Building permits, zoning and land rules in St. Ignace, Michigan

At a glance

Building permits

City Building Department; ask which building permit your project needs¹

Zoning

City zoning applies; uses and dimensions depend on district⁵⁶

Septic permits

LMAS permit and site evaluation required for new or modified systems⁷

RV recreation

Existing primary dwelling and owner permission; 30 consecutive days, 60 days per year⁴

RV during construction

Active permitted dwelling construction; inspection and temporary exemption permit; 12 months unless extended⁸

Residential lot size

R-1: 80-foot frontage; area depends on public sewer and water⁹

Owner-builder

Michigan licensing exemption for own property, use and occupancy; other requirements still apply¹⁰

Who to call

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in St. Ignace, MI?

St. Ignace’s Building Department says many home improvement projects require a building permit and directs owners to check requirements before additions or improvements.¹ Contact the city Building Department for the building-permit decision on your proposed home, addition or renovation.¹ St. Ignace building-permit fees are established by City Council resolution; ask the Building Department for the current fee for your project.¹¹¹ Michigan’s owner-builder licensing exemption covers a residential structure on the owner’s property for the owner’s own use and occupancy, but does not remove building-permit, inspection, code or zoning requirements.¹⁰

Who handles building permits and zoning approval in St. Ignace?

The city Building Inspector handles local building-code, ordinance and construction compliance; the city Zoning Administrator issues zoning permits and monitors code enforcement.¹² These are separate questions to resolve with the city before work begins, while septic construction permits come from LMAS.¹²⁷ St. Ignace encourages a conceptual review meeting with the Zoning Administrator or Building Inspector, starting with a general development idea and location.² Submit city zoning-permit applications in person at City Hall or by email to the address listed above.²

Does St. Ignace have zoning, lot-size rules and setbacks?

St. Ignace has city zoning, with permitted uses and dimensions varying by district.⁵⁶ In the R-1 residential district, lots need at least 80 feet of frontage and 10,400 square feet when both public sewer and water are provided, 11,200 square feet with either service, or 12,000 square feet with neither.⁹ R-1 building coverage cannot exceed 35 percent of total lot area, and buildings cannot exceed 35 feet in height.¹²¹³ Ask city Planning and Zoning to identify the parcel’s district and applicable setbacks before choosing a house footprint.² The R-1 dimensions are district rules, rather than citywide standards for every parcel.⁹⁶

How do septic permits work inside St. Ignace?

LMAS District Health Department administers onsite sewage systems throughout Mackinac County, including incorporated St. Ignace.³ In St. Ignace’s R-1 district, a dwelling’s bathroom must connect to public sewer when available; a suitable septic tank is an option when public sewer is unavailable.¹⁴ LMAS requires a permit for septic construction, alteration, extension or replacement, with a site and soils evaluation before issuance.⁷ The residential application lists a $200 site evaluation and system permit fees of $200–$700 depending on system type; confirm current charges with LMAS.⁷ The contractor must notify LMAS 72 hours before completion for final inspection, and cannot cover the system before inspection or approval to backfill.¹⁵

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in St. Ignace?

St. Ignace allows temporary recreational shelter occupancy in licensed campgrounds and, with owner permission, on noncommercial parcels with an existing primary dwelling for up to 30 consecutive days and 60 days per calendar year.⁴ Camping on public property and vacant private property is prohibited, subject to the ordinance’s exceptions.¹⁶ Temporary quarters during home construction require an issued building permit, active ongoing dwelling construction, setbacks and health and safety compliance.⁸ The construction allowance lasts up to 12 months unless the Building Inspector approves an extension, and inspection is required before the temporary exemption permit is issued.⁸ We could not confirm a general tiny-home occupancy rule; take the proposed design to city Planning and Zoning.²

Building a home in St. Ignace: what are the steps?

1. Arrange a conceptual review with city Planning and Zoning or the Building Inspector using your project idea and location.²
2. Confirm the zoning district and fit the proposed use and footprint to that district’s rules.⁶
3. Resolve sewer availability; R-1 dwellings use public sewer when available, and septic construction requires LMAS approval when that option applies.¹⁴⁷
4. Submit the city zoning application at City Hall or by email, and ask the Building Department which building permit is needed before work.²¹
5. If using temporary construction quarters, obtain the building permit and shelter inspection before the temporary exemption permit.⁸
6. Schedule LMAS final septic inspection before covering the installation or placing the system into use.¹⁵

What should you check before buying in St. Ignace?

Ask city Planning and Zoning to review the parcel and intended development before committing to a design.² Utility availability changes both the R-1 lot-area minimum and whether septic sanitation is an option.⁹¹⁴ Mackinac County’s soils—not a city parcel assessment—show only 1.2 percent rated not limited for conventional septic drain fields; a low share calls for site evaluation and potentially an engineered system, rather than meaning septic is impossible.¹⁷ LMAS requires that site evaluation before issuing a septic construction permit.⁷ For land outside city limits, use the Mackinac County guide; the city Planning and Zoning Department administers St. Ignace’s land-use rules.²

Watch-outs

• Camping on vacant private property in St. Ignace is prohibited except through the ordinance’s applicable exceptions; buying an empty lot does not authorize an RV residence.¹⁶
• A suitable septic tank is an R-1 option only when public sewer is unavailable; LMAS construction permitting still applies.¹⁴⁷
• We could not confirm general tiny-home, accessory-dwelling or manufactured-home occupancy approval in St. Ignace; ask the city Planning and Zoning Department about the proposed dwelling and parcel.²

Sources

1. City of St. Ignace Building Department (cityofstignace.com)
2. City of St. Ignace Planning and Zoning Department (cityofstignace.com)
3. The Upper Peninsula Environmental Health Code, quoted and re-checked
4. Sec. 38-365. Temporary shelters and camping (St. Ignace), quoted and re-checked
5. Sec. 38-121. Description of district; permitted uses (St. Ignace), quoted and re-checked
6. Sec. 38-121. Description of district; permitted uses (St. Ignace), quoted and re-checked
7. The Upper Peninsula Environmental Health Code, quoted and re-checked
8. Sec. 38-365. Temporary shelters and camping (St. Ignace), quoted and re-checked
9. Sec. 38-127. R-1 lot dimensions (St. Ignace), quoted and re-checked
10. Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
11. Sec. 38-31. Building permits required (St. Ignace), quoted and re-checked
12. Sec. 38-128. R-1 lot coverage (St. Ignace), quoted and re-checked
13. Sec. 38-123. R-1 height (St. Ignace), quoted and re-checked
14. Sec. 38-121. Description of district; permitted uses (St. Ignace), quoted and re-checked
15. The Upper Peninsula Environmental Health Code, quoted and re-checked
16. Sec. 38-365. Temporary shelters and camping (St. Ignace), quoted and re-checked
17. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.