Bolthole Index

St. Clair County, Michigan

Building permits, zoning and septic in Cottrellville Township, Michigan

Cottrellville Township, Michigan requires a building permit before construction of a building or structure, with an exception for ordinary repairs.1 Cottrellville Township administers local zoning and issues building permits, while St. Clair County Health Department handles septic permits.234 Private-parcel RV living remains unconfirmed; the township’s verified trailer-coach occupancy rule concerns parks.5

At a glance

Building permits
Required before construction; township Building Department issues them13
Zoning
Township zoning applies; district and sewer status affect lot standards26
Septic permits
County health approval required before installation or repair7
RV living
Park occupancy rule confirmed; private-parcel living unconfirmed5
Agricultural lot size
A-1 schedule lists 4 acres per unit, subject to footnotes8
Owner-builder
State licensing exception for own use and occupancy on own property; building permits still apply9
Wells
County health application and permit required before work10

Who to call

Building permits

Cottrellville Township Building Department

Township building permits, trade permits and construction inspections

(810) 765-4730 Ext:113

Planning & zoning

Cottrellville Township Planning Commission

Township planning and plat review; ask Township Hall to route parcel zoning questions

(810) 765-4730

7008 Marsh Road Cottrellville, MI 48039

Septic permits

St. Clair County Health Department — Environmental Health Division

Septic installation and repair permits inside Cottrellville Township

(810) 987-5306

Well permits

St. Clair County Health Department — Private Water Systems

Private water-system applications and permits

Roads & driveways

St. Clair County Road Commission

County-road driveway and right-of-way permits

(810) 364-5720

21 Airport Drive St. Clair, MI 48079-1404

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 Cottrellville 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 Cottrellville Township, MI?

Cottrellville Township requires a building permit before constructing a building or structure; a change in use or occupancy also requires a building permit.1 Ordinary repairs are excepted, so describe the proposed work to the township Building Department before assuming the exception covers your project.13 Michigan’s owner-builder licensing exception covers a person building for their own use and occupancy on their own property, but does not remove building-permit, inspection or zoning requirements.9

Who issues building permits in Cottrellville Township?

Cottrellville Township’s Building Department issues building permits and inspects construction under the applicable construction code.3 The township department also handles plumbing, electrical and mechanical construction permits and inspections.3 Contact the Building Official through the verified contact card below and ask for the application checklist, current building-permit fee schedule and inspection booking instructions.3 Septic installation and repair approval remains with St. Clair County Health Department, rather than the township construction counter.47

Does Cottrellville Township have zoning, lot sizes and setbacks?

Cottrellville Township has local zoning, and its district schedule distinguishes agricultural and residential land, including residential lots with and without public sewer.26 The A-1 Agricultural schedule lists a minimum zoning lot size per unit of 4 acres, subject to ordinance footnotes.8 The R-1 schedule lists 108,900 square feet without public sewer and 10,200 square feet with public sewer, also subject to footnotes.1112

Scheduled A-1 yards are 40 feet front, 20 feet on each side and 40 feet rear; scheduled R-1 yards are 35 feet front, 10 feet on each side and 35 feet rear, with applicable footnote conditions.13 Ask the township for the parcel’s district and the full footnotes before treating these scheduled dimensions as a buildable envelope.613

How do septic permits work inside Cottrellville Township?

Before installing or repairing a septic system in Cottrellville Township, obtain a sewage permit from St. Clair County Health Department.7 The county’s listed instructions cover residential and commercial buildings generating less than 10,000 gallons of sewage per day.7 For an existing or proposed septic system, contact the Environmental Health Division and ask for the sanitarian assigned to the area.14

At the St. Clair County level, only 0.1% of soils are rated not limited for conventional septic drain fields; that countywide screening figure supports arranging a site evaluation, not declaring a township parcel unsuitable for septic.15 Ask Environmental Health what site evaluation and system design your proposed home needs.14

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

Cottrellville Township’s verified trailer-coach rule applies to occupancy in mobile-home or trailer-coach parks, not private-parcel RV living.5 Occupancy exceeding 3 months in a trailer space during a calendar year triggers approved plumbing, water, sanitation and other park standards.5 The park sanitation rule allows public sanitary sewer or township-approved facilities meeting applicable plumbing codes; that provision does not authorize a standalone off-grid home.16

