Bolthole Index

Oakland County, Michigan

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Berkley, Michigan

Berkley, Michigan requires city approval before building, with inspections during construction and after completion.1 Berkley administers its own zoning ordinance; Oakland County Health Division handles septic permits where city sewer rules allow an onsite system.23 Berkley generally prohibits septic tanks and other sewage-disposal facilities except as provided in its sewer article.4

At a glance

Building permits
City approval required before building; apply through Community Development1
Zoning
Berkley zoning applies inside city limits2
Septic permits
Oakland County Health Division, subject to Berkley sewer restrictions35
Sewer connection
Required after notice for qualifying properties with public sewer within 100 feet of the property line6
Owner-builder
Michigan own-use licensing exemption does not waive building permits or zoning7
Occupancy approval
Qualifying residential projects need approved as-built drawings before final occupancy certification8

Who to call

Building permits

Berkley Community Development Department — Building

City building and trade applications, construction inspections and utility connection permits

248.658.3320

building@berkleymi.gov

3338 Coolidge Highway Berkley, MI 48072

Online permits →

Zoning

Berkley Community Development Department — Planning and Zoning

City zoning, site-plan review, rezoning and development applications

248.658.3320

planning@berkleymi.gov

3338 Coolidge Highway Berkley, MI 48072

Septic permits

Oakland County Health Division

County onsite sewage permits and construction and final inspections where a system is allowed

248-858-1280

health@oaklandcountymi.gov

1200 N Telegraph Bldg. 34 East Pontiac, MI 48341

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

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Do you need a building permit in Berkley, Michigan?

Berkley requires city approval before building and requires inspections while construction is underway and after completion.1 The city also requires permits for proposed construction or other development, including manufactured-home placement, so that floodprone locations can be identified.9

Start with Berkley Community Development for the building application and ask which trade applications accompany your plans.1 Michigan’s owner-builder licensing exception applies to a residential structure erected on your own property for your own use and occupancy; the exception does not remove building-permit, inspection, code or zoning requirements.7 Homeowners applying for trade permits must also complete the city’s homeowner affidavit.1

Who handles Berkley building applications and inspections?

Berkley Community Development accepts building application packages by email and in person at City Hall, and offers online applications through BSA Online.1 Send the application package to the building office rather than the county planning office.1 City staff will contact applicants about required building-permit fees and outstanding submission items.1

Berkley requires inspections during construction and after completion, so include inspection scheduling in your project plan.1 For new residential principal buildings and qualifying additions requiring a grading plan, final occupancy certification is withheld until the building official and/or city engineer approves the as-built drawings.8 A temporary certificate, when considered appropriate, requires a $1,000 cash bond and expires after 6 months.8

Does Berkley have zoning, and what about RVs and tiny homes?

Berkley has its own zoning ordinance, and the city states that all properties and uses within Berkley are governed by that ordinance.210 The city’s interactive zoning and land-use map identifies the applicable zoning district.10 Most non-single-family residential exterior construction work requires site-plan approval.10

We could not confirm a complete answer for residential RV use, tiny-home occupancy or accessory dwelling units in Berkley; ask Community Development whether your proposed dwelling and use are allowed in the parcel’s district.210 We also could not confirm the district-specific minimum lot size, dwelling size, setbacks, coverage or height limits; request the applicable dimensional requirements before committing to a design.10

How do septic permits and sewer connections work in Berkley?

Berkley prohibits constructing or maintaining privies, septic tanks, cesspools and other sewage-disposal facilities except as provided in the city sewer article.4 Qualifying occupied or used properties abutting a street, alley or right-of-way containing a public sanitary or combined sewer must connect at the owner’s expense within 90 days after official notice when the sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.6

Where an onsite system is legally allowed, Oakland County Health Division handles septic permitting; county approval does not remove Berkley’s sewer restrictions.35 New systems need a new septic application, and qualifying replacement, alteration or repair work needs a repair application.11 Required inspections are listed on the septic permit; when no special inspections are listed, a final before-covering inspection is required.12

What are the steps to building a home in Berkley?

