Bolthole Index

St. Joseph County, Michigan

Building permits, zoning and septic in the Village of Constantine, Michigan

The Village of Constantine, Michigan requires a building permit before construction or a change in use or occupancy, and the village has its own zoning ordinance.12 In St. Joseph County, private septic permits come from the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, but Constantine’s public-sewer connection rules may require sewer service instead.34

At a glance

Building permit
Required before construction or a change of use or occupancy1
Zoning
Village zoning applies inside village limits2
Septic
BHSJ permit required where private septic is allowed; check village sewer requirements first54
Minimum dwelling size
District-specific minimum floor area applies; ask the village for the numeric standard6
Owner-builder
Own-use, own-occupancy, own-property licensing exemption; building permits still apply7
Private well
BHSJ well permit required for an onsite water supply8

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Constantine Village Hall

Starting contact to request the current building enforcing agency and village zoning contact

(269) 435-2085

115 White Pigeon Street Constantine, MI 49042

Zoning

Village of Constantine Zoning Administrator

Village zoning administration and zoning applications

Septic permits

Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, Environmental Health

Private septic permits and vacant-land site evaluations for St. Joseph County

269-273-2161 ext. 233

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 Village of Constantine means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in the Village of Constantine, MI?

A building permit is required before constructing a building or structure in the Village of Constantine, and changing a structure’s use or occupancy also requires a building permit.1 Ordinary repairs can be exempt, but the exception does not cover structural work, changes to required exits, or specified plumbing, electrical, mechanical and safety-related work.1

Michigan’s construction codes apply inside Constantine; residential requirements are covered by the Michigan Residential Code.9 Submit the written building-permit application to the appropriate enforcing agency rather than assuming a county office issues the building permit.10

Who handles building permits and zoning in the Village of Constantine?

Start with Constantine Village Hall and ask for the current building official or enforcing agency and the village Zoning Administrator.11 We could not confirm a dedicated building-office contact; Michigan directs Constantine applicants to the appropriate enforcing agency and its statewide jurisdiction list.10

Constantine’s Zoning Administrator administers the village ordinance and receives zoning applications, certificates and variance requests.12 Village zoning is distinct from the health agency’s work: private septic permitting remains with the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency where private sewage disposal is allowed.23 Ask Village Hall to identify the sewer connection requirements for the parcel before arranging a private septic application.4

Does the Village of Constantine have zoning for RVs and tiny homes?

The Village of Constantine has a zoning ordinance, and single-family dwellings must meet the minimum floor-area requirement for the district where the dwelling is located.26 We could not confirm the numeric district schedule for minimum dwelling size, lot area or setbacks; ask the village Zoning Administrator for the parcel’s district and applicable dimensional standards.612

We could not confirm permission for residential RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy or an accessory dwelling in Constantine; describe the intended living arrangement to the village Zoning Administrator before buying a unit or land.12 Michigan’s campground provisions do not establish permission to live in an RV on a private village lot.13

How do septic permits and sewer connections work in the Village of Constantine?

Constantine’s sewer ordinance requires connection for qualifying occupied properties abutting a street, alley, right-of-way or public utility easement containing a village sanitary or combined sewer when ownership transfers or private sewage facilities need major repair or replacement; compliance is required within 180 days.4 When public sewer becomes available, private sewage facilities must be abandoned and filled with suitable material.4

Constantine prohibits privies, septic tanks and other private sewage facilities except as provided by its ordinance, so ask the village which exception, if any, applies to the parcel.14 Where onsite septic is allowed, BHSJ requires a septic installation permit and payment at application.5 BHSJ also offers vacant-land evaluations for well and septic suitability.15

Building a home in the Village of Constantine: what are the steps?

  1. Ask the village Zoning Administrator to confirm the zoning district, allowed residential use and applicable minimum dwelling floor area.126
  2. Resolve public-sewer connection requirements with the village; if private septic is permitted, obtain the required BHSJ sewage approval before the construction permit for a new building served by onsite sewage.416
  3. Submit the written building-permit application, scaled plans and site plan to the appropriate enforcing agency before construction.1710
  4. Arrange the enforcing agency’s inspections and obtain the certificate of occupancy before using the new or altered building.1819

An owner building for personal use and occupancy on the owner’s property may qualify for Michigan’s builder-licensing exemption, but building permits, zoning and inspections still apply.7

What should you check before buying land in the Village of Constantine?

