Bolthole Index

Saginaw County, Michigan

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

Carrollton Township, Michigan has its own zoning ordinance (Chapter 66) and requires building permits for most additions, repairs and new construction12. The township's building and zoning staff handle building permits and zoning3. Septic and well permits for homes without public sewer and water come from the Saginaw County Health Department, not the township4. We could not confirm the township's RV or tiny-home rules, so ask the Zoning Administrator before you buy.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, the township zones its own land under Chapter 66 of its code1
Building permit
Required for most additions, repairs and new construction; township building inspector issues it23
Septic permit
Required; issued by the Saginaw County Health Department54
Well permit
Required where public water is not available; Saginaw County Health Department6
Floodplain
Extra Substantial Improvement Calculation Form with the permit3
Owner-builder
Michigan licensing exception for building your own home on your own property7

Who to call

Building permits

Carrollton Township Building & Zoning (Building Inspector and Zoning Administrator)

Building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits and zoning inside Carrollton Township

(989) 754-4611

inspector@carrolltontwp.com

1645 Mapleridge Road, Saginaw, Michigan 48604-1798

Also useful

Carrollton Township Police Department, Code Enforcement Division

Township ordinance enforcement, including where vehicles, boats and RVs may be parked

989-754-4611 ext. 107

1645 Mapleridge Rd. Saginaw, MI 48604

Septic permits

Saginaw County Health Department, Environmental Health Division

Well and septic permits, soil evaluations and installer registration for property not served by public water and sewer

989-758-3800

1600 North Michigan Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48602

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

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Does Carrollton Township, Michigan have zoning?

Yes. Carrollton Township, in Saginaw County, regulates the location and use of land, buildings and structures through Chapter 66 of its code of ordinances, which also covers building height and bulk, density and minimum yard dimensions1. Saginaw County itself has no countywide zoning, so the township is the office that decides land-use questions inside its borders8.

For accessory buildings, the township's Building & Zoning page lists setbacks of 4 feet from the side lot line and 5 feet from the rear lot line, with no more than 33% of the back yard covered3. The township's code guide also says vehicles, boats and RVs may be parked only on the driveway or an approved surface9.

We could not confirm district names, minimum lot size, minimum dwelling size, accessory dwelling rules or long-term RV and tiny-home occupancy rules. Ask the Zoning Administrator at the township office, and read Chapter 66 on the township's Code of Ordinances page, before you buy1.

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

Carrollton Township's code requires permits for most additions, repairs and construction projects, including fences, sheds, decks, reroofing and swimming pools2. The township's Building & Zoning page says any new construction such as a pole barn, garage, deck, porch, pool or shed larger than 10 by 12 feet (120 square feet) needs a building permit3. Michigan's construction code also requires a building permit for construction statewide, with exceptions10.

The township's own building inspector issues building permits; Saginaw County runs no county code-enforcement program of its own3. Site plans with setbacks clearly marked must accompany any building3. Permit applications can be made online by residents and contractors3.

New or altered buildings also need a certificate of occupancy under the state construction code11. We could not confirm which building code edition the township enforces or whether it has an owner-builder exemption; ask the Building Inspector.

How do septic permits work in Carrollton Township?

Septic permits for Carrollton Township come from the Saginaw County Health Department, not from the township4. Nobody may install, construct, extend or extensively alter a sewage disposal system without a valid permit from the Health Officer5. The permit is issued only if site conditions are acceptable, and it is valid for two years12.

The Health Officer must be notified before the system is covered with earth, and the inspection happens within two work days of notification; the system cannot be used before approval13. Fees are set by the Saginaw County Board of Health, so ask the department for the current schedule14.

If you are considering the purchase of undeveloped land that will need a septic system, the department can perform a preliminary soil evaluation15. Soils matter here: only about 1.8% of Saginaw County soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system16.

Do you need a well permit or a floodplain permit?

On a site without public water, a well permit from the Saginaw County Health Department is required alongside the septic permit6.

Floodplain rules add a step. In Carrollton Township, any permit for property in the 100-Year Floodplain must include a Substantial Improvement Calculation Form3. For septic on land in or partly in a regulated floodplain or wetland, a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality permit must be obtained before the Health Department issues its permit17. Call the township office to learn whether a parcel is in the floodplain before you make an offer.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Carrollton Township?

