Bolthole Index

Oakland County, Michigan

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Southfield, Michigan

Southfield, Michigan requires building permits for construction and many alterations, and the city administers its own zoning.12 Oakland County Health Division handles septic permits, while Southfield separately requires recurring inspections of private septic systems.34 Using an RV or similar portable dwelling as a home is prohibited except in qualifying existing trailer camps or tourist-cabin enterprises.5

At a glance

Building permits
Required for construction and many alterations; separate trade permits may be needed1
Zoning
City zoning with district-specific requirements2
Septic permits
Oakland County Health Division; city septic inspection every 3 years34
RV living
Portable dwellings prohibited as homes except in qualifying existing camps5
Minimum home size
R A district: 1,000 square feet of usable floor area per dwelling unit6
Minimum lot size
R A district: 7,500 square feet and 65 feet of width7
Owner-builder
Homeowner can obtain a building permit; licensed contractors must obtain residential trade permits8

Who to call

Building permits

Southfield Building Department

Building permits and construction inspections inside Southfield

(248) 796-4100

26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, MI 48076

Online permits →

Planning & zoning

Southfield Planning Department

City zoning and planning questions

(248) 796-4150

[email protected]

26000 Evergreen Road Southfield, MI 48076

Septic permits

Oakland County Health Division, Environmental Health Services

Septic permits and installation inspections

248- 858-1312

1200 N Telegraph Bldg. 34 East Pontiac, MI 48341

Online permits →

Also useful

Southfield residential construction review

Published new-home review sequence

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 Southfield means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Southfield, MI?

Southfield requires a building permit to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the use group of a building or structure.1 The city’s permit guidance also covers accessory buildings, decks, fences, generators, roofs, windows and other common home projects; electrical, plumbing and mechanical work may require separate trade permits.1

A Southfield homeowner may obtain a building permit without a builder’s license and perform the work personally, but subcontracted work must use licensed trades and residential trade permits must be obtained by licensed contractors.8 Southfield also requires a certificate of occupancy before building occupancy.9

Who issues building permits in Southfield, and where do you apply?

The Southfield Building Department is the city office for new construction, renovations and building expansion; call (248) 796-4100 about the proposed project.10 Southfield’s Building Department links to online building permit applications and inspection requests through BS&A Online.10

For zoning questions, contact the Southfield Planning Department at (248) 796-4150 or [email protected], at 26000 Evergreen Road Southfield, MI 48076.11 Building approval and wastewater approval have separate authorities: Oakland County Health Division issues septic permits and conducts installation inspections, including for applicable properties inside Southfield.312

Does Southfield have zoning, lot-size and home-size requirements?

Southfield has city zoning with residential and nonresidential districts, so the parcel’s district determines the applicable development rules.2 In Southfield’s R A district, required lot area is 7,500 square feet and minimum lot width is 65 feet.7 The R A district also requires 1,000 square feet of usable floor area per dwelling unit and limits lot coverage to 30%.613 Maximum building height in R A is 25 feet and 2 stories.14

These R A dimensions are district-specific rather than citywide defaults; ask the Southfield Planning Department to identify the parcel’s district and applicable setbacks before choosing a house plan.211

How do septic permits work inside Southfield?

Oakland County Health Division administers septic permits and construction inspections for onsite sewage disposal systems, while Southfield requires property owners with private septic systems to arrange inspection by a Certified Inspector every 3 years.34 If a Southfield septic system fails, the owner may connect to city sewer or repair the system under local and state guidelines.4

Oakland County requires a new septic permit application for a new system and a repair application for qualifying replacements, alterations or repairs.15 The county lists a $325 new residential septic permit fee for vacant land and $221 for residential repair or replacement.16 Follow the inspections listed on the septic permit; absent special inspections, a final inspection before covering is required.17

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on Southfield land?

