Bolthole Index

Midland County, Michigan

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

61Index Score / 100
#57 of 83 in Michigan

Midland County, Michigan requires a building permit before construction under the statewide construction code, with ordinary repairs subject to a limited exception1. The Township Code Authority serves its member townships and municipalities, while the City of Midland handles its own building permits2. Zoning approval comes from the township or municipality governing the parcel3. Midland County Environmental Health handles onsite septic and well permits45.

At a glance

Building permit
Required before construction; ordinary repairs have a limited exception1
Zoning
Yes, but administered township-by-township, not countywide3
Septic permits
Midland County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health4
Owner-builder exemption
Not confirmed in sources reviewed; ask the Township Code Authority6
Well permits
Required through county Environmental Health Services5
Land-buyer perc test
Available from Environmental Health before you buy vacant land7
Michigan building code
2021 Michigan Building Code, effective April 9, 20258
Certificate of occupancy
Required before a new or altered building can be used9

Who to call

Building permits

Township Code Authority of Midland County

Building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits and inspections for Edenville, Geneva, Greendale, Homer, Hope, Jasper, Larkin, Lee, Mills, and Warren townships, the City of Auburn, and the Village of Merrill; electrical, mechanical, and plumbing only for the City of Coleman. Zoning approval itself comes from each township or municipality, not the authority.

989-837-6521

220 W. Ellsworth Street, Midland, MI 48640

Septic permits

Midland County Department of Public Health – Environmental Health Services

On-site septic system and private well permits, site/soil evaluations, and pre-purchase percolation (perc) test evaluations for Midland County

989-832-6380

[email protected]

Midland County Services Building, 220 West Ellsworth Street, Second Floor, Room 265, Midland, MI 48640

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 29, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Midland County, Michigan?

Yes. Before constructing a building or structure in Midland County, the owner must apply in writing to the appropriate enforcing agency for a building permit1. Ordinary repairs have a limited exception, but structural, egress, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, public-health, and safety work can fall outside it1. The Township Code Authority advises calling before building, adding on, demolishing, rewiring, redoing plumbing, fixing a septic system, or installing a wood-burning stove6. The City of Midland issues its own permits separately, so first confirm which jurisdiction covers the parcel2. Michigan uses the current statewide building code, with residential work governed by the Michigan Residential Code8. A new or altered building cannot be occupied until the code official issues a Certificate of Occupancy after permits are finaled, fees are paid, and permitted work is complete9. We could not confirm an owner-builder exemption; ask the Township Code Authority before relying on one6.

Who is the Midland County building department, and how do you reach them?

The Township Code Authority of Midland County, at 220 W. Ellsworth Street in Midland, provides building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing inspections for Edenville, Geneva, Greendale, Homer, Hope, Jasper, Larkin, Lee, Mills, and Warren townships, the City of Auburn, and the Village of Merrill, plus electrical, mechanical, and plumbing only for the City of Coleman6. Reach the office at 989-837-6521, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; it is closed Fridays6. The authority also has separate direct lines for its building inspector, at 989-313-2168, and its plumbing and mechanical inspector, at 989-246-48176. It was organized by the member townships in 1996 and runs with a single staff position, so calling ahead before you visit in person is worth it6.

Does Midland County have zoning?

Zoning approval in Midland County is administered by the township, city, or village governing the parcel, and approved zoning must accompany a building-permit application when required36. The Township Code Authority lists zoning contacts for its covered municipalities, including Edenville, Geneva, Greendale, Homer, Hope, Jasper, Larkin, Lee, Mills, and Warren townships6. Michigan law allows counties, townships, cities, and villages to establish zoning districts, so a rule from a neighboring township is not a reliable answer for your parcel10. We could not confirm a single countywide zoning ordinance, minimum dwelling size, minimum lot size, setback, lot-coverage limit, or building-height rule. Ask the zoning official for the parcel's municipality about each of those points before designing a house, tiny home, accessory dwelling, or RV setup. Subdivision plats also receive state review under Michigan's Land Division Act before recordation11.

How do septic permits work in Midland County?

