Bolthole Index

Monroe County, Michigan

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

The Village of Dundee, Michigan adopts and enforces its own zoning ordinance, and a zoning permit is needed for any new building, addition or alteration inside village limits12. Michigan's construction code requires a building permit before construction3. Septic permits for any lot in Monroe County without sanitary sewer come from the Monroe County Environmental Health Division4.

At a glance

Zoning
Village of Dundee adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance1
Zoning permit
Needed for new buildings, additions and alterations2
Building permit
Required statewide before construction; the village lists the codes it enforces35
Driveway permit
Required for new driveways on a village parcel6
Septic
Monroe County Environmental Health Division where sanitary sewer is not available78
Minimum lot (RA / RA-1)
12,000 sq ft / 9,600 sq ft per dwelling unit9
Manufactured homes
Allowed on individual lots if they meet the ordinance's dwelling standards10

Who to call

Zoning

Village of Dundee (Planning & Zoning, via the village manager)

Zoning permits, driveway permits, fence permits and sign permits inside Dundee village limits

734-529-3430

350 W Monroe Street, Dundee, MI, 48131

Septic permits

Monroe County Environmental Health Division

Septic (onsite sewage disposal) permits and inspections in Monroe County

734-240-7900

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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

Yes. The Village of Dundee adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for all land inside village limits1. The residential districts are RA, RA-1, RA-2, RA-3, RM-1 and RM-211.

Dimensions depend on the district. In the RA district, a one-family lot needs 12,000 sq ft per dwelling unit, with a front yard of 35 ft, side yards of 10 / 30 ft and a rear yard of 35 ft912. In RA-1, the minimum is 9,600 sq ft per dwelling unit, with a front yard of 25 ft and side yards of 8 / 20 ft912. Lot coverage is capped at 40% in RA and RA-113. River Raisin and wetland setbacks can override the table values12.

The ordinance identifies no agricultural district, so Dundee is not the place for livestock or farm-style building exemptions9. We could not confirm the village's rules on tiny homes, accessory dwellings or RV living on a lot; ask the village manager before you buy2.

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

Yes. A zoning permit is needed for any new building, addition or alteration inside the Village of Dundee2, and Michigan law requires a written building permit application to the enforcing agency before construction begins3. The village's building department page lists the codes it works under, including the 2015 Michigan Residential Code; newer state-adopted editions may apply, so confirm the current edition with the village5.

The village publishes a fee schedule with a $25 application fee, plan review at $100 per hour and a $65 re-inspection fee; that schedule is dated 2023, so confirm current amounts before budgeting14. New driveways on a village parcel need their own driveway permit, and new fences need a fence permit62.

Outside village limits, Monroe County has no zoning authority of its own and zoning belongs to each township1516. This guide covers land inside the village only. For land outside it, see the Monroe County page.

Who issues septic permits for a lot in Dundee?

The Monroe County Environmental Health Division enforces onsite sewage rules across Monroe County, and its septic permits are required to construct, repair, alter or extend an onsite system74. A village does not take that over from the county in the documents we reviewed; we could not confirm a village septic office, so call the county at 734-240-790017.

Whether a given Dundee lot needs a septic system at all depends on sewer access. The county requires an onsite system for a new home when sanitary sewer is not available8. Inside the village, new dwellings must connect to a public sewer or water system or one the village approves18. Ask the village manager whether sewer runs to your parcel2.

A homeowner who installs their own system for a home they will live in must apply for a single installation license and pass the Health Officer's written examination first19. Wells are permitted through the local health department, whose rules differ by county20.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Dundee?

We could not confirm the Village of Dundee's rules on tiny homes or living in an RV on a lot, so ask the village manager at 734-529-3430 before you buy2. Michigan's state camping rules apply to campgrounds of five or more recreational units and do not answer whether you can live in one RV on your own lot21.

What the ordinance does address is manufactured housing. A manufactured home on an individual lot must be at least 20 ft wide, have two exterior doors and a frost-depth foundation, and connect to utilities, and the village may compare it with nearby dwellings10. Manufactured housing communities are regulated separately10. A tiny house proposed as occupancy needs local zoning, building, electrical and plumbing approvals22.