We could not confirm a Carrollton Township rule on long-term RV living, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy, so do not assume any of them is allowed. Because the township zones its own land, the answer sits in Chapter 66, not with the county1. The township's code guide does say RVs, boats and trailers may be parked only on the driveway or an approved surface9.

Michigan's statewide RV rules address campgrounds with five or more recreational units, which does not answer whether you can live in an RV on your own lot18. Ask the Zoning Administrator in writing, and get the answer before buying land for that purpose.

Building a home in Carrollton Township: the steps, in order

  1. Call the township Zoning Administrator to confirm the parcel's zoning district, setbacks and whether your use is allowed3.
  2. If there is no public sewer or water, ask the Saginaw County Health Department for a soil evaluation, then a well permit and septic permit15.
  3. Check whether the parcel is in the 100-Year Floodplain and, if so, plan for the Substantial Improvement Calculation Form3.
  4. Submit a site plan with setbacks marked and apply for the building permit, online or with the township office3.
  5. Have the septic system inspected before it is covered, and call for building inspections as work proceeds1319.
  6. Obtain a certificate of occupancy before moving in11.

What stays with Saginaw County, and what to check before you buy?

Inside Carrollton Township the township handles building permits and zoning, while the county health department handles septic and well permits4. For land outside the township, see the Saginaw County page.

Michigan lets an individual build a home for their own use and occupancy on their own property without a residential builder's license7. That is a licensing rule; ask the Building Inspector how it interacts with township permits.

A driveway onto a state highway needs a state permit20. We could not confirm the township's rules on driveways, subdivision, short-term rentals or agricultural exemptions.

For taxes, Saginaw County's effective property tax rate is 1.6%21, with a median bill of $2,190 a year22.

Watch-outs

  • The township's building inspector issues building permits, but Saginaw County Health Department separately controls septic and well permits, so a township permit does not cover them4.
  • Permits for property in the 100-Year Floodplain need an extra Substantial Improvement Calculation Form3.
  • We could not confirm the township's rules on RV living, tiny homes, minimum lot size, minimum dwelling size or accessory dwellings, which Chapter 66 of the township code would govern1; ask the Zoning Administrator before you buy.
  • Non-owner-occupied rental homes need an annual township business license and inspection every four to six years23.

Sources

  1. Carrollton Township Code Enforcement Guide (Carrollton Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Carrollton Township Code Enforcement Guide (Carrollton Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Carrollton Township Building & Zoning (Building Inspector and Zoning Administrator) (carrolltontwp.com)
  4. Waste Water Management/Septic (Carrollton Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Saginaw County Environmental Health Code (Carrollton Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Waste Water Management/Septic (Carrollton Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Request for Proposals: County of Saginaw Master Plan, quoted and re-checked
  9. Carrollton Township Police Department, Code Enforcement Division (webgen1files1.revize.com)
  10. Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, MCL 125.1510 (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Certificate of Occupancy Request (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Waste Water Management/Septic (Carrollton Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Saginaw County Environmental Health Code (Carrollton Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Saginaw County Environmental Health Code (Carrollton Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Saginaw County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (saginawpublichealth.org)
  16. 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
  17. saginawcountypublichealth.gov (Carrollton Township), quoted and re-checked
  18. Legislation governing campgrounds in Michigan (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. courts.michigan.gov (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Infrastructure permits (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  22. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Carrollton Township Code Enforcement Guide (Carrollton Township), quoted and re-checked

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 Carrollton Township

Carrollton Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Additions, repairs, and construction projects inside Carrollton Township, including fences, sheds, decks, reroofing, and swimming pools.

    • The official guide says the requirement applies to most, rather than all, additions, repairs, and construction projects.
    “obtain permits for most additions, repairs, and construction projects”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Non-owner-occupied residences inside Carrollton Township.

    • A business license is required annually; the inspection interval is every four to six years.

    inspection interval: four to six years (Applies to non-owner-occupied residences.)

    “property inspected every four to six years”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Carrollton Township, Michigan.