Midland County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Services handles onsite septic permitting countywide4. The office is at the Midland County Services Building, 220 West Ellsworth Street, Second Floor, Room 265, in Midland, and can be reached at 989-832-6380 or by email7. Prospective buyers of raw or vacant land can request a percolation test evaluation to identify limitations on installing an onsite sewage system7. Well and septic applications must be printed and submitted to the department because online applications are unavailable12. A building with plumbing fixtures must connect to public sewer where available or to an approved private sewage-disposal system13. USDA soil data rates 0% of Midland County soils as free of severe limitations for a conventional drain field, so make the site evaluation an early contingency; the rating does not by itself determine the system a particular parcel needs14. We could not confirm the county's septic inspection stages, so ask Environmental Health when applying.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Midland County?

Michigan treats a tiny house as distinct from a recreational unit even when the tiny house is built on wheels, and a tiny house proposed as resort lodging still needs local zoning, building, electrical, and plumbing approvals15. Midland County Environmental Health permits wells and septic systems where those utilities are needed45. We could not confirm a Midland County rule allowing full-time RV occupancy or tiny-home occupancy on private land, so ask the parcel's township, city, or village zoning official before buying or moving a unit onto the site. Michigan's primitive-campground rule requires permitted privies and other sanitation controls, but that rule applies to campground sites and does not answer whether someone may live in an RV on a private parcel16. Household sanitary sewage must go to a municipal sanitary sewer or an onsite septic system; untreated discharge or an improvised off-grid method is not an approved alternative17.

Building a home in Midland County: what are the steps, in order?

  1. Identify the township, city, or village governing the parcel because zoning approval comes from that municipality3.
  2. Ask the local zoning official whether the project is allowed and obtain zoning approval when required; approved zoning must accompany the building-permit application6.
  3. If public sewer is unavailable, arrange a site evaluation and septic permit with Midland County Environmental Health; prospective buyers can request a perc-test evaluation before closing47.
  4. If public water is unavailable, apply to Environmental Health for the required well permit; the listed residential well-permit fee is $250 under the 2025 fee schedule5.
  5. Submit the written building-permit application to the appropriate enforcing agency before construction, then obtain the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits the project requires16.
  6. Schedule required inspections with the enforcing agency and ask Environmental Health which septic inspection stages apply6.
  7. Obtain a Certificate of Occupancy before using the completed home9.

What should you check before you buy land in Midland County?

Confirm the municipality and zoning district for the parcel before relying on a listing's description of allowed uses3. Ask Midland County Environmental Health for a perc-test evaluation before closing: 0% of county soils are rated free of severe limits for a conventional drain field, though only a parcel-level evaluation can determine the workable system147. A new residential well requires a county permit, and well and septic applications must be printed and submitted rather than filed online512. Ask the Township Code Authority which building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits it handles for the parcel's municipality6. We could not confirm countywide rules for floodplain development or driveway access, so identify the responsible road agency and floodplain official before committing to a building site. Midland County's median property-tax bill is about $2,771 a year, with an effective rate near 1.5%1819.

Watch-outs

  • Zoning approval comes from the township, city, or village governing the parcel, so confirm the right contact through the Township Code Authority before assuming a neighboring municipality's rule applies36.
  • Septic and well permit applications in Midland County must be printed and submitted to the Department of Public Health; online applications are unavailable12.
  • The City of Midland issues its own building permits separately from the Township Code Authority, so do not call the township authority for a parcel inside city limits2.
  • Whether Midland County or its townships recognize an owner-builder exemption from the building-permit requirement is not established in the sources reviewed; confirm your specific project with the Township Code Authority before assuming one applies6.

Sources

  1. Building Permit Information, quoted and re-checked
  2. Township Code Authority of Midland County (2026 county census)
  3. Township Code Authority of Midland County (2026 county census)
  4. Onsite Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  5. Onsite Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  6. Township Code Authority of Midland County (townshipcodeauthority.com)
  7. Midland County Department of Public Health – Environmental Health Services (midlandcountymi.gov)
  8. Code Books, quoted and re-checked
  9. Certificate of Occupancy Request (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Subdivisions (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Onsite Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  13. Michigan Part 7 Plumbing Code Rules (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  15. 2022 ARVC - General (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Permits and licenses, quoted and re-checked
  17. Disposal of residential wastewater such as swimming pool water (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  19. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 29, 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.

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County locator

Midland County in Michigan

61
County map
Midland County highlighted among the Michigan counties · colored by Index score

How Midland County scores

Seclusion29100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency66100% ev.
Admin Boringness4190% ev.
Durability80100% ev.
Property Autonomy77100% ev.
Carry Cost75100% ev.

