Bolthole Index

Wayne County, Michigan

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Garden City, Michigan

Garden City, Michigan requires a building permit before you erect, alter or demolish a building, and the city's own building department issues it12. The city also writes and enforces its own zoning under Chapter 154 of its code3. Septic permits are a separate matter: Wayne County Environmental Health is the permitting agency for onsite sewage systems in the county4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the city building department12
Zoning
City zoning under Code Chapter 154, including R-1, R-2 and R-3 residential districts35
Building code
Michigan building and residential codes, enforced by the city6
Minimum home size (R-1)
1,250 sq ft without a basement; 1,100 sq ft with a basement7
Minimum lot (R-1)
7,200 sq ft and 60 feet wide8
Manufactured homes
Only inside a licensed manufactured home park9
Septic permits
Wayne County Environmental Health is the county permitting agency; sewer availability is confirmed with the city410
Owner-builder
State licensing exemption for your own home; a building permit is still required11

Who to call

Building permits

Garden City Building Department

Building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy inside Garden City

734-793-1650

6000 Middlebelt Road, Garden City, MI 48135

Zoning

Garden City Planning and Zoning

Zoning administration, zoning map, rezoning and zoning board of appeals applications

734-793-1650

6000 Middlebelt Road, Garden City, MI 48135

Septic permits

Wayne County Health, Human and Veterans Services - Environmental Health Section

Onsite sewage (septic) and well permits for Wayne County

(734) 727-7400

33030 Van Born Road, Wayne, MI 48184

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Garden City, Michigan have zoning, and what does it mean for lots, homes and outbuildings?

Yes. Garden City applies its own zoning chapter to all land and structures inside city limits, and no structure may be built, altered or moved except in conformity with it3. The city's districts include R-1 one-family, R-2 two-family and R-3 multiple-family residential, several business districts and a manufacturing district; the zoning administrator keeps the official zoning map5. We found no agricultural or rural-residential district in the city's list8.

In the R-1 one-family district, the minimum lot is 7,200 square feet and 60 feet wide8. A single-family home needs at least 1,250 square feet without a basement or 1,100 square feet with one7. Buildings may cover no more than 30% of an R-1 lot12, and the principal building tops out at 2½ stories or 35 feet13.

Detached garages and sheds in single-family districts must sit at least 3 feet from the side lot line and at least 10 feet from the house, and may not stand in the front yard14. Manufactured homes are allowed only inside a licensed manufactured home park9. A garage or shed in a residential district cannot serve as a dwelling unless it qualifies as a permitted accessory dwelling15.

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

Yes. A permit is required before erecting, altering, repairing, demolishing or removing a building or structure, and before installing plumbing, electrical or drainage systems1. The Garden City Building Department issues building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits for residential and commercial sites inside the city2. Michigan's construction code governs the work, and the city adopted the state building code and residential code by reference6.

Applications go to the building official on the city's forms, with a site plan where applicable16. A permit is issued only if the plans conform to the zoning chapter, the state construction code and city codes1. Fees are set by city council resolution and posted in the building department; we could not confirm dollar amounts, so ask the department17.

Owning the lot does not exempt you from the permit. Michigan's owner-builder exception covers residential-builder licensing for your own home, not the building permit, and the state notes that municipalities may add requirements11.

How do you reach the Garden City building and zoning offices?

The Garden City Building Department is at 6000 Middlebelt Road, Garden City, MI 48135, phone 734-793-16502. The same department issues certificates of occupancy for new construction and for the sale or rental of residential and commercial properties2. Zoning questions, the zoning map and rezoning and zoning board of appeals applications run through the city's Planning and Zoning page18. Inspections are scheduled by leaving a voicemail on the inspection line with the address, inspection type and permit number2.

How do septic permits work for a home in Garden City?

Building permits come from the city, but septic permits do not. Wayne County Environmental Health acts as the local permitting agency for all residential and small commercial onsite sewage systems in the county419. Where public sewer is available, you contact the local municipality, and Wayne County building inspection agencies require proof of a municipal sewer connection or a sewage permit before issuing building permits10.

We could not confirm from the city's published code whether a particular Garden City address must connect to public sewer or water. Ask the Building Department before you buy. If a parcel has an onsite system, the county requires a site and soil evaluation before it issues a permit20, and a Wayne County ordinance requires a septic inspection for function before a home sale outside Detroit21.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Garden City?

