Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Big Creek Township, Michigan

Big Creek Township’s own rules

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Partitioning or division of parcels or tracts inside Big Creek Township.

  • The land-division ordinance establishes prior review and approval standards within the township.
  • For a recorded-plat lot division, application to the Township Clerk and Township Board approval are required; exceptions and dimensional controls appear in Ordinance No. 3.

  “The purpose ofthisordinance is to carry outtheprovisions ofthe State Land Division Act (1967 PA 288, asamended, formerly known asthe Subdivision Control Act), toprevent the creation ofparcels ofproperty which donotcomply with applicable ordinances and said Act, to minimize potential boundary disputes, to maintain orderly development ofthe community, and otherwise provide for thehealth, safety and welfare ofthe residents and property owners ofthe Township byestablishing reasonable standards for prior review and approvd ofland divisions within the Township.”

Rules another office applies inside Big Creek Township

Big Creek 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 permitRequired

  Construction of a building or structure inside Big Creek Township, subject to the appropriate enforcing agency.

  • A permit is also required when a structure's use or occupancy changes.
  • Ordinary repairs are exempt only as described by the state page; the listed structural, egress, piping, electrical, mechanical, public-health, and general-safety work is excluded from that ordinary-repair exemption.

  “Before construction of a building or structure, an owner, or the owner's builder, architect, engineer, or agent, shall submit an application in writing to the appropriate enforcing agency for a building permit. A permit is also required when the use or occupancy of a structure or portion thereof is changed.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings and structures inside Big Creek Township subject to Michigan construction-code enforcement.

  • One- and two-family dwellings are addressed in the Michigan Residential Code.
  • The appropriate enforcing agency administers permits.

  “The Michigan Building Code controls all matters concerning the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy, and maintenance of all buildings and structures and their service equipment.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Onsite sewage disposal systems inside Big Creek Township.

  • The township's lot-splitting ordinance requires District Health Department approval of land suitability before a building permit may issue or construction commence after a covered lot division.
  • District Health Department No. 2 identifies an Oscoda County office in Mio.

  “District Health Department No. 2 Onsite Sewage Disposal Program is designed to assure compliance with the local Environmental Health Regulations.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Installation or repair of an onsite sewage disposal system inside Big Creek Township.

  • The permit must be obtained before installation or repair.
  • After application and fee, the department arranges a site visit, conducts site review and soil evaluation, and issues a construction permit if site conditions allow.
  • Permit duration and extension conditions are stated on the District Health Department page.

  “The Environmental Health Regulations require that property owners obtain a construction permit prior to installing or repairing an onsite sewage disposal system.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Completed onsite sewage disposal systems inside Big Creek Township.

  • Final inspection must occur before the system is covered or backfilled.
  • The inspection is arranged by mutual agreement among the health department and installer and/or property owner.

  “A final inspection of the completed system must be conducted by District Health Department No. 2 staff prior to covering/backfilling the sewage disposal system.”

• Well permitRequired

  New or replacement residential wells, Type III public wells, other water supplies, and extensive repair to existing wells inside Big Creek Township.

  • Application and permit must precede construction or extensive repair.
  • The health department reviews the application and site plan and approves a permit if conditions are satisfactory.

  “The Environmental Health Regulations for District Health Department No. 2 requires that prior to construction of a new or replacement residential or Type III public well, or other type of water supply, and prior to extensive repair to an existing well, a person must apply for and obtain a water supply construction permit from District Health Department No. 2.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applications for construction inside Big Creek Township.

  • Application is submitted to the appropriate enforcing agency.
  • Construction documents are required with each application unless the building official waives them because compliance can be determined from the application description.
  • Architect/engineer seal and signature exceptions stated on the state page apply.

  “A set of construction documents is required with each application for a permit. The submission of construction documents may be waived by the building official when code compliance can be determined based on the description in the application.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders seeking permits for construction inside Big Creek Township.
• Inspections — Building inspections for land inside Big Creek Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for land inside Big Creek Township.
• Local zoning — Land inside Big Creek Township, Oscoda County, Michigan.
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Big Creek 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.