Bolthole Index

Sanilac County, Michigan

Building permits, zoning and septic in the Village of Deckerville, Michigan

The Village of Deckerville, Michigan requires zoning compliance approval before Sanilac County issues a building permit for construction, alteration, moving or demolition.1 Deckerville sets its own zoning, while Sanilac County Health Department handles on-site septic and well review when projects add bathrooms or bedrooms.23 Visitor RV occupancy at a dwelling is temporary, with a 30-day initial limit.4

At a glance

Building permits
Sanilac County issues building permits after village zoning compliance approval1
Zoning
Village zoning applies; official map is kept at the village office2
Septic
County Health Department reviews projects adding bathrooms or bedrooms3
RV living
Visitor occupancy at a dwelling: 30 days, with another 30 days upon application4
Manufactured homes
At least 900 square feet in manufactured-home subdivision or land-lease-community districts5
Lot size
R2 newly created parcels: 20,000 square feet, 100-foot width/frontage, 200-foot depth6
Owner-builder
State licensing exemption for own use and occupancy on own property; building and zoning requirements still apply7
Wells
County Health Department well permit must be issued before covered well installations8

Who to call

Zoning

Village of Deckerville Office

Village zoning inquiries and access to the village permit form

810-376-9505

[email protected]

2521 Black River St Deckerville, MI 48427

Building permits

Sanilac County Construction and Land Use Department

Building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permit applications and inspections in Sanilac County

(810)648-4664

60 West Sanilac, Courthouse Annex-Room 210, Sandusky, Michigan 48471

Online permits →

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 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in the Village of Deckerville, MI?

Deckerville requires a building permit for a structure or building that is constructed, altered, moved or demolished, with Sanilac County Building and Land Use Department issuing the building permit under the village ordinance.1 Village zoning compliance approval comes first, and a new or different land use also requires zoning compliance approval.1 Ordinary repairs may be exempt under state rules; do not assume an alteration qualifies without asking the building office.1 Michigan’s owner-builder licensing exemption concerns a home built for personal use and occupancy on the owner’s property; the exemption does not remove building permits, inspections or zoning requirements.7

Who handles building permits and zoning in the Village of Deckerville?

Start a Deckerville zoning inquiry with the village office, whose official zoning page provides the village permit form.9 The village office can be reached at 810-376-9505 or [email protected].9 Sanilac County issues Deckerville building permits after village zoning compliance approval.1 The county construction office accepts building-permit applications at its courthouse office and schedules inspections by telephone.10 Use the village office for zoning and the county building office for construction review; septic and well review remains with Sanilac County Health Department when bathrooms or bedrooms are added.13

Does the Village of Deckerville have zoning and minimum lot sizes?

Deckerville has village zoning, and the official zoning map is maintained at the village office.2 Ask the village zoning administrator to identify the parcel’s district before choosing a house design.11 In Deckerville’s R2 residential district, new subdivisions and newly created parcels require at least 20,000 square feet, frontage and width of 100 feet, and depth of 200 feet.6 Those dimensions describe R2 new parcels, rather than a village-wide minimum for every existing lot.6 Deckerville’s agricultural exemption addresses land-removal and land-fill permits only; it does not establish a general exemption from building or health requirements.12

How do septic permits and wells work inside the Village of Deckerville?

For Deckerville construction that includes bathrooms or adds bedrooms, Sanilac County Health Department reviews existing facilities or septic and well permits.3 The Environmental Health Division supplies septic permit, well and soil-evaluation application materials, and answers questions at (810) 648-4098 ext. 124.13 Covered new and replacement well installations require an issued county health permit before installation; submitting the application is not permission to drill.8 We could not confirm Deckerville’s general municipal water or sewer connection requirement or permission for off-grid sanitation; ask the village office about connections and Environmental Health about the proposed sanitation system.913

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Village of Deckerville?

Deckerville allows a visitor’s travel trailer or motor home at a dwelling to be occupied for 30 days, using the dwelling’s sanitary facilities or other suitable sanitary provisions; another 30 days may be granted upon application.4 That visitor provision does not establish permission for indefinite RV living on a vacant parcel.4 The planning commission may permit a trailer or mobile home as a temporary accessory dwelling with access to the permanent dwelling’s sanitary facilities.14 We could not confirm a distinct tiny-home occupancy rule; ask the village zoning administrator before buying.9 Manufactured homes in the specified manufactured-home districts require at least 900 square feet of living area, excluding attached garages, open porches and other attached structures.5

Building a home in the Village of Deckerville: what are the steps?