We could not confirm a Garden City rule on living in an RV or a tiny home on a residential lot, so ask the Building Department and the zoning administrator before you buy18. What the code does say: manufactured homes are allowed only in a licensed manufactured home park9, and the single-family minimum floor area in R-1 is 1,250 square feet without a basement7, which a typical tiny home would not meet. Michigan's temporary-campground license rules for events of five or more recreational units do not answer the question of living in an RV on your own lot22.

Building a home in Garden City: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district and lot standards with the zoning administrator518.
  2. Ask the city whether public sewer serves the parcel; if not, apply to Wayne County Environmental Health for a septic permit1019.
  3. File the building permit application with the building official, with a site plan16.
  4. Build to the Michigan code under the city's inspections6.
  5. Request a final inspection and a certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in; the city inspects within 15 working days after you notify completion2324.

What stays with Wayne County, and what to check before you buy in Garden City

Septic and well permits sit with Wayne County Environmental Health, not the city425. Work in a county road right-of-way or on a county drain easement, including a driveway approach there, needs a county permit26. For land outside Garden City, see the Wayne County page. Wayne County's median property tax bill is $2,794 a year, at an effective rate of 1.6%2728.

Watch-outs

  • Chapter 154 lists many districts, but we read only the R-1 dimensions, so check the lot standards for any other district with the zoning administrator5.
  • The city's code refers to the property maintenance code in inconsistent ways, so confirm the current edition with the Building Department6.
  • We could not confirm the owner-builder permit process, floodplain rules or driveway standards inside Garden City; ask the Building Department2.

Sources

  1. Garden City Code §§ 154.465 Permits and 154.466 Certificate of occupancy (Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  2. Garden City Building Department (gardencitymi.org)
  3. Garden City Code Chapter 154 Zoning, General zoning regulations (incl. 154.020 to 154.023) (Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  4. Septic/Onsite Sewage - Wayne County, Michigan, quoted and re-checked
  5. Garden City Code Chapter 154 Zoning, General zoning regulations (incl. 154.020 to 154.023) (Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  6. Garden City Code § 151.01 Adoption of building code by reference (Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  7. Garden City Code Appendix A: Schedule of Regulations (Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  8. Garden City Code Appendix A: Schedule of Regulations (Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  9. Garden City Code §§ 154.024 Residential design standards and 154.025 Temporary structures and uses (Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  10. Septic/Onsite Sewage, quoted and re-checked
  11. Builders FAQ, quoted and re-checked
  12. Garden City Code Appendix A: Schedule of Regulations (Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  13. Garden City Code Appendix A: Schedule of Regulations (Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  14. Garden City Code Chapter 154 Zoning, General zoning regulations (incl. 154.020 to 154.023) (Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  15. Garden City Code Chapter 154 Zoning, General zoning regulations (incl. 154.020 to 154.023) (Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  16. Garden City Code §§ 154.465 Permits and 154.466 Certificate of occupancy (Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  17. Garden City Code § 151.01 Adoption of building code by reference (Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  18. Garden City Planning and Zoning (gardencitymi.org)
  19. Wayne County Health, Human and Veterans Services - Environmental Health Section (waynecountymi.gov)
  20. Septic/Onsite Sewage, quoted and re-checked
  21. Septic/Onsite Sewage - Wayne County, Michigan, quoted and re-checked
  22. Steps for Obtaining a Temporary Campground License, quoted and re-checked
  23. Garden City Code §§ 154.465 Permits and 154.466 Certificate of occupancy (Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  24. Garden City Code §§ 154.465 Permits and 154.466 Certificate of occupancy (Garden City), quoted and re-checked
  25. Water/Well Permits, quoted and re-checked
  26. Construction Permits, quoted and re-checked
  27. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 23, 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 Garden City

Garden City’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erection, alteration, repair, demolition or removal of buildings and structures inside Garden City city limits, and new use or change of use of land

    • A permit is required before erection, alteration, repair, renovation, demolition or removal of any building or structure, and before installation or replacement of plumbing, electrical, drainage or similar utility systems (§ 154.465(a)(1)-(2)).
    • A permit is also required before a new use of land or change of use of an existing building (§ 154.465(a)(3)-(4)).
    • Application is filed with the building official on prescribed forms with a written explanation and site plan where applicable (§ 154.465(c)(2)).
    • A building permit is issued only if the proposal conforms with the zoning chapter, state construction code and city codes (§ 154.465(d)(1)).
    • Construction may proceed after the permit is issued.
    “a building permit or other appropriate permit shall be required as follows.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction inside Garden City city limits: state building code and state residential building code, administered and enforced by the city

