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

Rules another office applies inside Clinton Township

Clinton 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 Clinton Township; the Statewide Jurisdiction List assigns Clinton Township code enforcement to Oscoda County.

  • A permit is also required when use or occupancy changes.
  • Ordinary repairs do not require a permit.
  • Application must be submitted to the appropriate enforcing agency.

  “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)

  Building-code work inside Clinton Township, where the current Statewide Jurisdiction List assigns building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing enforcement to Oscoda County.

  • The Statewide Jurisdiction List is revised periodically and directs permit and inspection requests to the appropriate enforcing agency.

  “The code authority being administered and enforced by the jurisdictions, as specified in the List, includes the seven (7) codes which make up the State Code according to MCL 125.1504(2).”

• Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

  Onsite sewage disposal systems inside Clinton Township, which is in Oscoda County.

  • DHD2 serves Oscoda County and administers the onsite sewage program under its Environmental Health Regulations.

  “"Municipality" means any incorporated city, village, or township within the Counties of Alcona, Iosco, Ogemaw and Oscoda.”

• Septic permitRequired

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

  • System must be constructed under the Environmental Health Regulations and special permit requirements.
  • The permit is valid for the remainder of issuance year and the following calendar year.
  • One 12-month extension is possible only upon written request, the required fee, request within 30 days of expiration, and no site changes affecting the permit.

  permit extension: 12 months (Only one extension; written request, fee, timely request, and no relevant site changes are required.)

  “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 Clinton Township before covering or backfilling.

  • Final inspection is arranged by mutual agreement among DHD2, the installer, and/or the property owner.
  • Inspection must occur before covering or backfilling.

  “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.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit applicants inside Clinton Township, who must apply to the appropriate enforcing agency.

  • Construction documents are required with each permit application unless the building official waives them because compliance can be determined from the application description.
  • For one- and two-family dwellings below 3,500 square feet of calculated floor area, the cited state page says seal/signature are not required.

  one- and two-family dwelling threshold: < 3500 square feet of calculated floor area (Seal and signature not required under the cited state guidance.)

  “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 Clinton Township or Oscoda County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a residence inside Clinton Township.
• Inspections — Building work inside Clinton Township.
• Certificate of occupancy — New or altered structures inside Clinton Township.
• Mandatory utility hookup — New homes inside Clinton Township.
• Agricultural exemption — Agricultural construction or land use inside Clinton 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.