Bolthole Index

Sanilac County, Michigan

Fremont Township, Michigan building permits, zoning and septic rules

Fremont Township, Michigan requires building permits for covered construction through Sanilac County, with township zoning approval required first.1 Fremont Township sets the land-use rules, including limits on RV occupancy and dwelling size.23 Sanilac County Health Department handles septic review when bathrooms or bedrooms are included or added.4

At a glance

Building permits
Sanilac County issues building permits for covered construction; township zoning approval comes first1
Zoning
Township Zoning Administrator administers the ordinance and zoning permits5
Septic review
Sanilac County Health Department reviews projects including bathrooms or added bedrooms4
RV living
Up to 2 RVs; occupancy or use limited to 180 days per calendar year, with district setbacks2
Tiny homes
AR and R district dwellings must meet the 900-square-foot minimum3
Owner work
Homeowners may obtain trade permits only for work they personally perform on their own single-family dwelling6
Water wells
Health Department well permit must be issued before covered new or replacement well installation7

Who to call

Zoning

Fremont Township Zoning Administrator

Township zoning approval, zoning applications and parcel-specific district questions

989-209-7575

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 →

Zoning

Fremont Township zoning ordinance

Township zoning-permit requirements

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 Fremont Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Fremont Township, MI?

Fremont Township construction requiring a building permit goes through the Sanilac County Construction Code Department, and the application needs township zoning approval.1 Michigan’s construction codes apply inside Fremont Township, with dwelling provisions in the Michigan Residential Code.8 Ordinary repairs are exempt under state building-permit guidance, subject to the limits on that exemption; a change of use or occupancy requires a building permit.1 The building-permit application requires scaled site plans, building plans and the other documents listed in the county instructions.9

Who handles Fremont Township building permits and zoning approval?

Contact the Fremont Township Zoning Administrator at 989-209-7575 for township zoning approval and parcel-specific zoning questions.10 For building-permit applications and inspections, contact Sanilac County Construction and Land Use Department at (810)648-4664.11 The county office accepts applications at 60 West Sanilac, Courthouse Annex-Room 210, Sandusky, Michigan 48471.11 Fremont Township zoning fees are set by the Township Board; ask the Zoning Administrator for the current application charge.12 Building-code review and township land-use approval are separate requirements for covered construction.1

Does Fremont Township have zoning, lot-size and setback rules?

Fremont Township’s Zoning Administrator administers and enforces the township zoning ordinance.5 A township zoning permit is required before construction, moving a structure, excavating a pond or changing land or structure use, with an exemption for accessory structures under 200 square feet.5 Fremont Township’s AR and R districts require at least 900 square feet per dwelling, so a smaller tiny home does not satisfy that dwelling-size rule.3 A conditional reduced lot standard allows 20,000 square feet and 75 feet of width for central-sewer lots or qualifying platted or condominium subdivisions, subject to Health Department sewage requirements.13 Ask the Zoning Administrator to identify the district and applicable setbacks before placing a dwelling or RV.10

How do septic permits and wells work in Fremont Township?

Sanilac County Health Department reviews existing sanitary facilities or septic and well permits when a Fremont Township project includes bathrooms or adds bedrooms.4 Environmental Health can be reached at (810) 648-4098 ext. 124 or [email protected], and offers septic applications, well applications and soil evaluations.14 Covered new and replacement wells require permit issuance before installation; submitting the application is not permission to drill.7 Across Sanilac County, only 11.8% of soils are rated not limited for conventional septic drain fields; that countywide measure supports getting a site evaluation, not assuming septic is impossible on a particular Fremont Township lot.15

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Fremont Township?

Fremont Township allows no more than 2 motor homes or campers on property with an occupied single-family dwelling, with occupancy limited to 180 days per calendar year and district setbacks required.2 Property without an occupied single-family dwelling also has a 2-RV limit and a 180-day annual use limit, with setbacks required.2 A separate temporary-dwelling permit can allow a manufactured home or other structure for up to 1 year while a permanent dwelling is built, with a permanent-home building permit normally required before placement or occupancy.16 That temporary approval requires an affidavit and financial security, subject to a Township Board hardship waiver.16 A tiny home proposed as a dwelling in AR or R must meet the 900-square-foot minimum.3

Building a home in Fremont Township: what are the steps?

