Bolthole Index

Sanilac County, Michigan

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Croswell, Michigan

Croswell, Michigan requires building permits for construction and changes of use or occupancy, with ordinary-repair exceptions; the city identifies Sanilac County as the building-permit and inspection office.12 Croswell administers its own zoning and land-use approval, while the Sanilac County Health Department handles onsite sanitary-facility review.324 Connecting to Croswell’s public sewer requires a separate written city sewer permit.5

At a glance

Building permits
Required for construction and occupancy changes, subject to ordinary-repair exceptions; county building department handles applications and inspections.12
Zoning approval
Croswell has its own zoning code; land-use permits come from the City Hall Zoning Administrator.32
Septic review
Sanilac County Health Department reviews onsite facilities when bathrooms or bedrooms are added.4
Public sewer
Written city sewer permit and plumbing permit required for a connection; capacity must be available.5
Private wells
Covered new and replacement wells require a Sanilac County Health Department permit before installation.6
Owner-builders
Michigan’s own-use licensing exemption does not remove building-permit, inspection or zoning requirements.7

Who to call

Zoning

Croswell City Hall — Zoning Administrator

City land-use, fence and sign approvals; confirmation of the zoning district and current fees.

810-679-2299

100 N. Howard Ave.

Septic permits

Sanilac County Health Department — Environmental Health Division

Septic and well permits, soil evaluations, and related environmental health applications

(810) 648-4098 ext. 124

[email protected]

171 Dawson Street Ste. 123, Sandusky, MI 48471

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Croswell means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Croswell, MI, and who issues it?

Croswell construction and changes in a building’s use or occupancy require a building-permit application to the appropriate enforcing agency, subject to the ordinary-repair exception.1 Croswell’s official information packet directs building permits and inspections to the Sanilac County Building Department, at (810) 648-4664; electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits also go to that department.2 Ask the county building office which construction documents and inspection stages apply to your proposed home. Michigan requires periodic inspections of construction performed under a building permit.8 An owner-builder licensing exemption does not waive those building-permit or inspection obligations.7

Does Croswell have zoning, and can you live in an RV or tiny home?

Croswell has its own zoning code, adopted by reference, with a copy available in the City Clerk’s office.3 Croswell’s Zoning Administrator issues land-use permits at City Hall.2 Start with the parcel’s zoning district and ask the Zoning Administrator for the allowed residential uses, lot dimensions, setbacks, height and dwelling-size standards. Michigan’s zoning framework leaves actual district regulations to the applicable local ordinance.9 We could not confirm Croswell’s rules for private-land RV living, temporary camping, tiny homes or accessory dwellings; ask the Zoning Administrator for written answers before buying a unit or planning to occupy one.3

How do septic permits and sewer connections work inside Croswell?

Croswell’s public-sewer connection rules require a written city sewer permit before connecting, plus a plumbing permit; the city can require plans and specifications, and downstream capacity must be available.5 The adopted sewer chapter lists a $50 hook-up fee when the application is filed; ask City Hall for the complete current connection cost before budgeting a project.5 For a property using onsite disposal, the Sanilac County Health Department reviews existing sanitary facilities or septic and well permits when bathrooms are included or bedrooms added.4 Environmental Health provides septic applications and soil-evaluation forms.10 We could not confirm the complete Croswell-specific septic inspection procedure; ask Environmental Health to identify the approvals for the parcel.4

What are the steps to building a home in Croswell?

Begin at Croswell City Hall: request the zoning code and have the Zoning Administrator review the proposed use and issue the applicable land-use approval.32 Next, resolve wastewater service: request city sewer-connection approval where connecting to the public system, or arrange Environmental Health review for onsite sanitary facilities.54 Then contact the Sanilac County Building Department for building and applicable electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits and inspection arrangements.2 Plan for periodic construction inspections under Michigan law.8 Ask the building office and City Hall which final approvals must be completed before moving in; we could not confirm Croswell’s local occupancy-certificate procedure.1

What stays with Sanilac County, and what should Croswell buyers check?

