Well and septic in Oscoda County

Oscoda County is about as rural as Michigan gets — it’s the only county in the state with no incorporated cities or villages at all, and the least-populated county in the Lower Peninsula. Just six townships spread across a lot of forest. There’s no municipal water or sewer out here, so essentially every home runs on a private well and a septic system. That’s completely normal in this part of the state, but it’s the first thing to understand before you buy.

Michigan is the only state with no statewide septic code, so the rules are set locally. In Oscoda County that’s District Health Department No. 2, which has an office in Mio and issues the permits for new and replacement septic systems and wells. Oscoda County does not require a point-of-sale septic inspection — there’s no county rule forcing an inspection just because a property changes hands. That leaves it to you, the buyer, so it’s smart to make any offer contingent on a septic inspection and a well water test, even when one isn’t required.

On a rural or wooded property, check the age and type of the septic system, where the drainfield sits, the well depth and water quality, and whether there’s room for a replacement drainfield down the road. If you’re buying near the Au Sable River or one of the small lakes, an older waterfront septic system deserves an especially close look. A passing soil test (a “perc test”) is part of building on a vacant lot. (Heads up: a statewide septic-inspection bill has been floated in Lansing for years; if it passes, the rules here could change.)