Ask Village Hall about sewer service before closing: Constantine’s qualifying-property connection requirement can be triggered by a transfer of ownership, even when an existing septic system is present.114 If an onsite water supply is proposed, BHSJ requires a well installation permit; a septic approval does not replace that well permit.85

For work in a regulated river or stream floodplain, Michigan EGLE requirements can apply, and new residential construction is prohibited in the floodway.20 A driveway onto a state trunkline needs MDOT access approval in addition to applicable local building approval.21 For land outside village limits, use the St. Joseph County guide and identify the local jurisdiction responsible for the parcel’s land-use decisions.22

Watch-outs

  • A qualifying property’s ownership transfer can trigger Constantine’s sewer connection requirement with a 180-day compliance period.4
  • We could not confirm residential RV or tiny-home occupancy permission in Constantine; ask the village Zoning Administrator before committing to that plan.12
  • Michigan’s owner-builder exemption concerns builder licensing and does not waive Constantine building permits or zoning requirements.7

Sources

  1. Building Permit Information (Village of Constantine), quoted and re-checked
  2. Maps/Ordinances - Constantine, Michigan (Village of Constantine), quoted and re-checked
  3. Environmental Health (Village of Constantine), quoted and re-checked
  4. Sec. 66-53. - Sewer connection required (Village of Constantine), quoted and re-checked
  5. Sewage Disposal Systems (Village of Constantine), quoted and re-checked
  6. Village of Constantine, Michigan Comprehensive Zoning Amendment - 2006 (Village of Constantine), quoted and re-checked
  7. Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Water Wells and Water Testing, quoted and re-checked
  9. Building Permit Information (Village of Constantine), quoted and re-checked
  10. Building Permit Information (Village of Constantine), quoted and re-checked
  11. Village of Constantine Village Hall (constantinemi.com)
  12. Village of Constantine Zoning Administrator (mcclibrary.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net)
  13. Legislation governing campgrounds in Michigan (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Sec. 66-52. - Privies and septic tanks (Village of Constantine), quoted and re-checked
  15. Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, Environmental Health (bhsj.org)
  16. Environmental Health Code, quoted and re-checked
  17. Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, MCL 125.1510 (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. courts.michigan.gov (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Certificate of Occupancy Request (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Floodplains (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Infrastructure permits (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. St. Joseph County Master Plan – Update 2007, 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 Village of Constantine

Village of Constantine’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Constantine village limits; the village publishes a link to its ordinances and the adopted code contains the Village of Constantine Comprehensive Zoning Amendment.

    “Village of Constantine, Michigan Comprehensive Zoning Amendment - 2006”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in Constantine village zoning districts; the opened zoning text requires compliance with the minimum square-footage requirements for the applicable zone.

    • The numeric district schedule was not available in the opened excerpt and must be verified from the complete zoning ordinance.
    “It complies with the minimum square footage requirements of this ordinance for the zone in which it is located.”
  • Off-grid sanitationProhibited

    Privies, privy vaults, septic tanks, cesspools, or other sewage-disposal facilities inside Constantine village.

    • The ordinance begins with an exception phrase; the cited section does not identify the exception.
    “Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Houses, buildings, and properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes inside Constantine village that abut a street, alley, right-of-way, or public utility easement containing or later receiving a village public sanitary or combined sewer.

    • Connection is required when a transfer of ownership occurs or when private sewage disposal facilities require major repair or replacement.
    • Compliance is required within 180 days.
    • When public sewer becomes available, private sewage facilities must be abandoned and filled with suitable material.
    • The cited rules address sewer, not a general mandatory public-water connection.

    compliance period: 180 days

    “when a transfer of ownership occurs or when private sewage disposal facilities require major repair or replacement. Compliance shall be within 180 days.”

Rules another office applies inside Village of Constantine

Village of Constantine 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 of a building or structure, or a change in use or occupancy, inside Constantine village.

    • Ordinary repairs do not require a permit, but ordinary repairs exclude structural work, changes to required egress, certain plumbing, electrical, mechanical, or other work affecting public health or general safety.
    • The application must be submitted to the appropriate enforcing agency.
    “Before construction of a building or structure, an owner, or the owner's builder, architect, engineer, or agent, shall submit an application”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction, alteration, use, occupancy, and maintenance of buildings inside Constantine village under the Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code.

    • The Michigan Residential Code presently contains provisions for one- and two-family dwellings.
    • The enforcing agency may be state, county, or local; applicants must submit to the appropriate enforcing agency.
    “The Michigan Building Code controls all matters concerning the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy, and maintenance”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    On-site sewage systems serving property inside Constantine village where a private system is used or required.

    • The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency administers environmental-health sewage services for St. Joseph County.
    • Constantine village separately regulates sewer connections and prohibits private sewage facilities except as provided.
    “provides inspections, licensing, education, and environmental public health services that help prevent illness and promote safety throughout Branch, Hillsdale, and St. Joseph counties.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation of an on-site sewage disposal system inside Constantine village.

    • The permit fee must be paid at application.
    • St. Joseph County service contact is 269-273-2161 ext. 233.
    • Village sewer rules may require public sewer connection instead of private septic.
    “Required permit for installation of on-site sewage disposal (septic) systems. Permit fee must be paid at time of application”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building-permit applications for construction inside Constantine village.

    • The application must be submitted in writing to the appropriate enforcing agency.
    • The statewide jurisdiction list should be reviewed because enforcement may be by the state, county, or local government.
    • Online and mail options are described; mail may cause delays.
    “A building permit application must be submitted to the appropriate enforcing agency.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder licensing or permit exemptions for residential construction inside Constantine village.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside Constantine village.
  • Setbacks — Setbacks inside Constantine village.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Constantine village.
  • Building height — Building height inside Constantine village.
10 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Village of Constantine publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. St. Joseph County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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