  1. Ask the Fremont Township Zoning Administrator for the parcel’s district requirements and obtain the required zoning permit before construction.105
  2. Arrange Sanilac County Health Department review for bathrooms, added bedrooms, septic and wells; obtain the required well permit before covered installation.47
  3. Obtain a driveway permit from the authority responsible for the road right-of-way when installing a new driveway or changing its use.17
  4. Submit township zoning approval, scaled site plans, building plans and required supporting documents to the county building-permit office.9
  5. Schedule county inspections and keep equipment exposed until inspection and approval; final approval is required before normal operation.18

What should you check before buying land in Fremont Township?

Fremont Township exempts agricultural structures from the listed zoning height limit; that exemption does not establish a building-permit exemption.19 Homeowners obtaining mechanical, plumbing or electrical permits must personally do the work on their own single-family dwelling and cannot obtain those permits for hired contractors.6 Michigan floodplain requirements also apply to qualifying river, stream and drain floodplains, and new residential construction is prohibited in the floodway.20 For land outside Fremont Township, use the Sanilac County guide to understand the county building-permit process and the requirement for approval from the applicable local zoning administrator.11

Watch-outs

  • Fremont Township RV occupancy is limited to 180 days per calendar year, including on land without an occupied single-family dwelling.2
  • Fremont Township temporary-dwelling approval requires completion of the permanent home and removal of the temporary dwelling before the permit expires.16
  • We could not confirm alternative off-grid sanitation or septic final-inspection requirements in Fremont Township; ask Sanilac County Environmental Health before choosing a system.14
  • We could not confirm a Fremont Township short-term-rental rule; ask the Township Zoning Administrator before buying for rental use.10

Sources

  1. Building Permit Information (Fremont Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. 2022 Fremont Township Zoning Ordinance (Fremont Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. 2022 Fremont Township Zoning Ordinance (Fremont Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Permits, Addresses, and Inspections (Fremont Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Fremont Township zoning ordinance (cms3.revize.com)
  6. Permits, Addresses, and Inspections (Fremont Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. cms2.revize.com, quoted and re-checked
  8. Building Permit Information (Fremont Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Permits, Addresses, and Inspections (Fremont Township), quoted and re-checked
  10. Fremont Township Zoning Administrator (sanilaccounty.gov)
  11. Sanilac County Construction and Land Use Department (sanilaccounty.gov)
  12. 2022 Fremont Township Zoning Ordinance (Fremont Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. 2022 Fremont Township Zoning Ordinance (Fremont Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Sanilac County Health Department — Environmental Health Division (sanilachealth.com)
  15. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  16. 2022 Fremont Township Zoning Ordinance (Fremont Township), quoted and re-checked
  17. Permits, Addresses, and Inspections (Fremont Township), quoted and re-checked
  18. Permits, Addresses, and Inspections (Fremont Township), quoted and re-checked
  19. 2022 Fremont Township Zoning Ordinance (Fremont Township), quoted and re-checked
  20. Floodplains (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

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 Fremont Township

Fremont Township’s own rules

  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Replacement single-wide mobile homes replacing legal nonconforming manufactured housing inside Fremont Township.

    • The replacement unit must be less nonconforming than the unit being replaced.
    • The replacement unit must be no more than ten years old when placed on the property.
    • The replacement must be fully installed and under a certificate of occupancy within one year after removal of the prior mobile home.

    certificate deadline: 1 year (Measured from the date of removal of the prior mobile home.)

    “Any replacement single-wide mobile home must be fully installed and under a certificate of occupancy within one (1) year of the date of the removal of the prior mobile home.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    All zoning districts inside Fremont Township where the Section 11.02 table applies.

