Bolthole Index

Washtenaw County, Michigan

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Dexter, Michigan

Dexter, Michigan has its own zoning, and the City of Dexter issues the zoning compliance permit for most new construction1. Building permits inside the city come from the Washtenaw County Building Department, not the city2. Septic and well permits are a Washtenaw County Environmental Health matter3. Dexter's zoning compliance permit comes first, then the county building permit4.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes. The City of Dexter administers its own zoning ordinance1
Building permit
Required for most new construction and renovations; issued by Washtenaw County after city zoning sign-off54
Certificate of occupancy
Required for new construction; issued by the county, with a fire department letter6
Septic
Washtenaw County Environmental Health; sewer connection inside city limits not confirmed37
Manufactured homes
Allowed with limits: HUD-certified, permanent foundation, county building permit8
Lot size, setbacks, height
Set per zoning district91011
RV and tiny home living
Not confirmed; ask the city's Community Development office12

Who to call

Zoning

City of Dexter Community Development

Preliminary and final zoning compliance permits under the Dexter zoning ordinance

734-580-2233

3515 Broad Street, Dexter, Michigan 48130

Building permits

Washtenaw County Building Department

Building and trades permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy for projects inside Dexter

Septic permits

Washtenaw County Environmental Health Department

Soil evaluations and permits for domestic wells and onsite sewage systems

734-222-3800

705 N Zeeb Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

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

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Does Dexter, Michigan have zoning?

Yes. The City of Dexter adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, and the city issues the permits that certify a project complies with it112. Lot area, lot width, floor area, setbacks and maximum building height are all set district by district, so the answer for a specific parcel depends on its zoning district91011. We could not confirm the district numbers, nor the city's rules for RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or camping. Ask Dexter's Community Development office, which handles zoning, before you buy or place anything on a lot12.

Manufactured homes are allowed with conditions: the home must be HUD-certified, in excellent condition on inspection, on a permanent foundation, and covered by a county building permit8.

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

Yes, for most work. Most new construction, renovations and changes in the use of a structure inside Dexter need permits from both the City of Dexter and the Washtenaw County Building Department5. The city handles zoning compliance; the county issues the building permit that certifies compliance with the state building code13. Michigan's current building code is the 2021 Michigan Building Code, with one- and two-family homes covered by the Michigan Residential Code14.

New construction also needs a certificate of occupancy from the county before anyone uses the building, which requires the final city zoning compliance permit and a letter of support from the Dexter Area Fire Department6. Some projects also need a soil erosion and sedimentation control permit from the Washtenaw County soil erosion control department4.

How do septic permits work inside Dexter?

Septic and well permits are not a city function. In Washtenaw County, a sewage permit is required before a sewage system is installed, and a soil evaluation is required before building a home not served by a municipal or centralized sewage treatment facility3. Installations and repairs must be done by individuals certified by the Washtenaw County Environmental Health Division7. Call Washtenaw County Environmental Health for soil evaluations, well permits and sewage permits15.

We could not confirm whether a given Dexter address must connect to city water and sewer, so ask the city before assuming a septic system is an option.

Building a home in Dexter: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the City of Dexter Community Development office which zoning district the lot is in and what it allows12.
  2. Get preliminary zoning compliance from the city; it is required before a building permit4.
  3. Apply to the Washtenaw County Building Department for the building and trades permits4.
  4. Check whether a soil erosion and sedimentation control permit applies4.
  5. Get final zoning compliance from the city if your preliminary permit says it is required4.
  6. Request the certificate of occupancy from the county, with the Dexter Area Fire Department letter6.

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

Building permits, septic permits and wells all run through Washtenaw County offices even inside city limits23. Land outside city limits follows the county's rules, not the city's: see the Washtenaw County page. Washtenaw County's effective property tax rate is 1.6%16. We could not confirm Dexter's fees, floodplain rules, driveway permits or owner-builder rules, so ask the city and the county before you commit.

Watch-outs

  • Zoning compliance from the city must come before the county building permit, so a county application filed first will be held up4.
  • A certificate of occupancy for new construction needs a letter of support from the Dexter Area Fire Department6.
  • We could not confirm Dexter's rules on RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or permit fees; ask Community Development at the City of Dexter12.

