation is required from the County Road Commission or MDOT where applicable.

  “For new or rehabilitated driveways, documentation of an approved driveway permit from the County Road Commission or the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), where applicable.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Construction permit applications administered by Eaton County in Sunfield Township.

  • The department announced selected fee changes effective October 1, 2026; online card payments also carry a $4.57 or 3.18 percent service fee, whichever is greater.

  credit-card service fee: >= 4.57 USD (or 3.18 percent, whichever is greater)

  “Please note, there is a credit card service fee of $4.57 or 3.18% whichever is greater; the service fee is charged by the credit card processing company.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Homeowner construction permit applications administered by Eaton County in Sunfield Township.

  • Applications are accepted through BS&A Online; payments by card are made after staff review.

  “We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting all permit applications through BS&A Online. Please click the following link to begin the application process: BS&A Online Permit Application”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Residential building work inside Sunfield Township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Sunfield Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Principal dwellings in unincorporated Sunfield Township.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in unincorporated Sunfield Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy in unincorporated Sunfield 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.