Bolthole Index

Oakland County, Michigan

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Auburn Hills, Michigan

Auburn Hills, Michigan requires building permits for construction and changes to buildings and building systems; Community Development handles building services and the city sets zoning.12 Oakland County Health Division handles septic permits inside Auburn Hills.3 One-family dwellings must connect to public water and sewer when available, with county-approved private facilities allowed when public systems are unavailable.4

At a glance

Building permits
Required for construction and changes to buildings and building systems; contact city Community Development12
Zoning
City zoning controls land use and building location, size and height2
Septic permits
Oakland County Health Division issues septic permits and inspects systems3
Water and sewer
Public connections required for one-family dwellings when available; otherwise county-approved private facilities4
Small homes in R-1
Minimum floor area per unit: 1,200 square feet; first-floor and basement conditions also apply5
Owner-builder
Own-property, own-use and own-occupancy licensing exemption; building permits still apply6

Who to call

Building permits

Auburn Hills Community Development / Building Services

City building services, trade building permits, inspection scheduling and zoning questions

248-364-6900

Zoning

Auburn Hills Community Development Department

Parcel zoning identification and lot-split questions

(248) 364-6900

Septic permits

Oakland County Health Division, Environmental Health Services

Septic permits and construction and final inspections inside Auburn Hills

248- 858-1312

Online permits →

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

Off-grid gear

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

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

Do you need a building permit in Auburn Hills, MI?

Auburn Hills requires a permit for construction, alterations, repairs or changes to buildings and electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, and building work cannot begin before the city issues the permit.1 Michigan’s owner-builder licensing exemption applies when a person erects a residential structure on their own property for their own use and occupancy; the exemption does not remove building-permit, inspection or zoning requirements.6 Auburn Hills also recognizes a homeowner electrical contractor-license exception for work in an owned and occupied, or intended-to-be-occupied, single-family home and accompanying outbuildings, subject to other applicable requirements.7

Who issues building permits in Auburn Hills, and how do you apply?

Contact Auburn Hills Community Development / Building Services for city building services, online permit access and inspection scheduling through BSAonline.2 Auburn Hills says residential and commercial building permits can take 2 to 4 weeks to process, so allow for review before arranging a construction start.2 Ask Community Development for the submittal requirements for your particular home project.2 Auburn Hills requires a certificate of occupancy before any building or portion of a building is occupied; construction must meet applicable codes and all inspections must be approved before the certificate is issued.8

Does Auburn Hills have zoning, lot-size rules and setbacks?

Auburn Hills has its own zoning ordinance and map, and city zoning controls land use and building location, size and height.92 Call Community Development with the address or parcel number to identify the zoning before choosing a house plan.10 In the R-1 One Family Residential District, the schedule lists a minimum lot area of 8,400 square feet and a minimum width of 70 feet.11 Ordinary R-1 setbacks are 25 feet front, 35 feet rear, at least 5 feet on one side and 10 feet total across both sides; street-side and existing-front-yard footnotes may modify those minimums.12 New subdivisions or parcel splits without connection or access to public water and sewer require at least 43,560 square feet.13

How do septic permits and water connections work inside Auburn Hills?

Auburn Hills requires one-family dwellings to connect to public water and public sewer when available; when unavailable, private facilities need Oakland County Health Department approval.4 A septic plan therefore depends on public utility availability as well as county approval.4 Oakland County Health Division issues septic permits and conducts construction and final inspections, including for systems inside Auburn Hills.3 New residential systems need a new permit application, while qualifying replacement, alteration or repair work uses a repair application.14 Oakland County lists a new residential septic permit on vacant land at $325 and a residential repair permit at $221.15 Follow the inspections noted on the septic permit; when no special inspections are noted, the final before-covering inspection is required.16

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Auburn Hills?

We could not confirm permission to occupy an RV as a dwelling in Auburn Hills; ask Community Development about the proposed occupancy and parcel before relying on an RV for housing.10 For a small permanent home in Auburn Hills’ R-1 district, the minimum floor area per unit is 1,200 square feet, and the first floor must be at least 850 square feet, with an additional 100 square feet required when the home has no basement.5 Those requirements are district-specific, so ask the city which district applies to the parcel.510 We also could not confirm whether a separate accessory dwelling is allowed; take that proposal to Community Development.10

What are the steps to building a home in Auburn Hills?