    • Chapter 66 regulates location and use of land, buildings, and structures, and provides for administration and enforcement.
    “Chapter 66 is a massive chapter “to provide for the establishment of zoning districts to encourage and regulate the proper location and use of land, buildings, and structures for residence, trade or other purposes; to regulate the height and bulk of buildings, the density of population, and the minimum dimensions of yards, courts, and other spaces; to provide for the administration, enforcement, penalties for violation, and amendment of said chapter.””
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Land inside Carrollton Township.

    • The opened official guide confirms that Chapter 66 establishes zoning districts but does not list the district names or map.
    “Chapter 66 is a massive chapter “to provide for the establishment of zoning districts to encourage and regulate the proper location and use of land, buildings, and structures for residence, trade or other purposes; to regulate the height and bulk of buildings, the density of population, and the minimum dimensions of yards, courts, and other spaces; to provide for the administration, enforcement, penalties for violation, and amendment of said chapter.””

Rules another office applies inside Carrollton Township

Carrollton Township 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)

    Onsite wastewater systems on land inside Carrollton Township that is not served by public sewer.

    • The requirement applies when the site is not served by a public water supply and sewage disposal system.
    “covered under the Saginaw County Environmental Health Code”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installation, construction, extension, or extensive alteration of an onsite sewage disposal system inside Carrollton Township.

    • The permit is issued by the Health Officer. A permit becomes void 24 months after issuance. A habitable building may instead be connected to public sanitary sewer before occupancy.

    permit validity: 24 months (For installation, construction, extensive alteration, or extension.)

    “No person shall install, construct, extend or extensively alter a sewage disposal system unless a valid permit has been issued by the Health Officer for such installation, construction, extensive alteration or extension.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Completed onsite sewage disposal systems inside Carrollton Township.

    • The Health Officer must be notified before facilities are covered with earth. Inspection is to occur within the next two work days after notification, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The system cannot be used before approval.

    inspection timing after notification: <= 2 work days (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays are excluded.)

    “Inspection [...] within the next two work days”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private onsite wastewater systems inside Carrollton Township at sites not served by public water supply and sewage disposal.

    • A wastewater disposal permit is required. System size and acceptability depend on site conditions and Health Department evaluation.
    “If you own property and are planning to build or need to replace a well or septic system at a site which is not served by a public water supply and sewage disposal system, you are required to obtain a well permit and/or a wastewater disposal permit from this office.”
  • Well permitRequired

    A well planned for a site inside Carrollton Township not served by public water supply and sewage disposal.

    • The source describes the requirement for a site not served by public water supply and sewage disposal.
    “If you own property and are planning to build or need to replace a well or septic system at a site which is not served by a public water supply and sewage disposal system, you are required to obtain a well permit and/or a wastewater disposal permit from this office.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Property inside or partly inside a regulated floodplain or wetland in Carrollton Township, when seeking the cited Health Department permit.

    • The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality permit must be obtained before the Health Department permit is issued.
    “In addition, if your property is located within or partially in a regulated floodplain or wetland, a permit must be obtained from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality before a permit will be issued by this department.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Saginaw County Health Department wastewater-disposal permits for systems inside Carrollton Township.

    • Fees are established from time to time by the Saginaw County Board of Health and reviewed by the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners.
    “Each application for a permit shall be accompanied by a fee to be established by the Saginaw County Board of Health from time to time, and shall be payable to the Saginaw County Health Department for deposit in the health fund of the County of Saginaw.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Onsite wastewater permits for property inside Carrollton Township.

    • A permit issues only if site conditions are acceptable. The permit is valid for two years. Changes require approval before installation.

    permit validity: 2 years (Onsite wastewater treatment and disposal permit.)

    “A permit will be issued to you if the conditions found on the site are acceptable for the installation of an onsite wastewater treatment and disposal system. The permit you receive is valid for two years and will state certain minimum standards for the construction of the system. It is very important that you inform the installer of the minimum requirements for the system—any changes must be approved by this office prior to installation.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner construction of buildings inside Carrollton Township.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption for construction inside Carrollton Township.
  • Certificate of occupancy — New or altered buildings inside Carrollton Township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential districts inside Carrollton Township.
  • Minimum lot size — Single-family residential districts inside Carrollton Township.
13 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Carrollton Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Saginaw County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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