First, identify the parcel’s zoning district on Berkley’s interactive map and discuss the proposed home with Community Development; the city encourages conceptual meetings for new construction and renovation.10 Next, resolve sewer service: Berkley’s connection requirement and restrictions on septic systems determine which sanitation proposal can proceed.64

Then submit the building application and supporting plans to the city building office, using email, City Hall or the available online application route.1 Arrange required construction inspections through the city before seeking occupancy approval.1 For residential projects covered by the grading-plan rule, obtain approval of as-built drawings before the final certificate of occupancy.8

What should you check before buying property in Berkley?

Ask Berkley Community Development about the intended use and the district’s dimensional requirements before purchasing property for a new home, tiny home or accessory dwelling; Berkley zoning governs city properties and uses.10 Confirm the proposed water and sewer work with the building office: Berkley requires utility permits for water or sewer connections and repairs.1 Driveway replacement or change requires a city zoning certificate.1

Floodprone development proposals receive city review for flood-damage reduction, utility placement and adequate drainage.13 For a private well proposal, Michigan requires a local-health-department permit or notification under the applicable county ordinance; ask Oakland County Health Division which requirement applies.14 If your search extends outside Berkley, consult the Oakland County guide for county responsibilities; local planning and zoning remain municipal functions.15

Watch-outs

  • A county septic permit does not override Berkley’s restrictions on onsite sewage systems.54
  • We could not confirm permission for tiny-home or accessory-dwelling occupancy in Berkley; ask city Community Development about the parcel’s zoning district.10
  • A temporary occupancy certificate for a qualifying grading-plan project expires after 6 months.8

Sources

  1. Berkley Community Development Department — Building (berkleymi.gov)
  2. Berkley Code of Ordinances, Sec. 18-63 (Berkley), quoted and re-checked
  3. Oakland County Sanitary Code, Article XI (Berkley), quoted and re-checked
  4. Berkley Code of Ordinances, Sec. 126-44 (Berkley), quoted and re-checked
  5. Oakland County Proposed Use of Septic (Berkley), quoted and re-checked
  6. Berkley Code of Ordinances, Sec. 126-66 (Berkley), quoted and re-checked
  7. Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Code of Ordinances, § 26-336, Grading plan (Berkley), quoted and re-checked
  9. Code of Ordinances, § 26-312, Permits required (Berkley), quoted and re-checked
  10. Berkley Community Development Department — Planning and Zoning (berkleymi.gov)
  11. Onsite Sewage Disposal System (Septic), quoted and re-checked
  12. Onsite Sewage Disposal System (Septic), quoted and re-checked
  13. Berkley Code of Ordinances, Sec. 26-312 (Berkley), quoted and re-checked
  14. Before you start a well drilling business (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Local Community Planning & Zoning (2026 county census)

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 Berkley

Berkley’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    All proposed construction or other development inside Berkley city, including placement of manufactured homes.

    • The permit requirement is for city review of whether the work is in a floodprone area.
    “The city shall require permits for all proposed construction or other development in the city, including the placement of manufactured homes, so that it may determine whether such construction or other development is proposed within floodprone areas.”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Buildings subject to Berkley city-adopted codes.

    • The cited provision specifically refers to Michigan building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and fire codes adopted by the city; it does not identify all editions or the complete building-code adoption ordinance.
    “all Michigan building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and fire codes adopted by the city.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    New residential principal buildings and qualifying additions requiring a grading plan.

    • A final certificate of occupancy is withheld until as-built drawings are reviewed and approved by the building official and/or city engineer.
    • A temporary certificate may be issued when appropriate upon posting a $1,000 cash bond.
    • Temporary certificates expire six months after issuance.

    cash bond: 1000 USD (for a temporary certificate of occupancy, when determined appropriate) · temporary certificate duration: 6 months

    “A final certificate of occupancy shall not be issued until the "as builts" have been reviewed and approved by the building official and/or city engineer. A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued, if determined appropriate, by the building official upon the posting by the permit holder or his authorized agent, of a cash bond in the sum of $1,000.00, said to be released upon approval of "as built" drawings and issuance of final certificate of occupancy. Temporary certificates of occupancy will expire six months after issuance.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Berkley city limits.

