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

Speaker Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Speaker township's limits: the township administers its own zoning (zoning administrator, land use permits, zoning hearings) on top of county and state rules.

  • The township's land use permit form requires compliance with basic zoning district requirements in addition to township, county and state rules.
  • The text of the base zoning ordinance was not located online; the governing-documents page lists zoning amendments (2022-1 and 2022-2) and the township zoning page lists zoning hearings, but the ordinance title and adoption date were not confirmed.
  • Zoning amendments are adopted by the township board after county and township planning-commission review, per January 2022 minutes (not extracted as evidence here).

  “in addition to the basic zoning district requirements, the applicant must also comply with the following:”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Land divisions (splits and combinations) of land inside Speaker township's limits

  • The township adopted a land division ordinance (Chapter 8) by resolution 2025-8-1; the ordinance text was not opened.
  • Land split fee and land combination affidavit are listed on the township zoning page and forms list.
  • State land division law may also apply; not opened.

  land split fee: 140 USD · additional split fee on same property: 30 USD (for each split on the same property)

  “resolution 2025-8-1 adopt chapter 8 land division ordinance”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways and curb cuts for work inside Speaker township's limits

  • The land use form says driveways and curbs must meet township requirements; the specific driveway standards were not located.

  “driveways and curbs must comply with requirements”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Land use permit applications for parcels inside Speaker township's limits that lie in a designated flood zone, wetland or high-risk erosion area

  • Applies only to parcels in a designated flood zone, wetland or high risk erosion area.
  • The determination is issued by the state (MDEQ) and must accompany the township land use permit.
  • Earth change disturbing one or more acres or within 500 feet of a water body needs a soil erosion and sedimentation control permit from the Sanilac County building department (per the same form).

  “if the proposed property is within a designated flood zone, wetland, or high risk erosion area a mdeq determination regarding the property must be submitted with the land use permit.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Township zoning and land use fees for work inside Speaker township's limits

  • Fees are listed on the township zoning page; no effective date is stated on that page.
  • Special-meeting hearing fee applies per meeting plus costs.

  land use permit fee: 120 USD · land split fee: 140 USD · additional split fee on same property: 30 USD (for each split on the same property) · special meeting hearing fee: 1600 USD (per meeting, plus costs)

  “land use permits: $120.00 land splits: $140.00 ($30.00 for each split on same property)”

• Permit processPartial

  Township land use permit process for improvements inside Speaker township's limits

  • A land use permit application form is published with a site plan requirement; the approval, zoning administrator sign-off and fee steps are listed on the form.
  • Permit validity: a land use permit remains valid for one year from issue and expires unless construction starts within that year.
  • Work must be completed within one year of approval; a one-year extension may be obtained from the zoning administrator.
  • Applicable county and state permits (building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, soil erosion, MDEQ determination for flood/wetland/erosion areas) are listed on the form; the full process is not described.

  “all actions described on a land use permit application shall be completed within one (1) year of the permit’s approval date.”

Rules another office applies inside Speaker Township

Speaker 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 permitLimited

  Building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits for construction inside Speaker township's limits, issued by the Sanilac County building department where applicable

  • The township land use permit is separate and is required for listed improvements; the county building department requirement applies 'where applicable' per the township form.
  • Township form says county permit applications can be found at www.sanilaccounty.net.
  • The form lists building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and soil erosion permits as applicable permit types.

  “sanilac county building department requirements (where applicable) county permit applications can be found at www.sanilaccounty.net”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from permits inside Speaker township's limits
• Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Speaker township's limits
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Speaker township's limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for new buildings inside Speaker township's limits
• Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Speaker township's limits

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.