1. Ask the village office for the official zoning district and obtain zoning compliance approval before the county building permit.111 2. Resolve sanitary-facility review with Sanilac County Health Department if the project includes bathrooms or adds bedrooms, and obtain an issued well permit before a covered well installation.38 3. Submit the building-permit application to Sanilac County and arrange the required construction inspections.115 4. Check driveway design with the village: Deckerville’s private-road and driveway standards apply to access serving parcels and structures.16 For land outside village limits, use the Sanilac County guide and identify the applicable city, village or township zoning administrator.17

Watch-outs

  • Deckerville’s visitor RV provision is tied to a dwelling and suitable sanitation; ask the village zoning administrator about a proposed stay while building.4
  • We could not confirm Deckerville-specific floodplain requirements; ask the village zoning administrator, and remember Michigan prohibits new residential construction in the floodway.918
  • A driveway is required under Deckerville’s design standards when the rear of a use requiring a building permit is more than 75 feet from the road right-of-way, or the parcel lacks road frontage.16

Sources

  1. Code of Ordinances, Chapter 54, Sec. 54-101, Permits required (Village of Deckerville), quoted and re-checked
  2. Code of Ordinances, Chapter 54, Sec. 54-210, Establishment of districts (Village of Deckerville), quoted and re-checked
  3. sanilaccounty.gov, quoted and re-checked
  4. Code of Ordinances, Chapter 54, Sec. 54-67, Temporary dwellings (Village of Deckerville), quoted and re-checked
  5. Code of Ordinances, Chapter 54, Sec. 54-212, Manufactured home subdivision and land lease communities (Village of Deckerville), quoted and re-checked
  6. Code of Ordinances, Chapter 54, Sec. 54-211, Residential districts (Village of Deckerville), quoted and re-checked
  7. Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. cms2.revize.com, quoted and re-checked
  9. Village of Deckerville Office (deckerville.us)
  10. Sanilac County Construction and Land Use Department (sanilaccounty.gov)
  11. Code of Ordinances, Chapter 54, Sec. 54-210, Establishment of districts (Village of Deckerville), quoted and re-checked
  12. Code of Ordinances, Chapter 54, Sec. 54-101, Permits required (Village of Deckerville), quoted and re-checked
  13. Sanilac County Health Department — Environmental Health Division (sanilachealth.com)
  14. Code of Ordinances, Chapter 54, Sec. 54-67, Temporary dwellings (Village of Deckerville), quoted and re-checked
  15. MCL 125.1512, Inspection of construction (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Code of Ordinances, Chapter 54, Sec. 54-58, Private roads and driveways (Village of Deckerville), quoted and re-checked
  17. sanilaccounty.gov, quoted and re-checked
  18. Floodplains (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 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 Village of Deckerville

Village of Deckerville’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Structures and buildings constructed, altered, moved, or demolished inside Deckerville; permits are issued by the Sanilac County Building and Land Use Department under the village ordinance.

    • A zoning compliance permit is required before a building permit may be issued.
    • Ordinary repairs may be exempt under state rules.
    • The village ordinance separately requires a zoning compliance permit before construction or a new or different use.
    “Any structure or building constructed, altered, moved or demolished shall require a building permit in accordance with the provisions of the state building code, issued by the Sanilac County Building and Land Use Department.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside the incorporated Village of Deckerville.

    • The official zoning map is maintained in the village office.
    “The incorporated area of the Village of Deckerville, Sanilac County, Michigan, is hereby divided into five primary use districts which are then further subdivided as follows:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    The incorporated area of Deckerville.

    • The official zoning map is maintained in the village office.
    • The code states that the official zoning map is part of the zoning chapter and has the same force and effect as the district descriptions.
    “The official zoning map and all notations, references and other information appearing thereon are hereby declared to be a part of this chapter”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R2 residential district inside Deckerville.