    • The footnote states that total floor area of all buildings on a lot or parcel may not exceed 20% of total land area.
    • Agricultural structures are separately exempt from the listed building-height requirement.

    maximum total floor area of all buildings: <= 20 percent of lot area

    “In no event shall the total floor area of all buildings on a lot or parcel exceed 20% of the total land area of the lot.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Motor homes and campers on land inside Fremont Township.

    • On property containing an occupied single-family dwelling, no more than two units may be stored outside; each must meet applicable zoning-district setbacks; occupancy is limited to 180 days in a calendar year.
    • On property without an occupied single-family dwelling, no more than two recreational vehicles may be stored or used; they must meet applicable setbacks and use may not exceed 180 days in a calendar year.
    • Mobile homes and manufactured homes are excluded from the recreational-vehicle definition.

    maximum units: 2 units (Per property under the stated conditions.) · maximum occupancy or use period: 180 days per calendar year (Applies under the stated alternatives.)

    “Motor homes or campers (not including mobile homes) may be stored outside on property containing an occupied single-family dwelling, provided that there are not more than two (2) such units on the property, which must meet all relevant setbacks for the applicable zoning district. Any such recreational vehicle may be occupied for a maximum of one hundred eighty (180) days in any calendar year.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary occupancy of recreational vehicles or temporary dwellings inside Fremont Township.

    • Recreational vehicles are limited to the conditions and 180-day annual period in Section 13.15.
    • A temporary dwelling permit may allow a manufactured home or other structure for up to one year while a permanent dwelling is constructed.
    • A permanent-dwelling building permit must be obtained before placement or occupancy, except for permanent dwellings damaged by fire or other casualty.
    • The permanent dwelling must be completed and the temporary dwelling removed before permit expiration.
    • An affidavit and performance bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit are required, subject to a hardship waiver by the Township Board.
    • The temporary dwelling permit may be renewed once for up to one additional year if reasonable progress has been made.

    initial temporary-dwelling period: 1 year (May be renewed once for up to one additional year.)

    “The Zoning Administrator may issue a permit for a manufactured home or other structure as a temporary dwelling to be occupied for up to one (1) year during the time that a permanent dwelling is being constructed.”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    A tiny home proposed as a dwelling in Fremont Township's AR or R districts.

    • A dwelling must comply with the applicable district's minimum floor-area requirement.
    • The ordinance does not use the term tiny home; this claim applies the dwelling-size rule to a tiny home proposed for residential occupancy.

    minimum floor area per dwelling: >= 900 square feet (The table footnote addresses multiple-family dwelling units separately.)

    “AR 2 acres 200 125 50 (8) 50 (8) 900 (6) 35 (7) R 1 acre 200 125 (9) 15 15 900 (6) 35”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Lots inside Fremont Township served by a central sewer system or located in a platted or condominium subdivision.

    • The ordinance provides a reduced lot-area and lot-width standard when the lot is served by central sewer or is in a qualifying subdivision.
    • All Health Department sewage-system requirements must be complied with.
    • The source does not state a general mandatory connection-to-sewer rule for every new home.

    reduced minimum lot area: 20000 square feet (When served by central sewer or located in a qualifying platted or condominium subdivision and Health Department requirements are met.) · reduced minimum lot width: 75 feet (Same conditions.)

    “The minimums are reduced to 20,000 square feet lot area and 75 feet lot width if served by a central sewer system or if located within a platted subdivision or a condominium subdivision, providing that all Health Department requirements for sewage systems are complied with.”
  • Agricultural exemptionAvailable (with conditions)

    Agricultural structures in Fremont Township zoning districts covered by Section 11.02.

    • The ordinance expressly exempts agricultural structures from the Section 11.02 maximum-height requirement.
    • This is a zoning exemption; it does not establish exemption from state building permits or other permits.
    “Agricultural structures shall be exempt.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Platted subdivisions and site-condominium developments inside Fremont Township.

    • Platted subdivisions must comply with the Michigan Land Division Act.
    • Site-condominium projects must satisfy township yard-setback and minimum-floor-area requirements, county road standards, utility-easement requirements, and township engineering review.
    “M. Platted subdivisions in compliance with the Michigan Land Division Act. N. Site condominium developments.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Fremont Township zoning permits, applications, and inspections.