Sanilac County Health Department remains the contact for onsite sanitary-facility review and covered private-well permits in Croswell; a covered well must receive its permit before installation.46 City zoning and public-sewer approval remain separate decisions.35 Ask City Hall to identify the road authority for a proposed driveway and the local floodplain requirements before fixing a building location. State floodplain rules can require EGLE approval for construction, fill or alteration along qualifying rivers, streams and drains, and prohibit new residential construction in the floodway.11 For a parcel outside Croswell city limits, use the Sanilac County guide and identify the applicable city, village or township zoning administrator.12

Watch-outs

  • Croswell zoning exists even though Sanilac County has no county-level zoning; request the city’s zoning code from the City Clerk.312
  • Croswell sewer connections depend on available downstream capacity; a written city sewer permit is required before connection work.5
  • We could not confirm Croswell’s RV, tiny-home, setback or minimum-dwelling-size rules; ask the City Hall Zoning Administrator before committing to a purchase.32

Sources

  1. Building Permit Information (Croswell), quoted and re-checked
  2. Croswell City Hall — Zoning Administrator (files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com)
  3. § 153.01 Adopted by Reference (Croswell), quoted and re-checked
  4. sanilaccounty.gov, quoted and re-checked
  5. § 51.005 Building Sewer and Connections (Croswell), quoted and re-checked
  6. cms2.revize.com, quoted and re-checked
  7. Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. courts.michigan.gov (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Sanilac County Health Department — Environmental Health Division (sanilachealth.com)
  11. Floodplains (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Sanilac County - Construction and Land Use, Procedures and Instructions (2026 county census)

Written October 12, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Croswell

Croswell’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Croswell city limits; Croswell adopts and maintains its own zoning code.

    • The adopted zoning code is incorporated by reference and a copy is on file in the City Clerk's office.
    “The Zoning Code (Ord. 167, passed - -) and all amendments and additions thereto are adopted by reference as if fully set out herein. A copy of the code is on file in the office of the City Clerk.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Buildings connecting to Croswell's public sewer inside city limits.

    • A written city sewer permit is required before making a public-sewer connection.
    • The sewer permit application requires plans/specifications or other information required by the chapter or city.
    • A $50 hook-up fee is due when the application is filed.
    • A plumbing permit is also required.
    • If a street opening is required, an additional permit attachment must be completed.
    • No sewer connection is permitted unless downstream sewer, lift-station, force-main, treatment-plant, BOD, and suspended-solids capacity is available.

    hook-up fee: 50 USD (paid to the City Treasurer when the application is filed)

    “No person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof, without first obtaining a written permit from the city.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision activity inside Croswell city limits.

    • Croswell Code Title XV lists Chapter 152, Subdivision Regulations, and its chapter is adopted by reference; the detailed standards were not available in the opened page.
    “152. SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS 153. ZONING CODE 154. BLIGHT PREVENTION 155. FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT”

Rules another office applies inside Croswell

Croswell 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 or occupancy changes inside Croswell city limits subject to the Michigan building-code system.

    • A permit is not required for ordinary repairs, but the state page lists structural, egress, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and public-health/safety limitations on that exception.
    • The application must be submitted to the appropriate enforcing agency; the enforcing agency may be state, county, or local.
    “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

    Building construction inside Croswell city limits under the Michigan construction-code system.

    • The current code page states the 2021 Michigan Building Code is effective April 9, 2025; residential requirements are contained in the Michigan Residential Code.

    effective date: 2025-04-09

    “2021 Michigan Building Code -Current Code-Effective April 9, 2025”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Croswell or Sanilac County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders undertaking residential construction inside Croswell city limits.
  • Inspections — Building work inside Croswell city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Croswell city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Croswell city limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Croswell city limits.
17 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Croswell publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Sanilac County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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