    • The state building code and the state residential building code (State Construction Code, PA 230 of 1972, as amended) are adopted by reference; complete copies are kept at the clerk's office (§ 151.01(a)(1)-(2)).
    • Adopts the most recent edition of the International Property Maintenance Code as the city property maintenance code, with local amendments (§ 151.01(a)(3)).
    • Section 151.01(b)-(c) also refers to the 2000 international property maintenance code; the references are inconsistent and the current edition should be confirmed with the city.
    • Violations of the building codes are municipal civil infractions subject to fines in § 41.06 (§ 151.01(c)).
    “shall be administered and enforced by the city, and shall govern and be observed and followed in all buildings and structures throughout the city.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Garden City city limits

    • The permit holder must notify the building official for a final inspection on completion of the permitted work and before occupancy (§ 154.465(f)).
    • The enforcement official inspects within 15 working days after the applicant notifies completion (§ 154.466(e)).
    • Inspection cadence for interim inspections is governed by the adopted state building code, which was not reviewed here.

    final inspection notice: <= 15 working days working days (inspection after applicant notification of completion (§ 154.466(e)))

    “the holder of any building permit issued pursuant to the requirements in this subchapter shall notify the building official for a final inspection and request a certificate of occupancy upon completion of the work authorized by the permit and prior to occupancy.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Occupancy or re-occupancy of any land, building or structure inside Garden City city limits, including new occupants on change of occupancy

    • Certificate is issued by the building department after the building official and zoning administrator find the site compliant (§ 154.466(a)(1)).
    • Temporary certificates may be issued for a portion of a building for up to six months, with a performance guarantee possible (§ 154.466(a)(3)).
    • Accessory buildings to a dwelling may be included in the principal use certificate (§ 154.466(a)(4)).
    • A certificate is required for any new occupant on a change in occupancy (§ 154.466(b)).
    • Failure to obtain a certificate before using the property is a violation (§ 154.466(a)(2)).
    “a certificate of occupancy shall be required prior to occupancy or re-occupancy of any use of land, building or structure.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    All land and structures inside Garden City city limits, under the city zoning chapter (Code Chapter 154)

    • Zoning is administered by the city council, planning commission, zoning board of appeals and zoning enforcement officials including the building official (§ 154.480).
    • Zoning permits under § 154.467 are issued by the zoning administrator.
    “no structure or tract of land shall hereafter be used or occupied, and no structure, or part thereof, shall be erected, altered, or moved, except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    City zoning districts inside Garden City city limits

    • Table of contents lists R-1, R-2, R-3, C-1, C-2, C-3, M-1, PD, MUO, CBD, VP, PR and historic districts, with the official zoning map kept by the zoning administrator (§ 154.006(c)(4)).
    • Only the R-1 district dimensions were read in this pass; other district use tables were not opened.
    “establishment of zoning districts r-1 one-family residential district r-2 two-family residential district r-3 multiple-family resident district c-1 local business district”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family detached dwellings in the R-1 one-family residential district inside Garden City city limits

    • Minimum floor area for single-family detached dwellings: 1,250 sq ft without basement; 1,100 sq ft with basement; 550 sq ft first floor of a 2-story or tri-level (Appendix A footnote (f)).
    • Single-family dwellings must meet the R-1 lot standards (footnote (g)).
    • Multiple-family dwellings in R-3 have separate minimum floor space by bedroom count (footnote (j)); not part of this claim.

    minimum floor area, dwelling without basement: >= 1250 sq ft · minimum floor area, dwelling with basement: >= 1100 sq ft · minimum first floor, 2-story or tri-level: >= 550 sq ft

    “single-family detached dwellings shall comply with the following minimum floor area requirements: dwellings without basement 1,250 square feet dwellings with basement 1,100 square feet first floor of 2-story or tri-level 550 square feet”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1 one-family residential district inside Garden City city limits (main single-family residential district; no agricultural or rural-residential district was found in the zoning district list)

    • Lot area measured as net lot area as defined in § 154.005 (footnote (a)).
    • Lot depth of newly created R-1 lots may be no greater than four times the lot width (footnote (b)).
    • Column placement of values in the R-1 row follows the schedule header ('lot', 'width in feet').

    minimum lot area: >= 7200 sq ft (net lot area per footnote (a)) · minimum lot width: >= 60 feet · maximum lot depth to width ratio (new lots): <= 4 ratio (newly created lots in R-1 only)

    “r-1 7,200 60 b 2½ 35 25 30 d 3 d,e 12 d,e 35 d f 30%”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Detached accessory buildings in single-family (residential) districts inside Garden City city limits