    • The Township Board establishes the amount of fees.
    • No numeric fee schedule was located in the reviewed official ordinance.
    “The amount of any fees charged for zoning permits, applications, or inspections shall be established by the Township Board.”

Rules another office applies inside Fremont Township

Fremont 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

    Construction requiring a building permit inside Fremont Township; the Sanilac County Construction Code Department is the identified permitting department in the official permit-information document.

    • An application must be made to the appropriate enforcing agency.
    • Zoning approval from the City, Village, or Township Zoning Administrator is required.
    • If sanitary facilities or added bedrooms are involved, existing facilities or septic and/or well permits are reviewed by the Sanilac County Health Department.
    • Ordinary repairs are exempt under the Michigan building-permit guidance, subject to the stated limitations.
    “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.”
  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    A homeowner performing mechanical, plumbing, or electrical work on the homeowner's own single-family dwelling inside Fremont Township.

    • The homeowner may apply only when doing the work themselves.
    • A homeowner may not take out the permit if a contractor is hired.
    • The county document attributes these rules to state law.
    “A homeowner that is going to do the work themselves on their own single family dwelling. A homeowner may not take out a permit if they hire a contractor.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Buildings and structures inside Fremont Township through the Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code.

    • The Michigan Building Code controls construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy, and maintenance; one- and two-family dwelling provisions are in the Michigan Residential Code.
    “The Michigan Building Code controls all matters concerning the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy, and maintenance of all buildings and structures and their service equipment. Presently, provisions for one- and two-family dwellings are included in the Michigan Residential Code.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Building-permit projects inside Fremont Township.

    • The permit holder must schedule inspections and provide the permit number, permit type, permit-holder name, construction-site address, municipality, and contact telephone number.
    • Concealed equipment cannot be covered until inspected and approved; final inspection and approval are required before normal operation.
    • A re-inspection fee may be charged when corrections or additional work are required.

    permit cancellation period without inspection after project start: 6 months (The document also states that a permit may be cancelled if the project is stopped for more than six months.)

    “All building permits are required to have periodic inspections.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwelling in the AR Agriculture-Residential District inside Fremont Township.

    • The table footnote states that agricultural structures are exempt from the listed height requirement, not from the 900-square-foot dwelling-floor-area entry.
    • Other district-specific and multiple-family footnotes may apply.

    minimum floor area per dwelling: >= 900 square feet

    “AR 2 acres 200 125 50 (8) 50 (8) 900 (6) 35 (7)”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    Septic and sewage-permit review for projects inside Fremont Township.

    • The Sanilac County Health Department reviews existing sanitary facilities and septic permits when sanitary facilities or bedrooms are included or added in a construction project.
    “If sanitary facilities (bathroom/s) are being included or bedrooms are being added in the construction project, a review of your existing facilities or a septic and/or well permit are to be reviewed by the Sanilac County Health Department.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    A new driveway or a use change requiring driveway access inside Fremont Township.

    • A driveway permit is required from the city, village, county, or state authority having jurisdiction over the road right-of-way.
    • For an approved private road, the applicant must comply with Article 14.28 of the Sanilac County Land Development Code.
    “If you are changing the use or installing a new driveway, you will need a driveway permit from the city, village, county or state authority having jurisdiction over the road right of way.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications and inspections for projects inside Fremont Township.

    • Applications are accepted Monday through Friday, except legal holidays, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. at the Sanilac County Construction Code Department office.
    • The application requires zoning approval, scaled site plans, building plans, and other documents listed in the county instructions.
    • Inspections are scheduled by the permit holder.
    “This information has been produced by the Construction Code Department as a way of letting the public know what information is required, and the procedures that must be followed when making application for a permit (building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical).”

Still unanswered

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

  • Septic inspection — Septic-system inspections inside Fremont Township.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation inside Fremont Township.
  • Building in a floodplain — Floodplain development inside Fremont Township.
  • Short-term rentals — Short-term rentals inside Fremont 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.

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

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