Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Fraser, Michigan

Fraser’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Fraser city

  • Chapter 32 was amended in its entirety by Ord. No. 279, adopted Dec. 12, 1996; the city site also references a 2026 zoning ordinance update not reviewed here.

  “this chapter shall be known and may be cited as the city of fraser zoning ordinance and shall be referred to herein as "this chapter."”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Fraser city, published in Chapter 32

  • Only the one-family districts section was read; the city site also lists a zoning map and district descriptions page.

  “the one-family districts are established to provide principally for one-family dwellings at varying densities.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  One-family residential districts inside Fraser city

  • Front and street-side setbacks are measured from road right-of-way centerline per the master plan
  • Side yard may not go below 5 feet

  “lot width (linear feet) ** 85 65 without public water and sewer 90 80 c. lot depth *** 142/156 120/150 d. front and street side **** **** e. rear yard 40 30 f. side yard (least side/total both) 5/15 5/13”

• Living in an RVProhibited

  Motor homes and trailers used as dwellings in residential districts inside Fraser city

  • The next sentence in the source says the rule does not prohibit the storage of recreation vehicles or small utility trailers (text truncated; conditions not fully read).

  “motels, tourist cabins, motor homes, trailers or tents shall not be allowed or considered a legal use in a residential district.”

• Camping on your landProhibited

  Tent or trailer camping in residential districts inside Fraser city

  • Applies to residential districts only.

  “motels, tourist cabins, motor homes, trailers or tents shall not be allowed or considered a legal use in a residential district.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes on lots in one-family residential districts inside Fraser city

  • Permanent masonry foundation at least 42 inches deep and 8 inches wide required
  • Must meet the district's minimum structure size, lot size, yard and bulk requirements
  • Must connect to public sewer and water or private facilities per approved standards
  • Length-to-width ratio not over 4 to 1
  • Must be similar to nearby housing in size, proportion, materials and architecture, determined by the building official after inspection
  • Storage area equal to 15 percent of interior living area
  • Wheels, towing apparatus and exposed chassis removed before certificate of occupancy

  foundation depth: >= 42 inches · length-to-width ratio: <= 4 to 1

  “a mobile home sought to be located in a one-family residential district shall meet the minimum structure size requirements of the district in which the unit is to be located.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land division and subdivision inside Fraser city

  • Details are in Chapter 26 of the city code, which was not opened.

  “buildings and building regulations, ch. 6; community development, ch. 7; flood protection, ch. 11; planning, ch. 20; streets, sidewalks and other public places, ch. 25; subdivision regulations, ch. 26”

• Permit processPartial

  Planning and zoning review for new buildings or additions inside Fraser city

  • Building permit process itself not reviewed
  • Pre-application meetings are by appointment via zoning email or phone ext. 153

  “if you want to build a new building or adding on to an existing building, the city offers free pre-application meetings to discuss your project and how best it can be processed through the city approval process.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Fraser or Macomb County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits inside Fraser city
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Fraser city
• Building code adopted — Building code inside Fraser city
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Fraser city
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Fraser city

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.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Fraser means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.