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

Greenwood Township’s own rules

• Local zoningAbsent

  Land inside Greenwood township, Wexford County, Michigan, per the Wexford County Building Department's statement that Greenwood has no zoning.

  • Source is the county packet, not a Greenwood township ordinance; no township-issued zoning statement was located.
  • The county packet lists the Wexford Joint Planning Commission townships (Wexford, Hanover, Liberty, Springville, Antioch, Slagle, Boon, Selma, South Branch, Cherry Grove) without Greenwood.
  • An unofficial directory says Greenwood is zoned by the Wexford Joint Planning Commission; not relied on.
  • greenwoodtownship.org belongs to Greenwood Township in Clare County and was excluded.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• Zoning districtsNot published

  Zoning districts inside Greenwood township.

  • Greenwood township has no zoning per the county packet, so no district map is published.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• Minimum dwelling sizeNone

  Single-family dwellings inside Greenwood township; no township zoning districts exist, so there is no district to name.

  • Absence derives from the county's no-zoning statement; building code and health rules still apply.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• Minimum lot sizeNone

  Lots inside Greenwood township; no township zoning districts exist.

  • Absence derives from the county's no-zoning statement; septic and well setback rules of the health department were not analyzed.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• SetbacksNone

  Structures inside Greenwood township; no township zoning districts exist.

  • Absence derives from the county's no-zoning statement; no township setback rule was found.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• Lot coverageNone

  Lots inside Greenwood township; no township zoning districts exist.

  • Absence derives from the county's no-zoning statement.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

• Building heightNone

  Structures inside Greenwood township; no township zoning districts exist.

  • Absence derives from the county's no-zoning statement.

  “colfax, greenwood and henderson townships: no zoning”

Rules another office applies inside Greenwood Township

Greenwood 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 permitRequired

  Building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits for construction inside Greenwood township, issued by the Wexford County Building Department.

  • Greenwood is not among the excepted places (City of Cadillac, City of Manton, Cedar Creek Township) where the county does not issue building permits.
  • The packet does not list every permit trigger; the Step 1 zoning permit does not apply because Greenwood is listed as having no zoning.
  • Office: 401 N. Lake Street, Cadillac, MI 49601; 231-779-9465.

  “issue building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits (this office does not issue building permits for the city of cadillac, city of manton, and cedar creek township)”

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Residential construction inside Greenwood township, which the Wexford County Building Department serves.

  • Packet is a 2024 upload and names the 2015 Michigan Residential Code; current edition not confirmed.
  • Applies to residential construction; commercial construction uses the 2015 Michigan Building Code per the same packet.

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

• InspectionsRequired

  Building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical inspections for permitted construction inside Greenwood township.

  • Inspections are scheduled by phone at least 24 hours in advance; building inspections Mon/Tue, plumbing Tue, electrical Wed, mechanical Thu per the packet.
  • Foundation and safety inspection is a separate fee line in the packet.

  “please call a minimum of 24 hours in advance to schedule an inspection”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Septic systems on land inside Greenwood township.

  • District Health Department #10 (Wexford/Missaukee) administers well and septic permits per the county packet.
  • Health-district service-area and owner-installation rules not confirmed; dhd10.org returned a robot challenge page.

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

• Septic permitRequired

  Septic systems on land inside Greenwood township.

  • Permit, or a waiver if the system already exists, is obtained from District Health Department #10 at 521 Cobb Street, Cadillac, 231-775-9942 per the county packet.
  • Fee and installation-licensing rules not verified.

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

• Well permitRequired

  Private wells on land inside Greenwood township.

  • Permit, or a waiver if the well already exists, per the county packet.

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

• Driveway accessRequired

  Driveways onto county roads or state highways in Greenwood township.

  • Wexford County Road Commission for county roads; MDOT for state highways; a waiver applies if the driveway already exists.

  “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.”

• Building in a floodplainLimited

  Construction on parcels inside Greenwood township that are in a wetland or floodplain area or need a determination.

  • Applies only in wetland/floodplain areas or where a determination is needed; EGLE contact per the packet.
  • Within 400 feet of any river the Natural Rivers Act applies; DNR contact 989-732-3541 per packet.

  “if located in a wetland/floodplain area or need determination; contact sue conradson at egle.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Wexford County building permit fees for construction inside Greenwood township.

  • Fees are published in the county packet (2024 upload); effective date and currency not stated and not confirmed.
  • Parameters shown are examples from the packet's fee schedule.

  foundation & safety inspection: 50 USD · temporary certificate of occupancy: 100 USD

  “foundation & safety inspection…………………………………….…..$50.00”

• Permit processPartial

  Permit steps for construction inside Greenwood township.

  • Step 1 (zoning permit from the local township) does not apply because Greenwood has no zoning per the packet.
  • Steps 2 (well/septic) and 3 (driveway) are handled by other agencies; step 4 applies only in wetland or floodplain areas.

  “steps to obtaining a building permit in wexford county”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Greenwood township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Greenwood township.
• Septic inspection — Septic system inspections inside Greenwood township.
• Off-grid sanitation — Non-septic sanitation for a dwelling inside Greenwood township.
• Mandatory utility hookup — Connection to public water or sewer for a new home inside Greenwood township.

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.