Evidence strength: 98%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$253kTypical home
1.5%Property tax
$5,538Land / acre
32.3"Annual rain
1.4% of yrsSevere drought
1.8 / yr (+1.8)Mid-century 100°F days
12.2 daysMid-century dry spell
1.59" (+10.2%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.65×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,111Home insurance / yr
0.4% / yrInsurance growth
0.91%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
171,668People within 30 min
4,866,623People within 2 hr
108,562Radius comparison (15 mi)
162.4People / sq mi
0%Federal land
100%Land at 15% slope or less
0%Septic soil without severe limits
0 acWorkable land screen
63.2%Wooded land
31.2 tonsBiomass / forest ac
47.4°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Midland County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Midland County rules

  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Onsite septic and well permitting handled through Midland County Environmental Health Services.

    • The county page states applications must be printed and submitted to the Midland County Department of Public Health.
    • Michigan EGLE identifies onsite wastewater as a required service for local health departments.
    “submitted to the Midland County Department of Public Health”
  • Well permitRequired

    Residential and other listed water wells requiring Midland County Environmental Health permitting.

    • Applications must be submitted to the Midland County Department of Public Health.
    • The 2025 fee schedule lists residential, Type III, irrigation/agriculture, and geothermal well permits at $250; commercial Type II permits at $275; and a Type II contract-program fee of $160.

    residential, Type III, irrigation/agriculture, geothermal well permit fee: 250 USD (2025 fee schedule) · commercial Type II well permit fee: 275 USD (2025 fee schedule)

    “WELL PERMIT Residential, Type III, Irrigation/Agriculture, Geothermal 250.00”
  • Permit processPartial

    Midland County Environmental Health applications for onsite septic and well permits.

    • Applications must be printed and submitted to the Midland County Department of Public Health.
    • Online applications for well and septic permits were stated to be unavailable on the opened page.
    • The county page provides instructions and applications for septic, raw-land/perc, existing or replacement structure, and mortgage evaluations.
    “Online applications for well and septic permits are not available at this time”
  • County-wide zoningPresent

    Zoning is administered at the township/city level; a zoning permit is required for most projects and approved zoning must accompany the building permit application, with a zoning official listed for each municipality.

    Township Code Authority of Midland County ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Michigan rules that apply here

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction of buildings or structures and changes in use or occupancy in Midland County, subject to the Michigan construction code.

    • An application must be submitted to the appropriate enforcing agency.
    • A permit is not required for ordinary repairs, but the official page lists structural, egress, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and public-health or general-safety limitations on that exception.
    “Before construction of a building or structure, an owner [...] shall submit an application in writing to the appropriate enforcing agency for a building permit.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction, alteration, relocation, demolition, use, and occupancy of buildings and structures statewide in Michigan, including residential requirements administered under the Michigan Residential Code.

    • The current Michigan Building Code is the 2021 edition and is effective April 9, 2025.
    • The rule adopts the International Building Code by reference with Michigan amendments and exceptions.
    • The adopted rule excludes sections 104.2, 104.3, 104.8, 104.8.1, 104.10, 105.3, 105.3.1, 105.3.2, 105.6, 109.2 to 109.6, 111.2, 111.3, 113.2, 113.3, 113.4, 114.1, 114.2, 114.3, 114.4, 115.1 to 115.4, 423.5, 423.5.1, 423.5.2, 903.2.8.4, 2902 to 2902.6, Table 2902.1, section 3005.5, the definition of agricultural building in section 202, and the definition of recreational vehicle in Appendix G.
    • The rule also incorporates IECC 2021, IEBC 2021, IMC 2021, IPC 2021, IPSDC 2021, and NFPA 70 2023 as listed in chapter 35.
    • Residential requirements are contained in the Michigan Residential Code.
    • The code may be purchased from the International Code Council through the bureau website at a cost of $144.00 as of the time of adoption of the amendatory rules.

    building code edition: 2021 Michigan Building Code (Michigan amendments and listed exceptions apply) · effective date: 2025-04-09

    “The provisions of the international building code, 2021 edition, including appendices F, G, and H, except for [...] govern the construction, alteration, relocation, demolition, use, and occupancy of buildings and structures, and, with exceptions noted, the international building code is adopted by reference in these rules.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Adopted — Michigan Building Code requirements applicable in Midland County through the statewide construction-code system.
      “2021 Michigan Building Code -Current Code-Effective April 9, 2025”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    A new building or altered building subject to the Michigan construction code.

