Bolthole Index

Cass County, Michigan

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Village of Cassopolis, Michigan

The Village of Cassopolis, Michigan has its own zoning ordinance with residential, commercial and industrial districts1, and building permits in Cass County are issued by the village, township or city where the property sits2. The village's inspectors enforce the Michigan building codes3. Septic and well permits come from the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department4, and homes on a street with public sewer must connect to it5.

At a glance

Zoning
Village zoning ordinance (Chapter 370) with R-1, R-2, R-3, commercial and industrial districts61
Building permit
Issued by the village, not the county2
Building inspections
Village inspectors enforce the Michigan building codes3
Septic and wells
Van Buren/Cass District Health Department47
Public sewer
Connect within 90 days of the sewer becoming available5
R-1 minimum lot
10,000 square feet, 60 feet of frontage8
Mobile homes in R-1
Special use permit and at least 1,400 sq ft; RV and tiny home rules not confirmed9
Owner-builder
State licensing exemption for your own home; permits still apply10

Who to call

Building permits

Village of Cassopolis, Building/Inspections

Building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permit applications and inspections inside the village; applications go to Village Hall or the building inspector

(269) 445-8648

manager@cassopolis-mi.us

121 N. Disbrow St. Cassopolis, Michigan 49031

Septic permits

Van Buren/Cass District Health Department, Environmental Health Division

Septic permits and well permits and inspections for Cass County

(269) 782-0064

eh@vbcassdhd.org

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Village of Cassopolis means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Cassopolis have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The Village of Cassopolis zones land inside village limits under Chapter 370 of its Code of Ordinances6. Cass County itself does not administer zoning in its villages, cities or townships11, so the village ordinance is the one that applies to a lot in town.

The village lists R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3 RMHD (mobile home), C-1, C-2, C-3, P, PUD, I-1, I-2 and G/P districts, and no agricultural district1. In R-1, the main single-family district, the minimum lot is 10,000 square feet with 60 feet of frontage8. Setbacks in R-1 are 25 feet front, 10 feet on each side and 20 feet at the rear12, and a house may cover at most 30 percent of the lot13. Height is capped at 32 feet14 and the minimum floor area is 1,000 square feet15.

In R-2, single-family lots need 7,200 square feet16, with 8-foot side yards17 and an 800-square-foot minimum floor area18. We did not open the zoning map, so confirm which district a specific parcel is in with the village.

Do you need a building permit in Cassopolis, and who issues it?

Building, mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits in Cass County are administered by the village, township or city where the property is located, and the county's own directory lists the Village of Cassopolis among them2. State rules require a written application to the enforcing agency before construction, and a permit when the use of a structure changes19.

The Village of Cassopolis says it has adopted and enforces the Michigan building codes3. Applications are returned to Village Hall or emailed to the building inspector3. We could not confirm the village's permit fee schedule or its exemptions for small projects, so ask Village Hall before you start work.

A new building may not be occupied until the code official issues a certificate of occupancy20.

How do septic permits work inside Cassopolis?

Septic permits in Cass County are issued by the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department, not the village4. A new septic system permit costs $30021, and the health department also permits wells7.

Inside the village, the sewer ordinance requires a property on a street where public sewer has been installed to connect within 90 days after the sewer is available5. Michigan's plumbing code likewise requires buildings with plumbing to connect to public sewer where it is available22. For a lot on a sewered street, a septic field is therefore unlikely to be the answer. We could not confirm how the health department and the village divide septic review for the rare lot without sewer, so call the health department at (269) 782-006423.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Cassopolis?

We could not confirm a village rule for living in an RV or a tiny home on a lot in Cassopolis. Ask the Village of Cassopolis at (269) 445-8648 before parking or building one3.

What we did find is narrower. Manufactured and mobile homes in R-1 need a special use permit, at least 1,400 square feet of living space, a permanent foundation and a public sewer and water connection9. A separate small residence for elderly or disabled relatives is also a special use in R-1 and is capped at 750 square feet24. Michigan treats a tiny house as something local zoning, building and health permits still govern25.

Building a home in Cassopolis: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district and setbacks with the village, using Chapter 3701.
  2. If you are splitting a parcel, the village reviews land divisions through its clerk, and its planning commission decides within 45 days of a complete application26.
  3. Get an assigned address, which Cass County requires for new homes27.
  4. Apply for building permits through Village Hall or the building inspector3.
  5. If public sewer is not available, apply for a septic permit from the health department23.
  6. Request a certificate of occupancy once permitted work is finished20.

