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

Colfax Township’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Colfax Township, Oceana County, Michigan

  • Source is the Oceana County directory, not the township's own site; no township statement found
  • Township sites named Colfax in Benzie County (joint Greater Thompsonville zoning) are a different jurisdiction and were discarded

  “14 zoned townships 2 unzoned townships (colfax and leavitt)”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Colfax Township, Oceana County: no zoning districts because the township is unzoned

  • Derived from county directory listing township as unzoned

  “14 zoned townships 2 unzoned townships (colfax and leavitt)”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Minimum dwelling size inside Colfax Township; no zoning minimum because unzoned

  • Based on county directory listing township as unzoned
  • State building code still applies

  “14 zoned townships 2 unzoned townships (colfax and leavitt)”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Minimum lot size inside Colfax Township; no zoning minimum because unzoned

  • Based on county directory listing township as unzoned
  • Health district septic/well siting and land division rules still apply

  “14 zoned townships 2 unzoned townships (colfax and leavitt)”

• SetbacksNone

  Zoning setbacks inside Colfax Township; none because unzoned

  • Based on county directory listing township as unzoned
  • State building code and road right-of-way rules still apply

  “14 zoned townships 2 unzoned townships (colfax and leavitt)”

• Lot coverageNone

  Lot coverage limits inside Colfax Township; none because unzoned

  • Based on county directory listing township as unzoned

  “14 zoned townships 2 unzoned townships (colfax and leavitt)”

• Building heightNone

  Zoning height limits inside Colfax Township; none because unzoned

  • Based on county directory listing township as unzoned
  • State building code still applies

  “14 zoned townships 2 unzoned townships (colfax and leavitt)”

Rules another office applies inside Colfax Township

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

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Applies inside Colfax Township, Oceana County: Oceana County Building Department administers state codes there; Colfax is not among townships with their own building departments

  • County page lists only Newfield, Otto and Grant townships as covered by other building departments
  • Codes listed: 2015 Michigan Residential, 2021 Michigan Building, plumbing, mechanical, 2023 electrical, 2021 fuel gas

  2021 Michigan Building Code effective: 2025-04-09

  “the oceana county building department issues building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits for residential and commercial structures within the county (see townships listed below that are covered through other building departments)”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Applies inside Colfax Township: buildings in Oceana County building-department jurisdiction

  • Called an 'occupancy letter'
  • Guide is countywide; Colfax is not listed among townships with separate building departments

  “14. an occupancy letter is required on all buildings before they can be used or occupied.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  New septic and well systems inside Colfax Township, Oceana County, handled by District Health Department #10

  • District Health Department #10 is a multi-county local health department; county guide is countywide and does not name Colfax

  “7. septic/well permit - district #10 health department (231) 873-2193. the building department needs the actual permit, not the receipt. new homes or buildings with new well/septic.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveway permits inside Colfax Township, Oceana County, issued by the county road commission

  • Needed when no other buildings already exist, in road right-of-way, or where culverts are needed
  • Not needed when the driveway will be on a private road
  • Guide is countywide and does not name Colfax

  “9. driveway permit - from the county road commission (231)873-4226 is needed when no other buildings already exist, when doing anything in road right-of-way and/or where culverts will have to be installed, except for when the driveway will be on a private road.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Construction impacting a floodplain, lake, stream, wetland or dune inside Colfax Township; EGLE permit

  • Applies only where activity impacts a regulated feature
  • Guide is countywide and does not name Colfax

  “3. egle permit - from the department of environment, great lakes, and energy (egle)'s water resources division is required for any construction activities that would impact a lake, river, stream, wetland, dune, high risk erosion, or floodplain.”

• Permit processPublished

  Applies inside Colfax Township: building permit process under Oceana County Building Department

  • Guide is countywide; lists site plan, EGLE/DNR permits, house number form, septic/well permit, driveway permit, soil erosion permit, then building permit
  • Applications must be submitted in person or by US mail, not email
  • Updated 04/17/2026

  “start with step 1 and make your way down to ensure you have all documents when applying for a building permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits inside Colfax Township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Colfax Township
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Colfax Township
• Septic permit — Septic permits inside Colfax Township
• Septic inspection — Septic inspections inside Colfax Township

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.