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

Rules another office applies inside Chapin Township

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

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite septic systems on land inside Chapin township (Saginaw County, Michigan) not served by public water supply and sewage disposal; the Saginaw County Health Department administers this for the county, including Chapin township

  • Onsite wastewater systems are governed by the Saginaw County Environmental Health Code, administered by the Saginaw County Health Department.
  • Permit specifications and minimum system sizes are set by the health department based on site conditions.
  • No separate Chapin township septic ordinance was located.

  “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 on a site inside Chapin township (Saginaw County) not served by a public water supply and sewage disposal system

  • Site must be evaluated by a health department representative (soil borings, water table, drainage) before a permit issues.
  • Permit is issued only if site conditions are acceptable.
  • Any change from the permit's minimum requirements must be approved by the health department before installation.
  • Septic system installers must be registered with the Saginaw County Health Department.
  • The property owner may appeal for a variance from the environmental health code (per county page).
  • If the property is in or partly in a regulated floodplain or wetland, an EGLE permit is also needed before the county will issue its permit (see chapin-floodplain-development-limited).

  permit validity: 2 years

  “if you own property and are planning to build or need to replace a well or septic system at a site which is not served by a public water supply and sewage disposal system, you are required to obtain a well permit and/or a wastewater disposal permit from this office.”

• Septic inspectionRequired

  Completed onsite septic system installed on a site inside Chapin township (Saginaw County)

  • The health department must make a complete inspection of the finished septic system before it is covered.
  • Changes to the permitted system must be approved before installation.

  “make a complete inspection of the completed onsite wastewater treatment and disposal system prior to covering to ensure that the system has been properly installed and quality materials in the amounts required have been used.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Onsite sanitation on a site inside Chapin township not served by public water supply and sewage disposal

  • Onsite wastewater systems must be permitted by the Saginaw County Health Department and sized to site conditions.
  • Holding-tank, privy and composting rules were not researched.

  “a private wastewater disposal system must be sized according to site conditions, which vary throughout the county.”

• Well permitRequired

  Building or replacing a private water well on a site inside Chapin township not served by a public water supply

  • Wells must be installed by a well driller licensed under Michigan law (per county page, Act 368 of 1978).
  • Health department collects a water sample and inspects the well installation.

  “if you own property and are planning to build or need to replace a well or septic system at a site which is not served by a public water supply and sewage disposal system, 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 Chapin Township or Saginaw County directly.

• Building permit — New residential construction inside Chapin township: whether a building permit is required and who issues it
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a homeowner building in Chapin township
• Building code adopted — Construction inside Chapin township: which building, residential, electrical and mechanical codes are enforced there
• Inspections — Building construction inspections inside Chapin township (non-septic)
• Certificate of occupancy — New dwellings inside Chapin township: whether a certificate of occupancy is required

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.