Michigan's owner-builder exemption covers residential-builder licensing for your own home, not permits or inspections10.

What stays with Cass County, and what to check before you buy in Cassopolis?

Septic and well permits stay with the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department4. A driveway permit comes from the Cass County Road Commission for a county road, or from MDOT for a state highway28. Land outside village limits follows the township's or county's rules instead; see the Cass County page.

The village's rules on new lots exclude land that floods six months of the year and poorly drained ground from the buildable area29. State law requires an EGLE permit for work in the 100-year floodplain of a river, stream or drain30. Cass County's effective property tax rate is 1%31.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm the village's building permit fees, which codes edition it enforces, or whether a homeowner can pull permits for their own house; ask Village Hall at (269) 445-86483.
  • We could not confirm any Cassopolis rule on RV living, camping or tiny homes, so get an answer from the village in writing before buying a lot for that purpose3.
  • The village's zoning map was not checked, so the district for a specific parcel is unconfirmed1.
  • Cass County's zoning answers do not apply inside the village: the county leaves zoning to each village, city and township11.

Sources

  1. Article XVII: Development Regulations, Schedule of Regulations 370-401, Village of Cassopolis MI (eCode360) (Village of Cassopolis), quoted and re-checked
  2. Building, Mechanical & Electrical Permit, quoted and re-checked
  3. Village of Cassopolis, Building/Inspections (cassopolis-mi.us)
  4. Water & Septic, quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 300: Sewers and Sewage Disposal, Village of Cassopolis MI (eCode360) (Village of Cassopolis), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article IV: R-1 Single-Family Residential District, Chapter 370 Zoning, Village of Cassopolis MI (eCode360) (Village of Cassopolis), quoted and re-checked
  7. Water & Septic, quoted and re-checked
  8. Article XVII: Development Regulations, Schedule of Regulations 370-401, Village of Cassopolis MI (eCode360) (Village of Cassopolis), quoted and re-checked
  9. Article IV: R-1 Single-Family Residential District, Chapter 370 Zoning, Village of Cassopolis MI (eCode360) (Village of Cassopolis), quoted and re-checked
  10. Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder (2026 county census)
  11. Cass County FAQ, quoted and re-checked
  12. Article XVII: Development Regulations, Schedule of Regulations 370-401, Village of Cassopolis MI (eCode360) (Village of Cassopolis), quoted and re-checked
  13. Article XVII: Development Regulations, Schedule of Regulations 370-401, Village of Cassopolis MI (eCode360) (Village of Cassopolis), quoted and re-checked
  14. Article XVII: Development Regulations, Schedule of Regulations 370-401, Village of Cassopolis MI (eCode360) (Village of Cassopolis), quoted and re-checked
  15. Article XVII: Development Regulations, Schedule of Regulations 370-401, Village of Cassopolis MI (eCode360) (Village of Cassopolis), quoted and re-checked
  16. Article XVII: Development Regulations, Schedule of Regulations 370-401, Village of Cassopolis MI (eCode360) (Village of Cassopolis), quoted and re-checked
  17. Article XVII: Development Regulations, Schedule of Regulations 370-401, Village of Cassopolis MI (eCode360) (Village of Cassopolis), quoted and re-checked
  18. Article XVII: Development Regulations, Schedule of Regulations 370-401, Village of Cassopolis MI (eCode360) (Village of Cassopolis), quoted and re-checked
  19. Building Permit Information, quoted and re-checked
  20. Certificate of Occupancy Request (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Cass County Land Development Checklist, quoted and re-checked
  22. Michigan Part 7 Plumbing Code Rules (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Van Buren/Cass District Health Department, Environmental Health Division (vbcassdhd.org)
  24. Article IV: R-1 Single-Family Residential District, Chapter 370 Zoning, Village of Cassopolis MI (eCode360) (Village of Cassopolis), quoted and re-checked
  25. michigan.gov (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Chapter 233: Land Divisions, Village of Cassopolis MI (eCode360) (Village of Cassopolis), quoted and re-checked
  27. Cass County Land Development Checklist, quoted and re-checked
  28. Cass County Land Development Checklist, quoted and re-checked
  29. Article XVI: Supplemental Regulations, Chapter 370 Zoning, Village of Cassopolis MI (eCode360) (Village of Cassopolis), quoted and re-checked
  30. Floodplains, quoted and re-checked
  31. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 23, 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 Cassopolis