Start with Auburn Hills Community Development to identify the parcel’s zoning and check the proposed home against the applicable district requirements.109 Next, establish whether public water and sewer are available; a one-family dwelling must connect when available, otherwise private facilities require county health approval.4 For a septic-served project, obtain the appropriate Oakland County septic permit and arrange the inspections specified on that permit.1416 Obtain the city building permit before building work begins, then complete construction and approved inspections before obtaining the certificate of occupancy.18 For land outside Auburn Hills, consult the Oakland County guide; local planning and zoning remain municipal functions rather than county zoning approvals.17

What should you check before buying land in Auburn Hills?

For an Auburn Hills parcel, ask Community Development to identify the district and review any intended parcel split, because lot splits depend on zoning and other factors.10 Check public water and sewer availability before budgeting for private facilities, since the city’s one-family dwelling rule requires public connections when available.4 Michigan prohibits new residential construction in the floodway, and state floodplain review can apply to alterations along qualifying rivers, streams and drains.18 We could not confirm a general Auburn Hills driveway-access rule or an agricultural construction exemption; ask Community Development about access and any proposed farm building before committing to the project.2

Watch-outs

  • Public water and sewer availability can rule out a private utility plan for a one-family dwelling in Auburn Hills.4
  • R-1 minimum dwelling size and setbacks apply to that district; identify the parcel’s district with Auburn Hills Community Development before designing.51210
  • Auburn Hills requires a certificate of occupancy before occupying a building or part of a building.8

Sources

  1. Community Development FAQ (Auburn Hills), quoted and re-checked
  2. Auburn Hills Community Development / Building Services (auburnhills.org)
  3. Onsite Sewage Disposal System (Septic), quoted and re-checked
  4. Article IV. One Family Residential Districts (Auburn Hills), quoted and re-checked
  5. Article XVII. Schedule of Regulations (Auburn Hills), quoted and re-checked
  6. Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Sec. 18-176. Contractor's requirements; exceptions (Auburn Hills), quoted and re-checked
  8. Building - Auburn Hills (Auburn Hills), quoted and re-checked
  9. Zoning Ordinance and Map - Auburn Hills (Auburn Hills), quoted and re-checked
  10. Auburn Hills Community Development Department (auburnhills.org)
  11. Article XVII. Schedule of Regulations (Auburn Hills), quoted and re-checked
  12. Article XVII. Schedule of Regulations (Auburn Hills), quoted and re-checked
  13. Article XVII. Schedule of Regulations (Auburn Hills), quoted and re-checked
  14. Proposed Use of Septic (Auburn Hills), quoted and re-checked
  15. Onsite Sewage Disposal System (Septic) — applications and fees, quoted and re-checked
  16. Onsite Sewage Disposal System (Septic), quoted and re-checked
  17. Local Community Planning & Zoning (2026 county census)
  18. Floodplains (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

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.

Answers from the rulebook for Auburn Hills

Auburn Hills’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, alterations, repairs, or changes to buildings and building systems inside Auburn Hills city limits.

    • The city FAQ states the requirement applies to building, electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing work.
    • Building work may not begin until the city issues the permit.
    “A permit is needed for construction, alterations, repairs, or changes to any building, electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Electrical work by an owner in a single-family home and accompanying out-buildings inside Auburn Hills city limits.

    • The person must be a homeowner performing installation, alteration, or repair of electrical equipment.
    • The home must be owned and occupied or intended to be occupied by that person.
    • The exemption is from the contractor-license requirement described in the section; other permit, code, and inspection requirements may still apply.
    “Any installation, alteration or repair of electrical equipment by a homeowner in a single-family home and accompanying out-buildings owned and occupied or to be occupied by the person performing the installation, alteration or repair of electrical equipment.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Occupancy of a building or portion of a building inside Auburn Hills city limits.

    • A certificate is issued after construction is completed according to applicable codes and all inspections are approved.
    • The certificate can be obtained the next business day after the last inspection is approved.
    “No building or portion of a building may be occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued and obtained.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Auburn Hills city limits.

    • The city publishes a zoning map and Ordinance No. 372 with district articles and a Schedule of Regulations.
    • Published district categories include R-1A, R-1B, R-1C, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, MHP, RM, O, B-1, B-2, D, SP, FP, T&R, I-1, I-2, I-3, and LF.
    “Zoning Ordinance No. 372 [...] Article 4 - One-Family Residential Districts [...] Article 11 - FP, Floodplain Districts [...] Article 17 - Schedule of Regulations”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New, replacement, alteration, or repair of residential onsite sewage systems inside Auburn Hills city limits, where the Oakland County Health Division regulates the system.

