Well and septic in Otsego County

Outside the city of Gaylord and the village of Vanderbilt, most of Otsego County is rural, and homes here typically run on a private well and a septic system rather than municipal water and sewer. If you’re buying in one of the townships, plan on that.

Michigan is the only state without a statewide septic code, so the rules are set locally. Otsego County is served by the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, which has an office in Gaylord and issues the permits for new and replacement wells and septic systems. Otsego doesn’t have a single county-wide “inspect it when you sell” rule — but the health department does perform time-of-transfer evaluations, and some townships or other local governments require one before a home changes hands. Whether that applies to a given property depends on where it sits, so it’s worth asking early. Either way, it’s smart to make any offer contingent on a septic inspection and a well water test.

On a rural or lakefront property, check the age and type of the septic system, where the drainfield is, the well depth and water quality, and whether there’s room for a replacement drainfield. If you’re buying on Otsego Lake or another waterfront lot, an older septic system deserves an especially close look. A passing soil test (a “perc test”) is part of building on a vacant lot. (Worth knowing: a statewide septic-inspection law has been proposed in Lansing for years; if it ever passes, the rules here could change.)