Building a home in Dundee: the steps, in order

  • Confirm the parcel's zoning district on the village zoning map and check lot size, yards and coverage against the ordinance119.
  • Call the village manager at 734-529-3430 before ordering materials; the village asks applicants to verify requirements first23.
  • Get a zoning permit for the new building, then the building permit the village or its enforcing agency issues under the state code23.
  • Get a driveway permit before installing a new driveway6.
  • Where there is no sewer, apply to Monroe County Environmental Health for a septic permit4.
  • Pass the inspections; the state requires inspection of permitted construction, and a certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in2425.

What stays with Monroe County, and what to check before you buy in Dundee

Septic and well permits stay with Monroe County, not the village720. Driveways onto a state highway need a state driveway permit from the Michigan Department of Transportation in addition to local approvals26. Building within a river floodplain triggers state floodplain rules, and new residential construction is prohibited in a floodway27; the village's ordinance also adds River Raisin setbacks12.

Budget figures are county-level: Monroe County's effective property tax rate is 1.2%28. Only a small share of Monroe County soils rate as not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so lots without sewer should expect a site evaluation and often an engineered system29.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm who inspects construction or issues occupancy certificates inside Dundee; ask the village manager at 734-529-34302.
  • The fee schedule we found is dated 2023 and the building code list shows 2015 editions, so confirm both are current145.
  • We could not confirm village rules on accessory dwellings or short-term rentals; ask before buying with either plan2.

Sources

  1. Village of Dundee Zoning Ordinance (full, clean, hyperlinked, 01-06-23) (Village of Dundee), quoted and re-checked
  2. Village of Dundee (Planning & Zoning, via the village manager) (dundeevillage.net)
  3. Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, MCL 125.1510 (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. Onsite Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  5. Building Code Information - Dundee, MI (Village of Dundee), quoted and re-checked
  6. Planning & Zoning - Dundee, MI (Village of Dundee), quoted and re-checked
  7. Onsite Sewage Disposal, quoted and re-checked
  8. Onsite Sewage Disposal | Monroe County, MI, quoted and re-checked
  9. Village of Dundee Zoning Ordinance (full, clean, hyperlinked, 01-06-23) (Village of Dundee), quoted and re-checked
  10. Village of Dundee Zoning Ordinance (full, clean, hyperlinked, 01-06-23) (Village of Dundee), quoted and re-checked
  11. Village of Dundee Zoning Ordinance (full, clean, hyperlinked, 01-06-23) (Village of Dundee), quoted and re-checked
  12. Village of Dundee Zoning Ordinance (full, clean, hyperlinked, 01-06-23) (Village of Dundee), quoted and re-checked
  13. Village of Dundee Zoning Ordinance (full, clean, hyperlinked, 01-06-23) (Village of Dundee), quoted and re-checked
  14. Village of Dundee Permit and Inspection Fee Schedule (06/27/2023) (Village of Dundee), quoted and re-checked
  15. Monroe County Board of Commissioners Archived Agenda/Minutes, January 21, 2025, quoted and re-checked
  16. Monroe County Streamlining Guide, quoted and re-checked
  17. Monroe County Environmental Health Division (co.monroe.mi.us)
  18. Village of Dundee Zoning Ordinance (full, clean, hyperlinked, 01-06-23) (Village of Dundee), quoted and re-checked
  19. Monroe County Environmental Health/Sanitary Code, Chapter 5, quoted and re-checked
  20. Before you start a well drilling business (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Temporary campgrounds (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. michigan.gov (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Planning & Zoning - Dundee, MI (Village of Dundee), quoted and re-checked
  24. courts.michigan.gov (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Certificate of Occupancy Request (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Infrastructure permits (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Floodplains (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  28. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  29. 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

Written October 24, 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 Dundee

Village of Dundee’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Dundee village; village building department page lists the codes

    • Page lists 2015 editions; newer state-adopted editions may apply and were not verified

    codes listed: 2015 Michigan Residential Code, 2015 Michigan Building Code, 2015 Michigan Mechanical Code, 2015 Michigan Plumbing Code, 2017 NEC

    “2015 michigan residential building code 2015 michigan building code 2015 michigan mechanical code 2015 michigan plumbing code 2017 nec code”
  • Local zoningPresent

    All land inside Dundee village limits

    • Village adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance; zoning permit required for new buildings, additions, alterations
    “the village of dundee is hereby divided into the following zoning districts to be known as, and having the following names and symbols:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    All land inside Dundee village; zoning map on village website