Village of Cassopolis’s own rules

  • InspectionsLimited

    Bed-and-breakfast facilities only inside Cassopolis village

    • Approval by the building inspector before occupancy, then annual compliance inspection by the building inspector (370-367 c.(10)).
    “(10) approval by the building inspector is required prior to occupancy of the facility. thereafter, the building inspector shall conduct an annual compliance inspection.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Cassopolis village limits: the village's own zoning ordinance (Chapter 370, Zoning) of its Code of Ordinances

    • Chapter 370 Zoning on eCode360 is the village's adopted zoning code (index lists sections 370-1 through 370-486).
    • Zoning map not opened; district boundaries not verified.
    “the r-1 single-family residential zoning district is typically a single-family housing area.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Cassopolis village limits

    • Schedule of regulations lists R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3 RMHD (Article VII), C-1, C-2, C-3, P, PUD (Article XII), I-1, I-2 and G/P (Article XV).
    • No agricultural district appears in the schedule.
    • Zoning map not opened.
    “r-3 rmhd see article vii: r-3 residential mobile home district c-1”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside Cassopolis village

    • Pre-manufactured or mobile home used as living accommodations in R-1 must have a minimum living space of 1,400 square feet as a special use (370-123 g(2)).

    minimum livable floor area per unit: >= 1000 square feet (pre-manufactured or mobile home special use: 1,400 square feet)

    “minimum yard setback (feet) maximum lot coverage (%) minimum livable floor area per unit (square feet) (9) stories height (feet) front each side rear r-1 10,000 60 2.5 32 25 10 20 30 1,000 r-2 (1)(2) 60 2.5 32 (4) 25 8 20 30(8) 800”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside Cassopolis village (main single-family district)

    • Lot frontage 60 linear feet, measured at the front yard setback line (schedule footnote 3).
    • Clustered residential development in R-1 and R-2 may reduce lot areas by up to 25% if an equal amount of land is dedicated as open space (Article XVII clustered residential development subsection b; section number not confirmed).

    minimum lot size per unit: >= 10000 square feet · minimum lot frontage: >= 60 linear feet

    “minimum yard setback (feet) maximum lot coverage (%) minimum livable floor area per unit (square feet) (9) stories height (feet) front each side rear r-1 10,000 60 2.5 32 25 10 20 30 1,000 r-2 (1)(2) 60 2.5 32 (4) 25 8 20 30(8) 800”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside Cassopolis village

    • Minimum yard setbacks in feet from the schedule columns front, each side and rear.
    • Cluster option may alter lot areas, not yard setbacks as stated here.

    front yard setback: >= 25 feet · each side yard setback: >= 10 feet · rear yard setback: >= 20 feet

    “minimum yard setback (feet) maximum lot coverage (%) minimum livable floor area per unit (square feet) (9) stories height (feet) front each side rear r-1 10,000 60 2.5 32 25 10 20 30 1,000 r-2 (1)(2) 60 2.5 32 (4) 25 8 20 30(8) 800”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside Cassopolis village

    • Maximum lot coverage 30 percent of lot area, from the schedule column maximum lot coverage (%).

    maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent

    “minimum yard setback (feet) maximum lot coverage (%) minimum livable floor area per unit (square feet) (9) stories height (feet) front each side rear r-1 10,000 60 2.5 32 25 10 20 30 1,000 r-2 (1)(2) 60 2.5 32 (4) 25 8 20 30(8) 800”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 Single-Family Residential District inside Cassopolis village

    • Schedule columns: maximum building height 2.5 stories and 32 feet.

    maximum building height: <= 32 feet (2.5 stories)

    “minimum yard setback (feet) maximum lot coverage (%) minimum livable floor area per unit (square feet) (9) stories height (feet) front each side rear r-1 10,000 60 2.5 32 25 10 20 30 1,000 r-2 (1)(2) 60 2.5 32 (4) 25 8 20 30(8) 800”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile home or pre-manufactured structure used as living accommodations in the R-1 district inside Cassopolis village (not applied to mobile homes in a mobile home park)

    • Allowed only as a special use permit in R-1 (370-123 g).
    • Minimum living space 1,400 sq ft with eight-foot floor-to-ceiling height.
    • At least 50% of longest side at least 40 feet deep.
    • Permanently attached to a solid foundation built on site per the village building code; no exposed wheels, towing mechanisms or chassis.
    • Must be connected to public sewer and water supply.
    • Must comply with building and fire codes, including the manufactured housing standard for mobile homes.
    • Mobile home park and R-3 RMHD district (Article VII) rules not opened.

    minimum living space: >= 1400 square feet

    “g. mobile home or pre-manufactured structure to be used as living accommodations in a low density residential district must comply with the following standards. these standards shall not be applied to mobile homes located in a mobile home park.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory building used as a separate residence for elderly or disabled relatives of the owner-occupant, in the R-1 district inside Cassopolis village

