Bolthole Index

Saginaw County, Michigan

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

Thomas Township, Michigan requires a building permit from the Thomas Township Office before any new home work begins1. The township runs its own planning and zoning2. Saginaw County does no zoning of its own3, and septic and well permits come from the Saginaw County Health Department, not the township4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required from the Thomas Township Office before work begins1
Zoning
Township planning and zoning; no county zoning23
Septic permit
Required from the Saginaw County Health Department where no public sewer serves the site5
Well permit
Required for new or replacement wells6
Certificate of occupancy
Required before a new building is occupied7
Driveway permit
Saginaw County Road Commission, or MDOT on a state highway8
RV and tiny home living
Not confirmed; ask township planning and zoning2

Who to call

Building permits

Thomas Township Office – Building and Planning & Zoning

Building permits, inspections, certificates of occupancy, planning and zoning inside Thomas Township

(989) 781-0150

249 N. Miller Road

Septic permits

Saginaw County Health Department – Environmental Health Division

Well and septic (onsite wastewater) permits and soil evaluations 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 Thomas Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Thomas Township, Michigan?

Yes. New residential construction in Thomas Township needs a building permit from the Thomas Township Office, and it must be in hand before any work begins1. Michigan's owner-builder exception covers residential-builder licensing only; it does not waive the building permit9. Fees are set by Township Board resolution, and all of them are due when the permit is issued10. The township's materials say construction must meet code, but we could not confirm which code edition the township has adopted, so ask the Building Department.

Who issues building permits in Thomas Township, and how do you reach them?

The Thomas Township Office issues building permits for the township; Saginaw County runs no county code-enforcement program11. The Building Department takes applications for building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits12. Call (989) 781-0150 at least 24 hours before each required inspection13. A new building cannot be occupied until the township's building official issues a Certificate of Occupancy, and that waits on paid fees, finished inspections and finalized permits7.

Does Thomas Township have zoning?

Yes. Thomas Township has its own planning and zoning department, which handles site plans, rezoning and special use permits12. Saginaw County does no planning or zoning at the county level; all of it happens at the township, city and village levels3. We could not confirm the township's rules on minimum lot size, setbacks, minimum home size, accessory dwellings, short-term rentals or agricultural buildings. Call the Planning & Zoning office at (989) 781-0150 with your parcel before you buy12.

How do septic permits work in Thomas Township?

Septic permits in Thomas Township come from the Saginaw County Health Department, not the township4. Where no public water supply and sewage disposal system serves the site, you need a wastewater disposal permit, and the office issues it only if site conditions are acceptable5. The permit is valid for two years5. The health department inspects the finished system before it is covered14. A residential septic permit costs $57015. Buyers of undeveloped land can request a preliminary soil evaluation first16. Where township sewer is available, the township requires you to tie into it17.

Do you need a well permit in Thomas Township?

Yes, a well permit is required for a new or replacement well6. Where township water is available, you must connect to it; a well permit applies only if no township water is available17. The county health department issues the permit and charges a residential Type III well permit fee of $26515.

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

We could not confirm what Thomas Township's zoning ordinance allows for living in an RV or tiny home on private land. Saginaw County sets no county zoning rule on the question, so the answer sits with the township3. Michigan's statewide campground rules cover campgrounds of five or more units and do not answer whether you can live in an RV on your own lot18. Ask the Thomas Township Planning & Zoning office at (989) 781-0150 before you bring one onto a parcel12.

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

  1. Call the Thomas Township Planning & Zoning office to confirm your parcel's zoning12.
  2. Get a septic permit from the Saginaw County Health Department, or tie into township sewer if it is available17.
  3. Get a well permit from the health department if township water is not available17.
  4. Get a driveway permit from the Saginaw County Road Commission, or from the Michigan Department of Transportation if the road is a state highway8.
  5. If the property is in a floodplain, obtain an EGLE fill permit first19.
  6. Pull the building permit at the township office before any work begins1.
  7. Call for each inspection at least 24 hours ahead13.
  8. Get the Certificate of Occupancy before anyone moves in7.

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

Inside Thomas Township the township handles building permits and zoning, while the Saginaw County Health Department handles septic and well permits4. For land outside the township, see the Saginaw County page. Saginaw County's share of soils rated not limited for a conventional septic drain field is about 1.8%20. A low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Saginaw County's effective property tax rate is about 1.6%21.

Watch-outs

  • Zoning district rules in Thomas Township (lot size, setbacks, RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings) were not confirmed; ask the township Planning & Zoning office before buying12.
  • A septic permit is issued only if site conditions are acceptable, so get a soil evaluation before closing on undeveloped land5.
  • A property in a floodplain needs an EGLE fill permit before building19.