    • The rule applies in all new subdivisions or newly created parcels of land.

    minimum lot area: >= 20000 square feet (new subdivisions or newly created parcels) · minimum frontage and width: >= 100 feet (new subdivisions or newly created parcels) · minimum depth: >= 200 feet (new subdivisions or newly created parcels)

    “R2. Minimum lot area shall be 20,000 square feet with a minimum frontage and width of 100 feet and minimum depth of 200 feet in all new subdivisions or newly created parcels of land.”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Travel-trailer or motor-home occupancy at a dwelling inside Deckerville.

    • One travel trailer or motor home at each dwelling may be occupied by visitors for 30 days.
    • Occupants must use the dwelling's sanitary facilities or make other suitable sanitary provisions.
    • The period may be extended for 30 days upon application.

    initial visitor occupancy period: 30 days (extension for 30 days upon application)

    “One travel trailer, or motor home at each dwelling brought by visitors for traveling purposes may be occupied and allowed for 30 days”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary occupancy of tents, trailers, and motor homes inside Deckerville.

    • Tents may be permitted for recreational activities only upon application to the zoning administrator showing necessary and proper health, sanitation, plumbing, and fresh-water facilities.
    • Visitor travel trailers or motor homes are limited to 30 days, with suitable sanitary facilities, and may be extended 30 days upon application.
    • Other temporary dwelling uses have additional construction-progress and planning-commission conditions.

    visitor trailer or motor-home period: 30 days (extension for 30 days upon application)

    “The use of tents as a temporary dwelling in connection with recreational activities may be permitted upon application to the village zoning administrator”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured-home occupancy in Deckerville manufactured-home subdivision or land-lease-community districts.

    • Permitted dwellings are single-family mobile-home residential dwellings with no more than one per lot.
    • Manufactured homes must contain at least 900 square feet of living area.
    • Manufactured-home subdivisions and land-lease communities require village consideration and applicable state mobile-home commission rules.

    minimum manufactured-home living area: >= 900 square feet (does not include attached garage, open porch, or other attached structure)

    “Single-family mobile home residential dwellings with not more than one such dwelling per lot.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Temporary accessory dwelling in a trailer or mobile home inside Deckerville.

    • The planning commission may permit one house trailer or mobile home as a temporary accessory dwelling to a permanent dwelling.
    • Occupants must have access to and unlimited use of the permanent dwelling's sanitary facilities.

    maximum temporary accessory trailer count: 1 trailer

    “The village planning commission may permit the use of a house trailer or mobile home as a temporary accessory dwelling to a permanent dwelling.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural practices or operations incidental to them inside Deckerville, for the village land-removal or land-fill permit.

    • The exemption is limited to the village land-removal and land-fill permit requirement.
    • Other state, county, health, building, or environmental permits may still apply.
    “Permits will not be required for agricultural practices or operations incidental thereto”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Private roads and driveways serving parcels and structures inside Deckerville.

    • No private road or driveway may be constructed unless it complies with the village section.
    • A driveway meeting minimum design standards is required if the rear of a principal or ancillary use requiring a building permit is more than 75 feet from a public or private road, or if the parcel lacks road frontage.
    • Driveways must be on a legally valid recorded easement or permanent land interest at least 66 feet wide.
    • Driveways require specified clearing, surfacing, drainage, radius, clearance, and culvert standards.

    distance triggering driveway requirement: > 75 feet (rear of principal or ancillary use requiring a building permit)

    “If the rear of the principal use or ancillary use requiring a building permit is more than 75 feet from the right-of-way of a public or private road.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Village land-removal and land-fill permits inside Deckerville.

    • The permit fee deposit is set annually by resolution.
    • Half covers interim and final inspections; the balance covers village administrative and engineering review.
    • Unused portions other than the inspection fee are returned.
    • The applicant pays any amount by which expenses exceed the deposit.
    “A permit fee deposit in the amount set annually by resolution”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Deckerville

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

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction, alteration, movement, or demolition of structures inside Deckerville through the Michigan building code as required by the village ordinance.

    • The village ordinance requires compliance with the state building code.
    • One- and two-family dwellings are covered by the Michigan Residential Code.
    “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 Village of Deckerville or Sanilac County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction inside Deckerville.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Deckerville.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Deckerville.
  • Septic inspection — Inspection requirements for on-site sewage systems inside Deckerville.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation inside Deckerville.
3 more unanswered
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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 Village of Deckerville publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Sanilac County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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