Southfield prohibits using automobile trailers, tourist cabins, similar portable dwellings or tents as dwellings unless they are part of qualifying trailer camps or tourist-cabin businesses already established and operating when the ordinance took effect.5 Buying a residential parcel in Southfield therefore does not provide permission to use an RV as a home while constructing a house.5

We could not confirm a separate Southfield tiny-home occupancy rule; ask the Planning Department to review the proposed structure and use before purchase.11 A small permanent dwelling still faces Southfield’s building permit requirement and applicable zoning, including the 1,000-square-foot usable-floor-area minimum in R A.126

What are the steps for building a home in Southfield?

Southfield’s new-home process involves the Planning, Engineering, Building and Water & Sewerage departments, and the city encourages simultaneous submission of complete plans to speed review.18

  1. Identify the zoning district and review the proposed use and house dimensions with Southfield Planning.211
  2. Submit plans for the city department reviews; if wetlands or flood plains exist on the site, apply for boundary determination.18
  3. Obtain Oakland County septic approval when an onsite system is proposed, along with the Southfield building permit and applicable trade permits.151
  4. Wait for initial approvals from all city review departments before beginning building or site construction.18
  5. Complete final electrical, plumbing and HVAC inspections before the final building inspection, and obtain the certificate of occupancy before moving in.189

What stays with Oakland County, and what should you check before buying in Southfield?

Southfield’s city building and zoning rules apply inside city limits, while Oakland County Health Division retains the septic role for applicable Southfield properties.1212 For a parcel outside Southfield, use the Oakland County guide to understand the separate municipal planning and county health responsibilities.193

Before committing to a private well, contact Oakland County Health Division: Michigan county ordinances require a local health department well permit or notification before drilling, and the precise requirement varies by county.20 Ask Southfield Planning about wetlands and floodplain boundaries on the proposed homesite, and ask the city to confirm driveway access and any proposed accessory dwelling; we could not confirm complete Southfield rules for those uses.1811

Watch-outs

  • Southfield septic inspection every 3 years is separate from Oakland County’s installation inspections; budget for both obligations when applicable.417
  • An owner-builder building permit does not authorize unlicensed residential electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit applications in Southfield.8
  • We could not confirm a general temporary-camping or off-grid-sanitation rule for Southfield; ask the Planning Department about the proposed use and Oakland County Health Division about wastewater approval.1121

Sources

  1. City of Southfield Guide to Development (Southfield), quoted and re-checked
  2. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 5.62. Uses permitted (Southfield), quoted and re-checked
  3. Onsite Sewage Disposal System (Septic), quoted and re-checked
  4. Sewer & Septic Systems (Southfield), quoted and re-checked
  5. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 5.26. Automobile trailer camp (Southfield), quoted and re-checked
  6. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 5.193. Residential zoning districts (Southfield), quoted and re-checked
  7. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 5.193. Residential zoning districts (Southfield), quoted and re-checked
  8. Residential Permitting Process (Southfield), quoted and re-checked
  9. Building Department FAQ (Southfield), quoted and re-checked
  10. Southfield Building Department (cityofsouthfield.com)
  11. Southfield Planning Department (cityofsouthfield.com)
  12. Oakland County Sanitary Code (Southfield), quoted and re-checked
  13. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 5.193. Residential zoning districts (Southfield), quoted and re-checked
  14. Code of Ordinances, Sec. 5.193. Residential zoning districts (Southfield), quoted and re-checked
  15. Onsite Sewage Disposal System (Septic), quoted and re-checked
  16. Onsite Sewage Disposal System (Septic) — applications and fees, quoted and re-checked
  17. Onsite Sewage Disposal System (Septic), quoted and re-checked
  18. Southfield residential construction review (cityofsouthfield.com)
  19. Local Community Planning & Zoning (2026 county census)
  20. Before you start a well drilling business (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Oakland County Health Division, Environmental Health Services (oaklandcountymi.gov)

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 Southfield

Southfield’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, or use-group change of buildings and structures inside Southfield city limits.