We could not confirm private-parcel RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy or accessory-dwelling authorization in Cottrellville Township; ask the township to review the proposed use under its zoning before buying for that purpose.217

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

Use the township’s land-use requirements and the county health approvals to organize your home project.24

  1. Ask the township to identify the zoning district, sewer status and applicable lot-size and setback footnotes.613
  2. Arrange the county health septic approval and private-water application before installing those systems.710
  3. Contact the Road Commission about a driveway approach on a county road; its right-of-way rule also includes inspecting existing driveways for new construction.18
  4. Apply to the township Building Department before construction and arrange the relevant trade inspections.13
  5. Complete required inspections and obtain the code official’s certificate of occupancy before using a new or altered building subject to Michigan’s construction code.1920

What stays with St. Clair County when buying in Cottrellville Township?

Cottrellville Township zoning and construction administration do not replace the county health department’s septic and private-water approvals.32410 The private-water application requires a completed application, site plan and fee before work starts.21 County-road driveway work also needs Road Commission review under its public right-of-way requirements.18

For floodplain work, ask Michigan EGLE about state jurisdiction: the state rule prohibits new residential construction in a regulated floodway, and its permit scope distinguishes river and stream floodplains from lakes.22 For land outside Cottrellville Township, use the St. Clair County guide to identify the appropriate local zoning authority rather than carrying township standards across the boundary.23

Watch-outs

  • The R-1 minimum lot schedule changes with public sewer availability; confirm service and ordinance footnotes before buying a Cottrellville Township lot.1112
  • A trailer-park occupancy provision does not confirm permission to live in an RV on a private Cottrellville Township parcel; ask the township about the exact proposed use.52
  • We could not confirm Cottrellville Township’s minimum dwelling floor area or agricultural-building exemption; ask the township Building Department before designing a tiny home or barn.32

Sources

  1. Building Permit Information (Cottrellville Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Building & Zoning – Cottrellville Township (Cottrellville Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Cottrellville Township Building Department (cottrellvilletwp.gov)
  4. On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems (Cottrellville Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. 115.005 - General mobile home or trailer coach park standards (Cottrellville Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. 132.1201 - Schedule of regulations limiting height, bulk, density and area by zoning district (Cottrellville Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems (Cottrellville Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. 132.1201 - Schedule of regulations limiting height, bulk, density and area by zoning district (Cottrellville Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Drinking Water Wells, quoted and re-checked
  11. 132.1201 - Schedule of regulations limiting height, bulk, density and area by zoning district (Cottrellville Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. 132.1201 - Schedule of regulations limiting height, bulk, density and area by zoning district (Cottrellville Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. 132.1201 - Schedule of regulations limiting height, bulk, density and area by zoning district (Cottrellville Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. St. Clair County Health Department — Environmental Health Division (stclaircounty.org)
  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. 115.005 - General mobile home or trailer coach park standards (Cottrellville Township), quoted and re-checked
  17. Cottrellville Township Planning Commission (cottrellvilletwp.gov)
  18. St. Clair County Road Commission (sccrc-roads.org)
  19. courts.michigan.gov (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Certificate of Occupancy Request (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. St. Clair County Health Department — Private Water Systems (stclaircounty.org)
  22. Floodplains (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Best Known Community Zoning, 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 Cottrellville Township

Cottrellville Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction of a building or structure inside Cottrellville Township.

    • Ordinary repairs are excepted under the Michigan rule.
    • A permit is also required when use or occupancy changes.
    “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.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Cottrellville Township; the township publishes and administers Zoning Ordinance No. 17.

    “Zoning District Minimum Zoning Lot Size Per Unit”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Cottrellville Township.

    • The published schedule lists A-1 Agricultural, R-1 One-family residential with and without public sewer, RM-1 Multiple-family residential, MHD Manufactured home development, B-1, B-2, and I-1 districts.
    • Detailed footnotes and district-boundary provisions may impose additional conditions.
    “A-1 Agricultural(L)(R)(T) [...] R-1 One-family residential w/o public sewer(L)(R)(T) [...] R-1 One-family residential w/ public sewer(L)(R)(T) [...] RM-1 Multiple-family residential (H)(R) [...] MHD Manufactured home development (H)(R) [...] B-1 Local business [...] B-2 General business [...] I-1 Light industrial”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Occupancy of recreational vehicles or trailer coaches in a Cottrellville Township mobile-home or trailer-coach park.

