Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Village of Capac, Michigan

Village of Capac’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Capac village limits; the village's own Chapter 30 Zoning Ordinance administered by the village zoning administrator and planning commission

  • Chapter 30 is the village's own zoning ordinance; sec. 30-29 classes newly annexed land as R-1 until rezoned by ordinance.

  “the village is hereby divided into the following zoning districts: r-1 single-family rural residential r-2 single-family residential r-3 single-family residential rm residential multiple dwellings mhp mobile home park cbd central business district c commercial i industrial hwy highway commercial os office service”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Land inside Capac village limits

  • The district list is published; the zoning map referenced in sec. 30-227 was not opened, so parcel-level district assignments are not confirmed.

  “the village is hereby divided into the following zoning districts: r-1 single-family rural residential r-2 single-family residential r-3 single-family residential rm residential multiple dwellings mhp mobile home park cbd central business district c commercial i industrial hwy highway commercial os office service”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Recreational vehicles on premises occupied by a single-family dwelling in Capac village

  • Applies only to guest or visitor occupancy; the owner or lessee of the premises may permit it.
  • Recreational vehicles include travel trailers, motor homes, truck campers and similar vehicles, but not mobile homes.
  • No recreational vehicle may be occupied on the property during the other nine months of a calendar year.

  RVs occupied at one time: <= 1 count · guest occupancy period: <= 3 months per calendar year

  “the owner or lessee of any premises occupied by a single-family dwelling may permit the temporary occupancy of not more than one (1) recreational vehicle at a time for guests or visitors for a period not to exceed three (3) months in any calendar year. no recreational vehicles may be occupied on the property during the other nine (9) months of a calendar year.”

• Manufactured homesLimited

  Mobile homes, modular and prefabricated housing located outside a mobile home park or mobile home subdivision in Capac village

  • Each dwelling must meet the district minimum square footage (sec. 30-9(a)).
  • Each dwelling must meet the minimum width and comply with the Michigan state construction code (sec. 30-9(b)).
  • Mobile home park (MHP) district is a separate zoning district listed in sec. 30-226; its rules were not opened.

  minimum width across any front, side or rear elevation: >= 24 feet (applies to dwellings located outside a mobile home park or mobile home subdivision)

  “no single-family dwelling (site built), mobile home, modular housing or prefabricated housing located outside a mobile home park or mobile home subdivision or condominium subdivision shall be permitted unless said dwelling unit conforms to the following standards:”

• Accessory dwellingsProhibited

  Garages, barns, accessory buildings and basements in Capac village used as dwelling units

  • Detached or accessory structures may not be occupied as dwellings either temporarily or permanently.
  • Whether an attached accessory dwelling unit is allowed was not addressed in the text opened; the district accessory-use lists (sec. 30-255, 30-280, etc.) were not opened.

  “garages, barns, accessory buildings and basements shall not be occupied either temporarily or permanently as dwellings.”

• Mandatory utility hookupConditional

  New construction requiring a building permit inside Capac village

  • Water and sewer hookups require approval from the village DPW before permit issuance.
  • Chapter 30 R-1 purpose describes the district as presently without public water and sewer facilities; the mandatory-connection rule for when public utilities are available was not located.

  “approval of water and sewer hookups from the village of capac department of public works”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Lots created by division inside Capac village

  • Lot depth limit applies to lots created after the ordinance effective date; flag lots excepted as described in the text.
  • Chapter 30 cross-references subdivisions and other divisions of land in ch. 24, which was not opened.

  maximum lot depth to width ratio: <= 4 times width (flag lots, with the flag portion counted only where the flag has less than 100 feet of road frontage)

  “the depth of lots created after the effective date of this ordinance shall not be more than four (4) times longer than their width, excluding flag lots.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permits in Capac village

  • The village page links a permit fee schedule; the schedule itself was not opened, so no fee amounts are recorded.

  “pay for building permits online permit fee schedule building department contacts”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits in Capac village, processed at the village office since 1 January 2025

  • Application documents include a site plan with setbacks, approval of water and sewer hookups from DPW, a culvert permit for new construction and a soil erosion permit within 500 ft of a drain, stream, river, lake or other water body.
  • Turnaround stated as 5-10 business days.

  approval turnaround: 5-10 business days

  “all permits should be returned to the building administrator at the village of capac office. please allow 5-10 business days for approval.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Village of Capac or St. Clair County directly.

• Building permit — New construction and alterations in Capac village
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction in Capac village
• Building code adopted — Building code applicable to new construction in Capac village
• Inspections — Construction inside Capac village
• Certificate of occupancy — Completed dwellings in Capac village

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.