    • Detached accessory buildings may not be located in a front yard or required side yard (§ 154.022(c)(1)).
    • Accessory buildings may not be closer to the front lot line than the principal building (§ 154.022(c)(2)(a)).
    • Detached accessory buildings must be at least ten feet from the principal building, or ZBA may allow five feet (§ 154.022(c)(2)(d)).

    side yard setback, accessory building, single-family district: >= 3 feet · rear yard setback, accessory building: >= 3 feet (within 1 foot where rear lot line is an alley right-of-way line) · distance from principal building: >= 10 feet (ZBA may allow 5 feet)

    “the accessory building shall comply with the side yard setback for the district in which it is located, except that the minimum side yard setback for accessory buildings in single-family districts shall be three feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 one-family residential district inside Garden City city limits

    • Maximum coverage of the lot by all buildings.
    • Accessory buildings and permanent structures count toward lot coverage (§ 154.022(a)(4)).
    • Swimming pools and decks may add up to 40% of the lot (§ 154.022(d)(3)).
    • Total of all accessory buildings may not exceed 1,200 square feet, or 2,000 square feet on lots over 20,000 sq ft with a single-family home (§ 154.022(c)(3)).

    maximum lot coverage by all buildings: <= 30 percent (pools and decks may add up to 40% (§ 154.022(d)(3)))

    “r-1 7,200 60 b 2½ 35 25 30 d 3 d,e 12 d,e 35 d f 30%”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Principal buildings in the R-1 one-family residential district inside Garden City city limits

    • Height standard: 2½ stories or 35 feet (Appendix A, height columns).
    • Detached accessory buildings in residential districts may not exceed 21 feet to the top of the ridge and sidewalls may not exceed 10 feet (§ 154.022(c)(4)(a)).

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet · maximum stories: <= 2.5 stories · maximum accessory building height, residential district: <= 21 feet (measured from ground level to top of ridge)

    “r-1 7,200 60 b 2½ 35 25 30 d 3 d,e 12 d,e 35 d f 30%”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured home dwellings inside Garden City city limits

    • Manufactured home dwellings are permitted only inside a licensed manufactured home park; the residential design standards do not apply inside a licensed park except as state or federal law allows or the zoning ordinance requires (§ 154.024(17)).
    • Mobile home park rules are otherwise governed by state or federal law.
    “manufactured home dwellings shall only be located in a manufactured home park.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwellings in residential districts inside Garden City city limits

    • Detached and attached accessory buildings in residential districts may not be used as dwelling units, except permitted accessory dwellings that comply with § 154.157 (§ 154.022(a)(6)).
    • Section 154.157 (accessory dwellings) was listed but its text was not opened.
    “attached and detached accessory buildings or structures in residential districts shall not be used as dwelling units (except for permitted accessory dwellings in compliance with § 154.157)”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of land and sale of zoning lots inside Garden City city limits

    • No zoning lot may be divided into two or more zoning lots, and no portion may be sold, unless every resulting lot conforms with the zoning district regulations (§ 154.020(f)).
    • Subdivision regulations are in Code Chapter 152, which was not opened.
    “no zoning lot shall hereafter be divided into two or more zoning lots, and no portion of any zoning lot shall be sold, unless all zoning lots resulting from each division or sale conform with all regulations of the zoning district in which the property is located.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building plan examination, permit and inspection fees inside Garden City city limits

    • Fees are set by city council resolution from time to time and posted in the building department (§ 151.01(b)).
    • The code refers to a comprehensive fee schedule in Chapter 12 for building department fees and inspection schedules (§ 151.15 note); Chapter 12 was not opened, so no dollar amounts are recorded.
    “shall be paid in accordance with the fee schedule adopted by resolution of the city council for the city, from time to time and shall be posted in the building department.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Building and zoning permit applications inside Garden City city limits

    • Permit applications are filed with the building official on forms prescribed by that official, with a written explanation and site plan where applicable (§ 154.465(c)(2)).
    • Zoning permit applications go to the zoning administrator (§ 154.467(c)).
    • Building permit issuance requires conformance review and the applicant may not be in default on city obligations (§ 151.16).
    • Process details such as forms, timelines and fee payment steps were not located.
    “applications for permits required by this subchapter shall be filed with the building official on forms prescribed by that official.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Garden City or Wayne County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit treatment inside Garden City city limits
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Garden City city limits
  • Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy inside Garden City city limits
  • Who permits septic — Onsite sewage disposal (septic) for a new home inside Garden City city limits
  • Septic permit — Septic system permit for a new home inside Garden City city limits
8 more unanswered
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Garden City publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Wayne County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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