    • The building or altered building may not be used or occupied until the code official issues a Certificate of Occupancy.
    • The permit holder or authorized agent must submit a written request after project completion.
    • The request must include applicable building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, boiler, elevator, plan-review, and school fire-services project numbers.
    • The certificate cannot be issued until all fees are paid, permits are finaled, and permitted work is completed in accordance with the permit, code, and applicable laws and ordinances.
    • If an electrical, mechanical, plumbing, boiler, elevator, plan-review, or Fire Services project is not required, the request must state “not applicable.”
    “A new building or a building that is altered shall not be used or occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the code official.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Michigan's statutory zoning framework for counties, townships, cities, and villages; this does not identify the actual zoning districts adopted by each local government.

    • Actual zoning districts and district regulations are local and must be checked in the applicable county, township, city, or village ordinance.
    • The cited act's stated effective date is July 1, 2006.
    “to provide for the establishment in counties, townships, cities, and villages of zoning districts;”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Primitive campgrounds and campground sites without conventional sewer connections.

    • Primitive sites are required to have privies.
    • Privies must have a watertight vault with minimum 500-gallon storage, be vented above the roof, and be provided at the stated ratio of two all-gender or one male and one female for every 25 sites.
    • A local health department permit is required.
    • Portable privies require an annual pumping-service contract.

    privy vault minimum storage: >= 500 gallons · privy ratio: per 2 all-gender or 1 male/1 female per 25 sites

    “Primitive sites are required to have privies.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Buildings and premises in Michigan that have plumbing fixtures or drainage piping.

    • Connection must be to a public sewer where available, or otherwise to an approved private sewage disposal system.
    • Plumbing work cannot begin until the appropriate enforcing agency issues a permit.
    • Local requirements may apply to water service and building sewer installation.
    “Every building in which plumbing fixtures are installed [...] shall be connected to a public sewer, where available, or an approved private sewage disposal system.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision plats and the orderly development of subdivisions in Michigan.

    • The Michigan Office of Land Survey and Remonumentation administers applicable provisions of the Land Division Act, 1967 PA 288.
    • Staff conducts final reviews of plat maps for compliance with the Act.
    • Final plats are authorized for submission to the Register of Deeds for proper recordation.
    “Staff conducts final reviews of plat maps to ensure compliance with the Act and authorizes final plats to be submitted to the Register of Deeds for proper recordation.”
  • Campground & park staysLimited

    Tiny houses, including tiny houses built on wheels, proposed as resort cabins or similar occupancy in Michigan.

    • The source distinguishes tiny houses from recreational units and states they cannot be treated as recreational units even if built on wheels.
    • The tiny house must be built as a resort rather than a campground.
    • Local health department permitting for wells, septic tanks, and drainfields is required as applicable.
    • Local zoning, building, electrical, and plumbing permits and final approvals are required under local authorities.
    • The source does not establish statewide zoning permission or a statewide right to occupy a tiny house.
    “Local zoning, building, electrical, plumbing permits and final approvals under local authorities.”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Michigan counties serving as building-code enforcing agencies for residential construction in unincorporated areas, subject to the Statewide Jurisdiction List and local/state jurisdiction assignments.

    • Before construction, a written building-permit application must be submitted to the appropriate enforcing agency.
    • A permit is also required when use or occupancy changes.
    • Ordinary repairs do not require a permit, but the stated structural, egress, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and public-health/safety limitations apply.
    • The Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code govern construction; county enforcement applies only where the Statewide Jurisdiction List designates county jurisdiction.
    “If COUNTY is indicated, that unit of government receives code enforcement services from a county enforcing agency.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from residential-builder licensing or permitting requirements in Midland County.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling-size standards in Midland County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot-size standards in Midland County.
  • Setbacks — Setback standards in Midland County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot-coverage standards in Midland County.
9 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • 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.

Living off-grid in Midland County, Michigan

Is Midland County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Midland County scores 61/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: a durable current and mid-century hazard profile and a stronger property-autonomy legal backdrop. Watch-outs: about 171,668 people within a 30-minute drive and more administrative friction around building and land use.

Do you need a building permit in Midland County, Michigan?

Midland County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Midland County Department of Public Health (Environmental Health). These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Midland County, Michigan?

Land in Midland County runs about $5,538 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Midland County?

Midland County gets about 32.3" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 1.4% of years.

How remote is Midland County?

A representative private-land location has about 171,668 people within a 30-minute drive and 4,866,623 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Midland compares in Michigan

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