    • Occupancy beyond one three-month period in a calendar year requires approved toilets and plumbing, approved water, compliant sanitation, and other park standards.
    • The cited rule does not establish private-parcel RV occupancy outside a licensed or regulated park.

    occupancy threshold: > 3 months (within one trailer space in any one calendar year)

    “In order that residents of a mobile home or trailer coach parked in a mobile home or trailer park for a period of more than three (3) months in one (1) trailer space within any one (1) calendar year, can enjoy the same privileges as offered residents of permanent dwellings, the following regulations shall be required:”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Mobile-home or trailer-coach parks inside Cottrellville Township.

    • Township-approved facilities may be used instead of a public sanitary sewer in the cited park-occupancy rule.
    • The facilities must also meet the Township Plumbing Code and Michigan Plumbing Code.
    “Plumbing fixtures shall be connected into a public sanitary sewer or Township approved facilities, and shall meet the requirements of the Township Plumbing Code and the Plumbing Code of the State of Michigan.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Open Space Preservation Development residential clustering inside Cottrellville Township.

    • The option applies where single-family residences are permitted.
    • The site must meet the stated minimum lot-size threshold depending on public sewer status.
    • Protected open-space and conservation requirements apply.

    minimum zoning lot size without public sewer: >= 0.5 acre (21,280 square feet) · minimum zoning lot size with public sewer: >= 0.333333 acre (14,520 square feet)

    “To utilize this development option, a site without public sewer service shall be located within a zoning district that has a one-half (½) acre [21,280 sq.ft.] or larger minimum lot size or a site with public sewer service shall be located within a zoning district that has a one-third (1/3) acre [14,520 sq.ft.] or larger minimum lot size. In Cottrellville Township the Open Space Preservation Development (Residential Clustering) Option shall be a principal use permitted in the A-1 Districts. 3. Method of Land Division. Home sites may be developed under this option as a subdivision, a site condominium, or land division.”

Rules another office applies inside Cottrellville Township

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

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    A-1 Agricultural District inside Cottrellville Township.

    • The schedule identifies the A-1 district as Agricultural.
    • The table includes footnote markers (L), (R), and (T), whose detailed exceptions are not included in the fetched section.

    minimum zoning lot size per unit: 4 acres (174,240 square feet)

    “A-1 Agricultural(L)(R)(T) 174,240 (4 acres) 300 (C)”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    A-1 Agricultural and R-1 One-family residential districts inside Cottrellville Township.

    • The schedule distinguishes front, each-side, and rear yards.
    • Footnote conditions in the schedule apply.

    A-1 front setback: 40 feet (footnotes C and L) · A-1 side setback each side: 20 feet · A-1 rear setback: 40 feet · R-1 front setback: 35 feet · R-1 side setback each side: 10 feet · R-1 rear setback: 35 feet

    “A-1 Agricultural(L)(R)(T) 174,240 (4 acres) 300 (C) 40 (C)(L) 20 40 2 40 (G) (S) 25 R-1 One-family residential w/o public sewer(L)(R)(T) 108,900 300 (C)(S) 35 10 35”
  • Who permits septicCounty

    On-site sewage systems inside Cottrellville Township are handled by the St. Clair County Health Department.

    • The township building-permit materials direct applicants to the St. Clair County Health Department for septic permits.
    • The authority is the county health department rather than Cottrellville Township zoning or building administration.
    “Prior to installing or repairing a septic system, a sewage permit must be obtained from the Health Department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installing or repairing a septic system inside Cottrellville Township.

    • The county health department states that the requirement applies before installing or repairing a septic system.
    • Instructions and applications are available for residential and commercial buildings generating less than 10,000 gallons of sewage per day.

    maximum sewage flow covered by listed instructions: < 10000 gallons per day (commercial or residential buildings generating less than this amount)

    “Prior to installing or repairing a septic system, a sewage permit must be obtained from the Health Department. Instructions and applications are available for both residential and commercial buildings that generate less than 10,000 gallons of sewage per day.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders performing residential construction inside Cottrellville Township.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Cottrellville Township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area in Cottrellville Township residential and agricultural districts.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on land inside Cottrellville Township.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy on land inside Cottrellville Township.
4 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Cottrellville Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. St. Clair County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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