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

Pulawski Township’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  Township-administered zoning inside Pulawski township. The township does not appear to run its own zoning; zoning permits for Pulawski are issued under the Presque Isle County zoning ordinance.

  • County zoning applies in Pulawski under the county ordinance (see zoning_districts and dimensional claims).

  “zoning permits for townships under the pic zoning ordinance include: bearinger, belknap, bismarck, case, metz, moltke, north allis, ocqueoc, posen, pulawski and rogers.”

Rules another office applies inside Pulawski Township

Pulawski 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

  New residential construction, additions and alterations in Pulawski township (unincorporated Presque Isle County)

  • The Presque Isle County building department issues building permits for the entire county.
  • Zoning approval and a zoning permit must come before a building permit (see local_zoning).
  • Plumbing and mechanical permits are issued by the State of Michigan for all townships, villages, and cities.
  • Permits are generally good for one year.

  “presque isle county building department issues building permits for the entire county.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction in Pulawski township is administered under the Michigan building code as enforced by Presque Isle County

  • Plumbing and mechanical permits are issued by the State of Michigan for townships (see building_permit_requirement).

  “no building permits shall be issued until all of the following items are submitted in accordance with pa 230, the michigan building code, and the presque isle county ordinances.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Permitted construction in Pulawski township (unincorporated Presque Isle County)

  • Footing, foundation, framing and rough inspections are required as code requires, before work is covered.
  • Inspectors must be licensed by the State of Michigan in their trade (2026 policy section 4.1).

  “permit holders must call for a footing inspection before pouring concrete as well as for foundation, framing, rough (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) inspections, as required by code, before covering or back filling any work”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New or remodeled buildings in Pulawski township (unincorporated Presque Isle County)

  • Well finals are required before a certificate of occupancy can be issued where a well is involved.

  “well finals are required before a certificate of occupancy can be issued.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic systems on parcels in Pulawski township not served by municipal water and/or sewer

  • Permits and approvals run through District Health Department #4 (Rogers City), not the county building office.
  • Municipal service areas are excluded.

  “septic system/well permits for new and/or replacement homes, bedroom additions, and mobile homes, in areas not serviced by municipal water and/or sewers, are secured through the district #4 health department”

• Septic permitRequired

  New or replacement homes, bedroom additions and mobile homes on parcels in Pulawski township not served by municipal water and/or sewer

  • Septic system approval must be in hand before a building permit is issued.
  • Also required before any permit for additions with bedrooms, new single-family homes or premanufactured units (2026 policy 1.1.4.4).

  “septic system approvals are needed before a building permit can be issued.”

• Well permitRequired

  Wells on parcels in Pulawski township not served by municipal water (new homes, replacement homes, bedroom additions, mobile homes)

  • Well final required before a certificate of occupancy.

  “septic system/well permits for new and/or replacement homes, bedroom additions, and mobile homes, in areas not serviced by municipal water and/or sewers, are secured through the district #4 health department”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building, zoning and health-approval sequence for permits in Pulawski township

  • No building permit may be issued until zoning, soil erosion (where applicable) and health department approvals and permits are in place.
  • Plan review is typically within 5 business days; state law requires building permits reviewed and issued within 10 business days after documentation and fees are paid, 15 for complicated projects.
  • Commercial construction requires three sets of plans; residential requires two sets.

  state review period: <= 10 business days (15 business days for complicated projects)

  “1.3 public act 230 of 1972, as amended states “ building permits shall be reviewed and issued within 10 business days once all applicable documentation and all fees are paid” and 15 business days for complicated projects.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-performed construction on own home in Pulawski township
• Lot coverage — Maximum lot coverage in Pulawski township
• Septic inspection — Septic inspection on parcels in Pulawski township
• Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid or non-septic sanitation on land in Pulawski township
• Mandatory utility hookup — Whether a new home in Pulawski township must connect to public water or sewer

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.