Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Novi Township, Michigan

Novi Township’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing construction inside Novi township under the State Construction Code

  • LARA's statewide jurisdiction list records Novi township as a LOCAL enforcing agency for bldg, elec, mech and plbg; the list itself does not quote the township's adopting ordinance, so the adoption wording is inferred from local enforcement.
  • The list is dated rev. 10/09/2023 and is not an effective date of any township ordinance.

  “oakland township of novi local local local local”

Rules another office applies inside Novi Township

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

• Who permits septicCounty

  On-site sewage disposal (septic) systems for residential land inside Novi township, Oakland County, MI (county Health Division service area)

  • The county page describes countywide service and does not name Novi township specifically; the township has no local health program located in any source checked.
  • Sewers are used only where infrastructure exists.

  “issues permits and conducts construction and final inspections for the installation of residential and non residential on-site sewage disposal systems.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New residential septic systems on vacant land inside Novi township, Oakland County, MI

  • Permit is issued by the Oakland County Health Division through its online portal or office; construction may proceed only after the permit is issued.
  • Repair/replacement of an existing system needs a separate repair permit.

  new residential septic permit (vacant land) fee: 325 USD · repair residential septic permit (repair/replace) fee: 221 USD

  “a new onsite sewage disposal system permit application is required for construction or installation of a new onsite sewage disposal system.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New or replacement septic systems inside Novi township, Oakland County, MI

  • Inspections needed are listed on each permit; if none are listed, a final before-covering inspection is the only one required.
  • Permits and inspection records are kept by the county office for 18 years.

  “if special inspections are not noted, then a final "before covering" inspection is the only one needed.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Non-sewered (off-grid) sanitation for homes inside Novi township, Oakland County, MI

  • On-site disposal is allowed only with a county septic permit and inspections.
  • Sewer use is limited to areas where infrastructure exists.

  “on-site sewage disposal is the only viable alternative in areas not serviced by municipal sewers.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Septic and well permit fees for land inside Novi township (county fee schedule)

  • Fees are the county Health Division schedule shown on the county pages; no separate township fee schedule was found.
  • Card payments carry a 3.5% transaction fee per the county page.
  • The county page shows no effective date for these fees.

  new residential septic permit (vacant land) fee: 325 USD · new well permit (private and type iii, vacant land) fee: 260 USD

  “new residential septic permit (vacant land): $325”

• Permit processPartial

  Septic permit process for land inside Novi township; no township building-permit process was located

  • Apply online through the county citizen access portal or in person at a county office; a site evaluation (perc test) with a county sanitarian is required before a permit issues.
  • A denied permit can be appealed to the Oakland County Sanitary Code Appeal Board.

  “obtain, complete and return an application for a permit to install or repair a sewage disposal system.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Novi township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for homeowners building inside Novi township
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Novi township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Novi township
• Local zoning — Land inside Novi township (Oakland County, MI) - whether the township adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance

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.