    • The cited city code identifies chapter 138 as the zoning ordinance.
    “No license under this article shall be issued until the building inspector has certified that the location at which such license will be established complies in every respect with this Code of Ordinances including, but not limited to, chapter 138, the zoning ordinance; chapter 26, the general building regulations; and all Michigan building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and fire codes adopted by the city.”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Recreational-vehicle occupancy on a residence lot inside Berkley city.

    • Permit is limited to four weeks.
    • Must be in conjunction with an occupied permanent residence.
    • Occupant must be a visiting friend or relative, not a guest for hire.

    maximum permit period: <= 4 weeks (Temporary RV or mobile-home occupancy.)

    “A permit for the occupancy of a mobile home or recreational vehicle may be granted for a period of time not exceeding four weeks”
  • Off-grid sanitationProhibited

    Privy vaults, septic tanks, cesspools, and other sewage-disposal facilities inside Berkley city.

    • Subject to exceptions provided in the sewer-system article.
    “Except as provided in this article, it shall be unlawful to construct or maintain any privy vault, septic tank, cesspool”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Properties inside Berkley city used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes.

    • Applies where the property abuts a street, alley, or right-of-way containing a city public sanitary or combined sewer.
    • The sewer must be within 100 feet of the property line.
    • Connection is required within 90 days after official notice and at the owner's expense.

    sewer distance from property line: <= 100 feet (Public sanitary or combined sewer.) · connection deadline after official notice: 90 days

    “within 90 days after the date of official notice to do so, provided that such sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision plats inside Berkley city.

    • Covenants must be discussed with the planning commission during initial procedures and/or preliminary plat stages.
    • Covenants must be recorded before sale of any subdivision lot.
    “Covenants must be discussed with the planning commission during the initial procedures and/or preliminary plat stages”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Construction or repair of a driveway approach inside Berkley city.

    • Permit must be obtained from the city manager or designee before work.
    “No person shall construct or repair any sidewalk or driveway approach without first obtaining a permit from the city manager or his designee.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    All proposed construction or other development inside Berkley city, including manufactured-home placement.

    • Permit enables the city to determine whether the proposal is within floodprone areas.
    “The city shall require permits for all proposed construction or other development in the city, including the placement of manufactured homes”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rental units inside Berkley city.

    • The rental property must be registered with the building official or designee.
    • The city must issue a certificate of compliance.
    “unless the rental property is registered with the building official or their designee and unless the city has issued a certificate of compliance”

Rules another office applies inside Berkley

Berkley does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    On-site sewage systems located inside Berkley city, to the extent any system is legally allowed under the city sewer ordinance.

    • Oakland County Health Division administers the county sanitary-code licensing and onsite-sewage permit process.
    • Berkley city separately prohibits septic systems except as provided in its sewer article.
    “Effective May 6, 2012 the Oakland County Sanitary Code, Article XI, requires anyone who installs onsite sewage disposal systems in Oakland County to be licensed by the Oakland County Health Division.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    New, replacement, alteration, or repair onsite sewage systems inside Berkley city where such systems are legally permitted.

    • A new onsite sewage disposal permit application is required for new systems serving qualifying residential property.
    • A repair onsite sewage disposal permit application is required for replacement, alteration, or repair of an existing system in the stated residential circumstances.
    • Berkley city sewer restrictions still apply.
    “A New Onsite Sewage Disposal Permit Application is required for construction or installation of a new onsite sewage disposal system.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Berkley or Oakland County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Berkley city.
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Berkley city.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside Berkley city.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential districts inside Berkley city.
  • Setbacks — Residential districts inside Berkley city.
9 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Permit fees

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

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