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

Chesaning Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  New construction and non-maintenance work on existing buildings inside Chesaning township

  • Ordinary maintenance is excepted; construction may proceed after the permit is issued.
  • Building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are obtained at the township office.

  “building permits: all new construction and anything other than ordinary maintenance on existing buildings will require a permit.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  All land inside Chesaning township limits (not unincorporated county land outside the township)

  • Township page says the ordinance was formally amended November 6, 2025; the PDF it links is dated May 6, 2010 and the 2025 amended text was not opened, so the current text is unverified.
  • Health, building and well/septic rules apply in addition to zoning.

  “chesaning township is a zoned community, with a newly updated zoning ordinance, which was formally amended november 6, 2025.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  All land inside Chesaning township limits

  • Districts are listed in the 2010 ordinance text; a zoning map is linked from the township page but was not opened.

  “all land within chesaning township, excepting streets and alleys, is divided into the following zoning districts.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single family residential (R-1A) district inside Chesaning township (2010 ordinance text; amended text unverified)

  • From the posted May 6, 2010 ordinance; the township page says the ordinance was amended November 6, 2025, so confirm the current figure.
  • Lot area minimum only; setbacks and other dimensions not opened.

  minimum lot area: >= 1 acre

  “to create residential areas that will maintain their quality of life for future inhabitants. minimum lot area: one (1) acre.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • District specific (with conditions) — Agricultural farmland preservation (A) district inside Chesaning township (2010 ordinance text; amended text unverified)

    “to reinforce the continued agricultural use of property, as encouraged by the farmland and open space preservation act. minimum lot area: two (2) acres.”

• Permit processPartial

  Building and trade permits for work inside Chesaning township

  • Building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are obtained at the township office; the building official answers zoning and construction-code questions.
  • Process steps, fees and inspection schedule not opened.

  “building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are obtained at the township office.”

Rules another office applies inside Chesaning Township

Chesaning 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)

  Septic systems on land inside Chesaning township, administered by the Saginaw County Health Department (county-wide rule applied inside the township)

  • The Saginaw County Environmental Health Code governs onsite wastewater systems and wells county-wide; the township is not the rule-maker for septic.

  “well and septic permits are issued by the saginaw county health department.”

• Septic permitRequired

  New or replacement septic systems at sites inside Chesaning township not served by public water and sewage disposal (county rule applied inside the township)

  • Permit issued by the Saginaw County Health Department after site evaluation; permit valid for two years.
  • Also check with township representatives for building permit and zoning acceptance.

  “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

  Onsite septic systems installed inside Chesaning township under a county wastewater permit (county rule applied inside the township)

  • Inspection is made before the system is covered; installers must be registered with the county health department.

  “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

  Private onsite sewage disposal at sites inside Chesaning township with no public sewer (county rule applied inside the township)

  • Private septic is allowed only with a county wastewater permit and an approved site evaluation; soils and water table decide suitability.

  “a permit will be issued to you if the conditions found on the site are acceptable for the installation of an onsite wastewater treatment and disposal system.”

• Well permitRequired

  New or replacement private water wells at sites inside Chesaning township not served by a public water supply (county rule applied inside the township)

  • Well must be installed by a licensed well driller; the county collects a water sample and inspects the 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 Chesaning Township or Saginaw County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption in Chesaning township
• Building code adopted — Construction codes enforced by Chesaning township
• Inspections — Building inspections for work inside Chesaning township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Chesaning township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in the R-1A and agricultural districts of Chesaning 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.