    • Residential districts RA, RA-1, RA-2, RA-3, RM-1, RM-2; business districts include LC and B-1
    “ra onefamily 12,000 sq. ft. per dwelling unit 90 2 1/2 30 35 10 30 35 40%”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    One-family residential districts RA (12,000 sq ft) and RA-1 (9,600 sq ft) inside Dundee village; RA-2 and RA-3 also in table

    • Table 5.03 footnotes apply (lot depth to width ratio 3:1 max)
    • No agricultural district identified

    RA min lot area: >= 12000 sq ft per dwelling unit · RA min lot width: >= 90 ft · RA-1 min lot area: >= 9600 sq ft per dwelling unit · RA-1 min lot width: >= 80 ft · RA-2 min lot area: >= 6000 sq ft per dwelling unit · RA-3 min lot area: >= 7200 sq ft per dwelling unit

    “ra onefamily 12,000 sq. ft. per dwelling unit 90 2 1/2 30 35 10 30 35 40%”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    One-family residential districts RA and RA-1 inside Dundee village

    • Corner lots must provide front yard setback from both streets (footnote 3)
    • River Raisin and wetland setbacks in Section 19.04 supersede table values where applicable
    • Front yard may not be used for off-street parking

    RA front yard: >= 35 ft · RA side yard (each / total): 10 / 30 ft · RA rear yard: >= 35 ft · RA-1 front yard: >= 25 ft · RA-1 side yard (each / total): 8 / 20 ft · RA-1 rear yard: >= 35 ft

    “ra-1 onefamily 9,600 sq. ft. per dwelling unit 80 2 1/2 30 25 8 20 35 40%”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    One-family residential districts RA, RA-1 (40%) inside Dundee village; RA-2 and RA-3 (50%)

    • See Table 5.03 footnotes

    RA max lot coverage: <= 40 % · RA-1 max lot coverage: <= 40 % · RA-2/RA-3 max lot coverage: <= 50 %

    “ra-2 onefamily 6,000 sq. ft. per dwelling unit 60 2 1/2 30 25 5 15 35 50%”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    One-family residential districts RA through RA-3 inside Dundee village

    • Multiple-family RM districts allow 3 stories / 40 ft

    RA/RA-1 max height: 2 1/2 stories / 30 ft

    “ra-1 onefamily 9,600 sq. ft. per dwelling unit 80 2 1/2 30 25 8 20 35 40%”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes on individual lots inside Dundee village

    • Must meet minimum 20 ft dimension, two exterior doors, frost-depth foundation, utility connection and compatibility standards
    • Floor area and lot coverage must comply with Table 5.03; village may require 90%-135% of average of nearby dwellings within 300 ft
    • Manufactured housing communities regulated separately

    minimum dimension: >= 20 ft

    “have a minimum dimension of twenty (20) feet.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    New manufactured/one-family dwellings meeting the ordinance's dwelling standards inside Dundee village; cluster developments must be served by public sewer and water

    • Connection is to a public sewer or water system and/or a waste treatment or potable water supply system approved by the village or other agencies such as the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
    • No distance-to-main rule found
    “be connected to a public sewer or water system and/or waste treatment or potable water supply system approved by the village of dundee, or other applicable agencies such as the michigan department of environmental quality.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivisions, condominiums and manufactured home parks inside Dundee village

    • Governed by the village engineering design standards
    “these standards shall apply to and are intended to provide detailed specifications for the design and construction of subdivisions, condominiums, manufactured home parks”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New driveways on parcels inside Dundee village

    • Expanding an existing curb cut: verify whether a permit is needed
    “driveway permits are required when new driveways are installed on a parcel.”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Building permits inside Dundee village

    • Fee schedule dated 06/27/2023 per file name; confirm current schedule
    • Fee tiers by project valuation

    application fee: 25 USD · plan review fee: per 100 USD per hour · re-inspection fee: 65 USD

    “permit and inspection fee schedule application fee fee amount a. $25.00 plan review fee b. $100.00/hour”
  • Permit processPartial

    Zoning, driveway, fence and sign permits inside Dundee village

    • Applicants should verify with the village before ordering materials
    • Questions go to the village manager at 734-529-3430
    “the construction of new fences or extension of existing fences requires a fence permit.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permits inside Dundee village
  • Inspections — Inspections inside Dundee village
  • Certificate of occupancy — Occupancy certificates inside Dundee village
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Dundee village
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Dundee village
10 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Dundee publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Monroe County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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