Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Macomb County, Michigan

Construction and changes of use or occupancy in Macomb County require a building-permit application to the appropriate enforcing agency; ordinary repairs are exempt except for specified structural, egress, plumbing, electrical, mechanical and safety work¹. Michigan construction codes apply, with one- and two-family dwelling provisions in the Michigan Residential Code¹. The current Michigan Building Code is the 2021 code effective April 9, 2025¹⁰. Construction under a Michigan building permit requires periodic inspections¹¹. Before occupying a new or altered building, request a Certificate of Occupancy after completing the work, finalizing the permits and paying all fees¹².

Macomb County has no county building program; identify the parcel's city or township and the appropriate enforcing agency before applying². Richmond and Memphis issue their own building permits; septic review in their Macomb County portions remains with the Macomb County Health Department, with state approval where applicable^{4,13,14,15,16}. For Macomb Township building permits, call 586-992-0710 or visit 54111 Broughton Road, Macomb, MI 48042¹⁷. The township inspects permitted building, plumbing, heating and electrical work¹⁸. Macomb Township lets owners pull building permits, recommends that contractors pull them when doing any portion of the work, and says homeowner applications are neither faster nor cheaper¹⁹. Michigan's residential-builder licensing exception covers construction on your own property for your own use and occupancy; a building-permit application is still required²⁰.

Macomb County zoning depends on the city, village or township governing the parcel, including unincorporated land; the county Community Planning Division assists local communities with land-use and zoning functions³. Richmond and Memphis have their own zoning rules; septic review in their Macomb County portions remains with the Macomb County Health Department, with state approval where applicable^{4,15,16,21,22}. Macomb Township reviews setbacks, height, parking, lighting and density under its zoning ordinance⁹. Older township provisions specified 1,600 square feet for detached homes in Town Center Neighborhood Edge and 1,200 square feet for single-family principal buildings in Neighborhood General⁸. A Brook Run West variance record identifies an 8,400-square-foot lot minimum for the cited parcel, not a countywide standard²³. Confirm current lot and floor-area requirements with Macomb Township Planning & Zoning because the township announced a new ordinance effective September 20, 2026^8,9,23.

The Macomb County Health Department handles onsite sewage review countywide, and an acceptable soil evaluation must come before a new-construction septic permit⁴. Submit the fee, property tax ID, legal description or survey, and a professionally prepared site plan through the Environmental Health portal⁴. Online applicants need an Accela Citizen Access account; electronic plans are accepted, but inspections must be scheduled by phone²⁴. A new septic permit costs $489, while a repair permit costs $150²⁵. Only about 2.9% of Macomb County soils avoid severe limits for a conventional drain field, so complete the soil evaluation before assuming a standard system will work⁶. Before a sale closes, the owner generally must obtain a septic evaluation, subject to listed exceptions²⁶.

We could not confirm a countywide rule allowing long-term occupancy of a single RV or tiny home on an ordinary private parcel in Macomb County; ask the parcel's city, village or township building and zoning offices about the proposed use³. Michigan tiny-house guidance requires applicable local zoning, building, electrical and plumbing approvals, plus health-department approval for wells and septic²⁷. Macomb Township's older district-specific floor-area requirements need confirmation against its September 2026 ordinance before planning a small home^8,9. Macomb County temporary campgrounds may operate for 2 weeks, with a 2-week extension, followed by at least 30 days before another operating period; these campground rules do not establish permission to live in a single RV while building a home²⁸.

1. Identify the parcel's city or township, then confirm its zoning ordinance, district and development standards with that jurisdiction's planning office³.
2. Determine whether municipal water and sewer serve the site; unserved subdivision or condominium projects rely on wells and septic systems²⁹.
3. Complete the soil evaluation, then submit the septic-permit request, fee, property information and professionally prepared site plan through the county portal⁴.
4. Obtain the required well permit before installing a new or replacement drinking-water well³⁰.
5. Submit the building-permit application to the appropriate enforcing agency; an owner may apply, but the building-permit requirement remains¹.
6. Complete required inspections and obtain a Certificate of Occupancy before using the new or altered building^11,12.

Confirm the parcel's city or township first to identify the zoning authority and proper building-permit office^9,18. Test the site before relying on a conventional septic field because only about 2.9% of county soils avoid severe limitations for that use⁶. A new residential well permit costs $448; required water-sample fees are additional and payable when requesting the final inspection²⁵. For property served by septic or a drinking-water well, ask for the required transfer evaluation before closing²⁶. For subdivisions or condominiums without municipal water or sewage, the Health Department evaluates soils and a test well before engineering-layout review and approval²⁹. Land division may add another review track: projects involving county roads require a preliminary plat and later municipal and road-department approvals³¹. A site with any portion in a floodplain must meet local, state and federal construction requirements³².