    • Special use permit in R-1 (370-123 h).
    • Must be on a single-family residential lot and serve elderly or disabled relatives who demonstrate need for assistance.
    • No more than two persons may reside in the accessory unit.
    • Floor area may not exceed the ground floor area of the primary residence, may not be taller than the primary residence, and may not exceed 750 square feet.
    • Must meet building code standards for a residential unit and blend with surrounding architecture; sufficient off-street parking required.
    • Article XVI 370-362 c.: no single-family detached residential structure may be erected on a building site with another single-family detached residential structure.

    maximum floor area of accessory unit: <= 750 square feet (not more than the ground floor area of the primary residence) · maximum persons residing: <= 2 persons

    “(2) the accessory building will serve as a separate residence to elderly or disabled relatives of the owner-occupant of the primary residence who demonstrate a need for assistance.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Premises on a street where a public sewer has been installed, inside Cassopolis village (existing private system owners cited; new-home rule not separately located)

    • Connect within 90 days after the public sewer is available for use (chapter 300, private disposal subsection d.).
    • Connection applies where a public sewer has been installed on land abutting or fronting a street, alley or easement.
    • Connection to public sewer requires a written permit from the superintendent (chapter 300 Article II; not quoted here).
    • Water connection rule (Article IV 300-59 to 300-61, 200-foot distance) appears in search snippets only and was not opened.

    connection deadline: 90 days (after the public sewer is available for use)

    “shall connect such premises to the public sewer within 90 days after such sewer is available for use.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Principal structures in Cassopolis village (access to a public or approved private street); no driveway permit rule located

    • Principal structures must be on a lot adjacent to a public street or have access to an approved private street (370-362 b.).
    • Lots must allow safe access for fire protection and required off-street parking.
    • Private roads: no more than 1,000 feet from a public road and no more than 25 parcels (233-5 f.) where applicable.
    “every principal structure hereafter erected or moved shall be on a lot adjacent to a public street, or with access to an approved private street, and all structures shall be located on lots so as to provide safe and convenient access for fire protection and required off-street parking.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Newly created lots inside Cassopolis village (net buildable area)

    • Net buildable area excludes land subject to flooding six months of the year, plus poor drainage and other unbuildable areas (370-363 a.).
    • No floodplain development permit or floodplain ordinance located in the opened text.
    “the net buildable area of a building site shall be a contiguous piece of land, excluding land subject to flooding six months of the year, poor drainage, steep slopes, rock outcrops and land encumbered by easements preventing the use of land.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Bed-and-breakfast facilities only (a special use in R-1 under 370-123 b.). No general short-term rental rule was located.

    • Special use permit required in R-1 (370-123 b.).
    • Minimum lot 10,000 sq ft with 66 ft frontage on a public street (370-367 c.(1)).
    • Rental rooms may not exceed the bedrooms existing at application (370-367 c.(2)).
    • Minimum rental room 125 sq ft; manager/owner quarters at least 450 sq ft.
    • Building inspector approval before occupancy and annual compliance inspection; county health department approval if other than continental breakfast.

    maximum stay: <= 30 days (continuous days)

    “(12) the maximum stay at a bed-and-breakfast facility shall be 30 continuous days.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Land division review fee only, inside Cassopolis village

    • Fee set by village resolution from time to time (233-3 i.); the schedule is not in the code text opened.
    • Building, zoning and septic permit fees not located.
    “the fee, as may from time to time be established by resolution of the village, for land division reviews pursuant to this chapter”
  • Permit processPartial

    Land division review process inside Cassopolis village; building and zoning permit process not located in the opened text

    • Application filed with village clerk; reviewed by village manager and planning commission.
    • Planning commission decides within 45 days of a conforming application package.
    • Appeal of assessor decision to village council within 30 days (233-4 b.).

    decision period: 45 days

    “the village planning commission or other designee shall approve, approve with reasonable conditions to assure compliance with applicable ordinances and the protection of public health, safety and general welfare, or disapprove the land division applied for within 45 days after receipt of the application package conforming to this chapter's requirements”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permit for new residential construction inside Cassopolis village
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a homeowner building on their own land inside Cassopolis village
  • Building code adopted — Building code adopted by Cassopolis village
  • Living in an RV — Recreational vehicle occupancy on private land inside Cassopolis village
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Cassopolis village
7 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption

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 Cassopolis publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Cass County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Cass County: county rules, score and offices