    • A new permit is required for vacant, burned-down, demolished, or extensively remodeled residential property.
    • A repair permit is required for replacement, alteration, or repair where the existing structure remains intact or remodeling does not increase bedrooms or sewage flows.
    • Commercial/non-residential systems with flows greater than 10,000 gallons per day are excluded from the cited new/repair application descriptions.
    “A New Onsite Sewage Disposal Permit Application is required for construction or installation of a new onsite sewage disposal system.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Newly installed onsite sewage disposal systems inside Auburn Hills city limits.

    • Inspection is performed by Oakland County Health Division.
    “Conduct inspections of newly installed on-site sewage disposal systems.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private sanitation facilities serving a one-family dwelling inside Auburn Hills city limits when public sewer is unavailable.

    • Private facilities must be approved by the Oakland County Health Department.
    • The zoning provision is conditional on public sewer and water being unavailable.
    “It shall be connected to a public sewer and water supply, if available, or if not available, to private facilities approved by the Oakland County Health Department.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    One-family dwellings inside Auburn Hills city limits.

    • The dwelling must connect to public sewer and public water if available.
    • If public systems are unavailable, the dwelling must use private facilities approved by the Oakland County Health Department.
    “It shall be connected to a public sewer and water supply, if available, or if not available, to private facilities approved by the Oakland County Health Department.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and new parcel splits inside Auburn Hills city limits.

    • New lots must meet the Schedule of Regulations.
    • Residential building sites, including condominium projects, must meet minimum schedule requirements.
    • Without connection or access to public water and public sewer, a subdivision or parcel split must be at least one acre.

    minimum area without public water and sewer: >= 43560 square feet (Equivalent to one acre)

    “New lots may be created by subdividing existing lots, but any such lots must meet the minimum requirements in the Schedule of Regulations.”

Rules another office applies inside Auburn Hills

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

  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    R-1 One Family Residential District inside Auburn Hills city limits.

    • The ordinance's footnote adds 100 square feet when a single-family home is constructed without a basement.
    • The minimum floor area is listed in the Schedule of Regulations and the general first-floor minimum is stated in footnote f.

    minimum floor area per unit: 1200 square feet · minimum first-floor area: >= 850 square feet (Add 100 square feet if constructed without a basement)

    “R-1, One Family Residential Districts [...] 1,200 [...] The minimum first floor area of any single family dwelling shall be no less than eight hundred and fifty (850) square feet.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1 One Family Residential District inside Auburn Hills city limits.

    • New lots and parcel splits must also satisfy the ordinance's public-water and public-sewer rule; without those connections, the minimum is one acre.

    minimum lot area: 8400 square feet · minimum lot width: 70 feet · minimum without public water and sewer: >= 43560 square feet (Subdivisions or new parcel splits without connection or access to public water and public sewer)

    “R-1, One Family Residential Districts [...] 8,400 [...] 70 [...] Subdivisions or new parcel splits without connection or access to a public water and a public sewer system shall not be less than forty-three thousand five hundred and sixty (43,560) square feet or one (1) acre in total area.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 One Family Residential District inside Auburn Hills city limits.

    • The schedule lists front, least one side, total of two sides, and rear setbacks.
    • Street-side and existing-front-yard footnotes may modify the ordinary minimum.

    front setback: 25 feet · least one side setback: 5 feet · total of two side setbacks: 10 feet · rear setback: 35 feet

    “Minimum Yard Setback (Per Lot in Feet) [...] Front Sides Rear [...] Least One Total of Two [...] R-1, One Family Residential Districts [...] 25 [...] 5 [...] 10 [...] 35”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 One Family Residential District inside Auburn Hills city limits.

    maximum lot coverage: 30 percent

    “Maximum Percentage of Lot Area Covered by All Buildings [...] R-1, One Family Residential Districts [...] 30%”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 One Family Residential District inside Auburn Hills city limits.

    maximum stories: 2 stories · maximum height: 25 feet

    “Maximum Height of Structures [...] In Stories In Feet [...] R-1, One Family Residential Districts [...] 2 [...] 25”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Auburn Hills or Oakland County directly.

  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Auburn Hills city limits.
  • Agricultural exemption — Agricultural construction or land use inside Auburn Hills city limits.
  • Driveway access — Driveway access for property inside Auburn Hills city limits.
  • Short-term rentals — Short-term rental use inside Auburn Hills city limits.

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Auburn Hills publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Oakland County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Oakland County: county rules, score and offices