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

Lamotte Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Lamotte township limits: the township administers its own zoning ordinance (Township of Lamotte Zoning Ordinance Book 2021, per the county's Lamotte township page)

  • The county page lists the ordinance book by title only; the ordinance text was not opened in this research run, so district rules are not confirmed here.
  • Zoning administrator named on the county page: Steve McKenney, 6868 Moriartey Road, Decker, MI 48426, (989) 635-8048.
  • Zoning approval from the township zoning administrator is a prerequisite to the county building permit (see building_permit_requirement).
  • Ordinance amendments listed on the same page (wind ordinance 2014, solar energy facilities 17-1, map amendment 01-01, special land use, blight) may change the 2021 book and were not reviewed.

  “100 township of lamotte zoning ordinance book 2021 document _recordid 802”

Rules another office applies inside Lamotte Township

Lamotte 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

  New construction and additions inside Lamotte township, permitted through the Sanilac County Construction Code Department (county procedures page; the page does not name Lamotte, so this is a countywide rule applied inside the township)

  • Zoning approval is required from your city, village or township zoning administrator before the county building permit is issued.
  • Application must be made in writing with the information listed on the county page, including a site plan, two sets of building plans, and the legal description and property code number.
  • Permits for a manufactured home with a basement or on a frost-free foundation carry additional drawing requirements on the same page.
  • Mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits are separate permits with their own application rules.

  “the following information is required in writing at the time an application for a building permit is made”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits for a single-family dwelling inside Lamotte township (county procedures page; building permits are not addressed by this quote)

  • Under state law, the applicant must be the person who will actually do the work.
  • A homeowner doing their own work may take out the permit; a homeowner may not take out the permit if they hire a contractor.
  • A contractor applying for a building permit must submit a signed contract with a licensed contractor if the owner designates one.

  “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.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Building permits issued by Sanilac County Construction Code Department for work inside Lamotte township

  • Inspections must be scheduled by the permit holder by calling (810) 648-4664 on weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the permit number and site address.
  • Permit may be cancelled if no inspection occurs within six months of the permit when the project is not started, or if work stops for more than six months after starting.
  • Equipment to be concealed may not be covered until inspected and approved; the page says the county usually completes inspections within three business days.

  inspection scheduling lead time: 3 business days (up to five business days during busy times of year)

  “all building permits are required to have periodic inspections.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Onsite septic and well review for work inside Lamotte township, by the Sanilac County Health Department, Environmental Health (county-wide service area; the township is not named on the cited pages)

  • Review is triggered when sanitary facilities (bathroom) are added or bedrooms are added in a construction project, per the county construction procedures page.
  • Environmental Health Division address: 171 Dawson Street, Suite 123, Sandusky, MI 48471; (810) 648-4098 ext. 124; [email protected].
  • The Sanilac County Environmental Health Code and fee schedule are linked from the health page but were not opened in this run.

  “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.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic permit for projects inside Lamotte township that add bathrooms or bedrooms (county procedures page); the county health department issues the septic permit application

  • Trigger is a construction project that adds sanitary facilities (bathroom) or bedrooms; the page does not state a septic permit requirement for every new home.
  • Applications are completed, printed, signed and dated, then scanned and emailed to [email protected], faxed to 810-648-2646, or mailed to 171 Dawson Street, Suite 123, Sandusky, MI 48471.
  • Septic installers must be on the county registered installer list (linked on the health page; list not opened).

  “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.”

• Well permitRequired

  Well permit for projects inside Lamotte township that add bathrooms or bedrooms (county procedures page), reviewed by the Sanilac County Health Department

  • Trigger is a construction project that adds sanitary facilities or bedrooms; the page does not state a well permit requirement for every new home.
  • Health page lists a well application and well instruction sheet; these were not opened in this run.

  “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.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Property splits inside Lamotte township, approved by the Sanilac County Equalization Department (county procedures page)

  • Splits must be approved in advance by the county equalization department; a recent split needs a certified recorded boundary line survey showing the original parcel and all new splits, plus a recorded deed or land contract.
  • The county page lists a Lamotte township land division ordinance (record 806, 05-01); its text was not opened, so township-level split rules are not confirmed here.

  “all splits must be approved in advance by the sanilac county equalization department.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  New driveway or change of use for a building project inside Lamotte township; the permit comes from whichever city, village, county or state authority has jurisdiction over the road right of way

  • Which authority applies depends on the road (county road commission, state, or other); the county page does not identify it for Lamotte roads.
  • Private roads: the county page cites article 14.28 of the Sanilac County land development code, which was not opened.

  “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, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permit process for work inside Lamotte township (Sanilac County Construction Code Department)

  • Applications are taken weekdays at the courthouse annex, Room 210, 60 W. Sanilac Ave., Sandusky, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
  • Required items include a completed county application, zoning approval, site plan, two sets of drawings, legal description and property code number, and a contractor contract when applicable.
  • Inspections are scheduled by the permit holder; the page says a permit may be cancelled if no inspection occurs within six months.

  “an application for a permit may be made monday through friday (except legal holidays) at the construction code department office in the sanilac county courthouse at 60 west sanilac, courthouse annex-room 210, sandusky, michigan 48471 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building code adopted — Building code edition enforced inside Lamotte township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Lamotte township
• Zoning districts — Zoning district map and district list for Lamotte township
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in the main single-family residential district and any agricultural or rural-residential district of Lamotte township
• Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in the main single-family residential district and any agricultural or rural-residential district of Lamotte 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.