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

Blumfield Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Blumfield township limits (Saginaw County, MI). The township administers its own zoning ordinance through a zoning administrator, zoning board of appeals and township zoning permits.

  • Zoning permits are required for all building, fencing, and deck related projects, including agricultural.
  • If a project is started before approval, the permit fee is doubled.
  • All applications must include a site plan at the time of submission, submitted to the zoning administrator.
  • Variance requests go to the zoning board of appeals (ZBA chair contact listed on the township page).
  • The official township page does not quote an ordinance title or adoption date. A third-party copy on energyzoning.org describes an ordinance adopted January 13, 2015 and amended through Ord. #2018-2, August 14, 2018; that copy was not used as evidence and must be checked against the township's current adopted text.

  permit fee multiplier if work starts before approval: 2 x permit fee

  “zoning permits are required for all building, fencing, and deck related projects, including agricultural.”

• Permit processPartial

  Township zoning permit applications for projects inside Blumfield township.

  • Submit applications and site plans to the zoning administrator (email, or drop-off/mail to township hall, 1175 W. Vassar Rd., Reese, MI 48757).
  • Fees are accepted by cash or check.
  • Building permits are handled separately by the Construction Code Group at Frankenmuth City Hall.

  “all applications must include a site plan at the time of submission.”

Rules another office applies inside Blumfield Township

Blumfield 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

  Building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits for work inside Blumfield township, processed by the Construction Code Group at Frankenmuth City Hall.

  • The township page says these permits are handled by the construction code group; it does not itself state the permit threshold or exemptions.
  • Township zoning permits are a separate requirement (see local_zoning claim).

  “building/electrical/mechanical/plumbing permits are handled by the construction code group, located at frankenmuth city hall.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite wastewater (septic) systems on land inside Blumfield township that is not served by public sewer, administered by the Saginaw County Health Department under the Saginaw County Environmental Health Code.

  • Applies only where the site is not served by a public water supply and sewage disposal system.
  • The county page covers onsite wastewater systems and onsite water wells under the county code.
  • The county page does not name Blumfield township; applicability inside Blumfield is inferred from the county-wide code and the absence of any township septic rule on the township page.

  “onsite wastewater treatment and disposal (septic) systems and onsite water wells are covered under the saginaw county environmental health code.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Building or replacing a septic system at a site inside Blumfield township that is not served by public water and sewage disposal.

  • Permit is issued by the Saginaw County Health Department.
  • Sites must be evaluated before a permit is issued (see septic_inspection claim).
  • The permit is valid for two years and states minimum construction standards; changes must be approved by the health department before installation.
  • Installer registration is required by the county page, but the sentence was cut off in the captured text and its details are unverified.

  septic permit validity: 2 years

  “you are required to obtain a well permit and/or a wastewater disposal permit from this office.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  New or replacement septic systems at sites inside Blumfield township not served by public sewer.

  • The required item is a site evaluation by a health department representative (soil layers, water table, surface drainage) before the permit is issued.
  • The page does not confirm a final construction inspection or its timing; that remains open.

  “each site must be evaluated by a department of public health representative to accurately determine the characteristics of the soil layers which exist below the land surface and other features of the area, such as the water table level and surface drainage patterns.”

• Well permitRequired

  Building or replacing a water well at a site inside Blumfield township that is not served by a public water supply.

  • Permit issued by the Saginaw County Health Department under the county environmental health code.
  • Applies only where the site is not served by a public water supply and sewage disposal system.
  • The county well-permit page surfaced in search (abandonment rule for replaced wells) was not opened, so that detail is unverified.

  “you are required to obtain a well permit and/or a wastewater disposal permit from this office.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Whether an owner-builder may build a home without a licensed contractor in Blumfield township.
• Building code adopted — Which state building codes are adopted and enforced for construction inside Blumfield township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Whether a certificate of occupancy is required before occupying a new home inside Blumfield township.
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for Blumfield township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area for the single-family residential district inside Blumfield 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.