Sources

  1. thomastwp.org (Thomas Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. thomastwp.org (Thomas Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. Request for Proposals: County of Saginaw Master Plan, quoted and re-checked
  4. Waste Water Management/Septic (Thomas Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Waste Water Management/Septic (Thomas Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Well Permits (Thomas Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. thomastwp.org (Thomas Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. thomastwp.org (Thomas Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder (RB), quoted and re-checked
  10. thomastwp.org (Thomas Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Michigan LARA - Building Permit Information (2026 county census)
  12. Thomas Township Office – Building and Planning & Zoning (thomastwp.org)
  13. thomastwp.org (Thomas Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Waste Water Management/Septic (Thomas Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Environmental Health Fee Schedule, quoted and re-checked
  16. Saginaw County Health Department – Environmental Health Division (saginawpublichealth.org)
  17. thomastwp.org (Thomas Township), quoted and re-checked
  18. Legislation governing campgrounds in Michigan (Michigan statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. thomastwp.org (Thomas Township), quoted and re-checked
  20. 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
  21. Effective property tax rate: 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 Thomas Township

Thomas Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New residential construction inside Thomas Township.

    • Permit must be obtained before work begins.
    “Certain guidelines must be followed before starting a new residential construction in Thomas Township. A building permit must be obtained at the Thomas Township Office BEFORE any work begins.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New residential construction inside Thomas Township.

    • Call the Township Building Department at least 24 hours before inspections.
    • Footing, open-wall, foundation, rough-in, insulation, and final inspections are listed; sequencing requirements apply.

    advance notice: >= 24 hours

    “There are inspections that are required as part of the building process. You must call the Thomas Township Office Building Department at (989-781-0150) at least 24 hours in advance when you are ready for these inspections.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New buildings inside Thomas Township.

    • Certificate cannot issue until all fees are paid, inspections completed, and permits finalized.
    “A new building shall not be occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued by the Building official. The permit holder or authorized agent may request a Certificate of Occupancy upon the completion of the project. A Certificate of Occupancy cannot be issued until ALL fees are paid and ALL inspections have been completed and permits finalized.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Thomas Township.

    “Planning & Zoning: For temporary & permanent signs, site plans, rezoning, and special use permits.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    New residential construction inside Thomas Township.

    • Township sewer must be used if available.
    • Township water supply must be connected if available.
    • If water is unavailable and a well will be present, a county health-department well permit is required.
    “You must tie into township sewer if available. You must connect to the Township water supply if it is available, otherwise if a well is to be present on the property, a well permit would also be issued by the Saginaw County Health Department.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building permits inside Thomas Township.

    • All building-permit fees must be paid at permit issuance; unpaid fees place the permit on hold and work cannot begin.
    • Fees are determined by the Building Inspector and set by Township Board resolution.
    “Building permit fees are determined by the Thomas Township Building Inspector and are set by Township Board Resolution. ALL building permit fees must be paid at the time of the issuance of the permit.”

Rules another office applies inside Thomas Township

Thomas 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 property inside Thomas Township that is not served by public water and sewage disposal.

    • Site evaluation and permit issuance depend on acceptable site conditions.
    “Onsite wastewater treatment and disposal (septic) systems and onsite water wells are covered under the Saginaw County Environmental Health Code.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    A planned or replacement septic system inside Thomas Township at a site not served by public water and sewage disposal.

    • The office issues a permit only if site conditions are acceptable.
    • Permit is valid for two years; changes require prior office approval.

    permit validity: 2 years

    “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.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Completed onsite wastewater systems inside Thomas Township.

    • Inspection occurs before the system is covered.
    “Make a complete inspection of the completed onsite wastewater treatment and disposal system prior to covering to ensure that the system has been properly installed and quality materials in the amounts required have been used.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Onsite sanitation inside Thomas Township where no public water and sewage disposal system serves the site.

    • Wastewater-disposal permit is required.
    • Permit depends on acceptable site conditions.
    “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.”
  • Well permitRequired

    New or replacement wells inside Thomas Township.

    • For a replacement well, the existing well must be properly abandoned unless it meets construction-code requirements and continued use or lack of access is indicated in the application.
    • Application requires site-plan information and the appropriate fee.
    “A permit is required to install a new or replacement well on your property. If a well currently exists on the property and is being replaced, you will be asked to properly abandon (plug) the old well.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveways for new residential construction inside Thomas Township.

    • For a state highway, contact the Michigan Department of Transportation instead of the County Road Commission.
    “A driveway permit needs to be issued by the Saginaw County Road Commission, or if a state highway is involved, you must contact the Michigan Department of Transportation.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    New-home construction in a floodplain inside Thomas Township.

    • An EGLE fill permit is required if the property is located in the floodplain.
    “If the property is located in the floodplain, a EGLE Fill Permit must be obtained from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential work inside Thomas Township.
  • Building code adopted — Construction inside Thomas Township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Single-family residential districts inside Thomas Township.
  • Minimum lot size — Single-family residential districts inside Thomas Township.
  • Setbacks — Single-family residential districts inside Thomas Township.
10 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 Thomas 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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