    • The city guide also lists permits for accessory buildings, sheds, fences, generators, decks, roofs, gutters, siding, insulation, windows, pools, and similar work.
    • A zoning permit is required for sheds under 200 square feet.
    • Separate electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits may be required.
    “Building permits are required for constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing the use group of a building or structure.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    A homeowner performing work on the homeowner's own house inside Southfield city limits.

    • The homeowner may obtain the building permit without a builder's license and do the work personally.
    • If subcontracting, the homeowner must hire licensed trades.
    • Residential electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits must be obtained by licensed contractors.
    “Step 15: A homeowner may obtain a Building Permit without a builder’s license. Step 16: Residential electrical, plumbing & mechanical permits must be obtained by a licensed contractor.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Occupancy of buildings inside Southfield city limits.

    • The city states that all occupants must obtain a certificate before occupancy.
    • For existing commercial spaces, zoning approval and a special inspection are required; corrections must be completed and re-inspected before issuance.
    • The cited commercial-space procedure lists a $40 application fee, $100 per inspector, and $150 certificate fee.

    commercial certificate fee: 150 USD (Existing commercial-space procedure also lists a $40 application fee and $100 per inspector.)

    “The City of Southfield requires that all occupants of any building must first obtain a certificate of occupancy, before occupancy takes place.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Southfield city limits; the city adopts and administers Title V, Chapter 45, Zoning and Planning.

    • The ordinance contains residential and nonresidential zoning districts and district-specific regulations.
    “In all single-family residence districts, no building or structure or part thereof shall be erected, altered, or used, or land used, in whole or in part, except as otherwise provided in this chapter except for one (1) or more of the following specified uses:”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in the R A district inside Southfield city limits.

    • The schedule is the Article 22 schedule referenced by the single-family building-area provision.

    minimum usable floor area: 1000 square feet per dwelling unit

    “R A 7,500 65 25 2 30 (r) 8 (r) 20 35 1,000 30”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R A district inside Southfield city limits.

    required lot area: 7500 square feet · minimum lot width: 65 feet

    “R A 7,500 65 25 2 30 (r) 8 (r) 20 35 1,000 30”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R A district inside Southfield city limits.

    maximum lot coverage: 30 percent

    “R A 7,500 65 25 2 30 (r) 8 (r) 20 35 1,000 30”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R A district inside Southfield city limits.

    maximum height: 25 feet · maximum height: 2 stories

    “R A 7,500 65 25 2 30 (r) 8 (r) 20 35 1,000 30”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Use or occupancy of automobile trailers, tourist cabins, similar portable dwellings, or tents as dwellings inside Southfield city limits.

    • Existing trailer camps or tourist-cabin business enterprises established and operating when the chapter became effective are excepted.
    • No new automobile trailer camps or tourist cabins may be established after the chapter's effective date.
    “No new automobile trailer camps or tourist cabins shall be established subsequent to the effective date of this chapter and automobile trailers, tourist cabins, similar portable dwellings or tents shall not be permitted to be used or occupied as dwellings except when located in, and as a part of, such trailer camps or tourist cabin business enterprises as shall have been established, and in operation, at the time of the effective date of this chapter.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Private septic systems inside Southfield city limits.

    • Inspection must be performed by a Certified Inspector every three years.
    • If the system fails, the owner may connect to city sewer or repair the septic system under local and state guidelines.

    inspection interval: 3 years

    “Property owners with septic systems must have their systems inspected every three years by a Certified Inspector.”

Rules another office applies inside Southfield

Southfield 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 (with conditions)

    Onsite wastewater systems serving applicable properties inside Southfield city limits; Oakland County Health Division is the administering health authority.

    • The cited Oakland County rule expressly covers single- and two-family homes within Oakland County.
    • Other premises may be regulated when authorized by other public agencies or officials with statutory jurisdiction.
    “The Health Officer shall be responsible for regulating the design, installation, operation and Maintenance of all Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems serving single and two-family homes within Oakland County.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Southfield city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Southfield city limits.
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside Southfield city limits.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Southfield city limits.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation systems inside Southfield city limits.
5 more unanswered
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • 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.

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

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