Sources

  1. City of Dexter - Zoning Compliance & Permits Guide (Dexter), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Dexter - Zoning Compliance & Permits Guide (Dexter), quoted and re-checked
  3. Installing a Septic System in Washtenaw County, quoted and re-checked
  4. City of Dexter - Zoning Compliance & Permits Guide (Dexter), quoted and re-checked
  5. City of Dexter - Zoning Compliance & Permits Guide (Dexter), quoted and re-checked
  6. City of Dexter - Zoning Compliance & Permits Guide (Dexter), quoted and re-checked
  7. Installing a Septic System in Washtenaw County, quoted and re-checked
  8. City of Dexter Zoning Ordinance, Article III General Provisions (effective June 30, 2021) (Dexter), quoted and re-checked
  9. City of Dexter Zoning Ordinance, Article III General Provisions (effective June 30, 2021) (Dexter), quoted and re-checked
  10. City of Dexter Zoning Ordinance, Article III General Provisions (effective June 30, 2021) (Dexter), quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Dexter Zoning Ordinance, Article III General Provisions (effective June 30, 2021) (Dexter), quoted and re-checked
  12. City of Dexter Community Development (dextermi.gov)
  13. Washtenaw County Building Department (dextermi.gov)
  14. Code Books, quoted and re-checked
  15. Washtenaw County Environmental Health Department (washtenaw.org)
  16. 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 Dexter

Rules another office applies inside Dexter

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

  • Building permitRequired

    New construction, renovations and changes of use inside Dexter city; building permit from Washtenaw County plus zoning compliance permit from the city

    • Preliminary zoning compliance from the city is required before the county building permit.
    • Some projects also need a soil erosion and sedimentation control permit.
    • Requirements vary by project.
    “most new construction, renovations, and changes in the use of a structure require permits from the city of dexter and the washtenaw county building department.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    State building code, enforced inside Dexter city by the Washtenaw County Building Department (rule-maker: Washtenaw County / State of Michigan)

    • Specific code edition not stated on the page opened.
    “the washtenaw county building department issues permits to certify compliance with the state building code, which ensures the safety of structures and construction.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New construction and new non-residential tenants inside Dexter city; issued by Washtenaw County Building Department

    • Requires final zoning compliance permit (or change of tenant permit) from the city.
    • Requires a letter of support from the Dexter Area Fire Department.
    “certificates of occupancy must be obtained before new construction may be used or occupied, or when a new non-residential tenant moves into an existing space.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Dexter city limits (rule-maker: City of Dexter)

    • Zoning compliance permits are issued by the city; building permits come from Washtenaw County.
    “the city of dexter issues permits to certify compliance with the city of dexter zoning ordinance, which regulates the way that land is used and the type, location, and dimensions of structures.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Dwellings inside Dexter city; minimum floor area is set per zoning district

    • Numeric values are in the district schedule (Article XX), not yet read.
    “each such dwelling unit shall comply with the minimum standards listed in article xx for the zoning district in which it is located, including minimum lot area, minimum lot width, minimum floor area, required setbacks and maximum building height.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Lots inside Dexter city; minimum lot area is set per zoning district

    • Numeric values are in the district schedule (Article XX), not yet read.
    “each such dwelling unit shall comply with the minimum standards listed in article xx for the zoning district in which it is located, including minimum lot area, minimum lot width, minimum floor area, required setbacks and maximum building height.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Structures inside Dexter city; required setbacks are set per zoning district

    • Numeric values are in the district schedule (Article XX), not yet read.
    “each such dwelling unit shall comply with the minimum standards listed in article xx for the zoning district in which it is located, including minimum lot area, minimum lot width, minimum floor area, required setbacks and maximum building height.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Structures inside Dexter city; maximum building height is set per zoning district

    • Numeric values are in the district schedule (Article XX), not yet read.
    “each such dwelling unit shall comply with the minimum standards listed in article xx for the zoning district in which it is located, including minimum lot area, minimum lot width, minimum floor area, required setbacks and maximum building height.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile/manufactured homes used as dwellings on lots inside Dexter city

    • Must be new or used and certified to HUD standards (24 CFR 3280) and found on inspection to be in excellent condition.
    • Must be on a permanent foundation and securely anchored.
    • Must obtain a county building permit.
    • Must meet district minimum lot area, lot width, floor area, setbacks and height (Article XX).
    “the mobile home must either be (1) new and certified by the manufacturer and/or appropriate inspection agency as meeting the mobile home construction and safety standards of the u.s. department of housing and urban development, as amended”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land divisions and subdivisions inside Dexter city

    • Only the chapter title was read; standards not reviewed.
    “chapter 20 land divisions and subdivisions (§ 20-1 – § 20-52)”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Construction permitting inside Dexter city: city zoning compliance first, then county building permit, then city final zoning compliance and county CO

    • Preliminary zoning compliance is required to obtain a building permit.
    • The preliminary permit states whether final zoning compliance is required.
    • Some projects also need a soil erosion and sedimentation control permit.
    “preliminary zoning compliance is required in order to obtain a building permit.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Dexter city
  • Inspections — Construction inspections inside Dexter city
  • Zoning districts — Zoning districts inside Dexter city
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Dexter city
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy inside Dexter city
14 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • 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 Dexter publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Washtenaw County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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