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

Colfax Township’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Colfax township limits (Wexford County, MI): whether the township administers its own zoning ordinance

  • The Wexford County Building Department packet places Colfax township under a line that reads 'no zoning'. The packet is a county document revised 05/20/2021; the township's own site did not load, so the township has not confirmed this in its own words.
  • Well, septic, driveway and building permit rules listed in the same packet still apply.
  • Zoning-only topics for this township are answered from the no-zoning statement, not from a township ordinance.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Zoning districts for land inside Colfax township

  • No zoning districts exist because the township has no zoning per the county packet.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Minimum dwelling floor area for a home inside Colfax township

  • No zoning-based minimum because the township has no zoning per the county packet.
  • Michigan Residential Code still governs construction.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Minimum lot size for a home inside Colfax township

  • No zoning-based minimum because the township has no zoning per the county packet.
  • Septic and well permitting by District #10 may still require adequate lot area; not verified.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• SetbacksNone

  Building setbacks for a home inside Colfax township

  • No zoning-based setback because the township has no zoning per the county packet.
  • Road right-of-way and driveway rules from the road commission/MDOT still apply.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• Lot coverageNone

  Lot coverage limits for buildings inside Colfax township

  • No zoning-based coverage limit because the township has no zoning per the county packet.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• Building heightNone

  Building height limits for a home inside Colfax township

  • No zoning-based height limit because the township has no zoning per the county packet.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• Living in an RVUnrestricted

  Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Colfax township

  • No land-use rule restricts it because the township has no zoning per the county packet.
  • Septic, well and building rules still apply to any dwelling.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• Camping on your landUnrestricted

  Temporary camping on private land inside Colfax township

  • No land-use rule restricts it because the township has no zoning per the county packet.
  • Septic and well rules still apply to any sanitation used.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• Tiny homesUnrestricted

  Tiny home occupancy inside Colfax township

  • No land-use rule restricts it because the township has no zoning per the county packet.
  • Building and septic/well rules still apply.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• Manufactured homesUnrestricted

  Manufactured home occupancy inside Colfax township

  • No land-use rule restricts it because the township has no zoning per the county packet.
  • Building, septic and well rules still apply.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• Accessory dwellingsUnrestricted

  Accessory dwellings on a parcel inside Colfax township

  • No land-use rule restricts it because the township has no zoning per the county packet.
  • Septic and well permits still apply to any added dwelling.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

Rules another office applies inside Colfax Township

Colfax 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 code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Residential construction inside Colfax township, as applied by the Wexford County Building Department

  • The packet states the 2015 Michigan Residential Code applies to residential construction; commercial construction uses the 2015 Michigan Building Code.

  “2015 michigan residential code (in effect february 8, 2016) for residential construction, 2015 michigan building code for commercial construction”

• InspectionsRequired

  Building inspections for permitted construction inside Colfax township by the Wexford County Building Department

  • Call at least 24 hours in advance to schedule an inspection (packet phone 231-779-9465).
  • Inspection days are listed by trade in the packet (building Monday and Tuesday; plumbing Tuesday; electrical Wednesday; mechanical Thursday).

  “building inspections: monday and tuesday (bob scarbrough-building official)”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic systems for homes inside Colfax township, if the township is within District Health Department #10 territory

  • The packet directs septic permits to District #10 for the county generally; that Colfax township parcels fall in DHD#10 territory was not separately verified.

  “step 2: well/septic permit. contact the wexford/missaukee county district #10 health department for a well and septic permit or waiver if already existing.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic system permit for a new home inside Colfax township (District #10 territory)

  • Waiver is available for an existing system (per packet).
  • Applicability to Colfax parcels is inferred from the county-wide packet.

  “step 2: well/septic permit. contact the wexford/missaukee county district #10 health department for a well and septic permit or waiver if already existing.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private well permit for a new home inside Colfax township (District #10 territory)

  • Waiver is available for an existing well (per packet).
  • Applicability to Colfax parcels is inferred from the county-wide packet.

  “step 2: well/septic permit. contact the wexford/missaukee county district #10 health department for a well and septic permit or waiver if already existing.”

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveway access onto county roads or state highways in Colfax township

  • Wexford County Road Commission for county roads; MDOT for state highways.
  • Waiver is available for an existing driveway (per packet).

  “step 3: driveway permit. contact the wexford county road commission (if on a county road) or mdot (if on a state highway) to obtain a driveway permit or waiver if already existing.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit fees for construction inside Colfax township, set by the Wexford County Building Department

  • The packet's contents list a building permit fee schedule; the amounts were not opened.
  • Fee applicability to Colfax is inferred from the county-wide packet.

  “building permit fee schedule step-by-step process for obtaining permits”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building permit process for construction inside Colfax township, as set out by the Wexford County Building Department

  • The published steps are county-wide: zoning permit, well/septic permit, driveway permit, and floodplain/wetland check.
  • Step 4 (floodplain/wetland) text was cut off in the opened output and is not quoted here.

  “steps to obtaining a building permit in wexford county: step 1: zoning permit.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a homeowner building their own home inside Colfax township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Colfax township
• Septic inspection — Septic inspection for a new system inside Colfax township
• Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid or non-permitted sanitation on private land inside Colfax township
• Mandatory utility hookup — Whether a new home inside Colfax township must connect to public water or sewer when available

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.