Septic rules and requirements in Kent County, Michigan

Septic permits in Kent County are issued by the county environmental health office. A new system permit costs $250. USDA rates most of the soil in the county Very limited for septic absorption fields — 98.1% of the rated acres. Kent County, MI — Staff Directory, Environmental Health Division · checked 2026-09-23

$250

Septic system permit

checked 2026-09-23

Very limited

USDA rating, 98.1% of rated acres

checked 2026-09-16

Who issues septic permits in Kent County?

The county environmental health office, 616-632-6900. It is part of county government. The state writes the rules it applies.

Kent County, MI — Staff Directory, Environmental Health Division · checked 2026-09-23

What does a septic permit cost in Kent County?

$250 for a septic system permit, on the county's own schedule.

Applies to a new septic system, the base tier of five permit and evaluation fees.

The county's fee table for this permit
Septic Tank Only	$150	any system
Septic (New) shown above	$250	any system
Pressurized Mound System	$400	a system the source lists as pressurized mound system; the source's own word is 'Mound', which is not one of the fixed system_type values, so it is left unstructured rather than mapped to alternative/aerobic/etc

The county charges a different fee for a site evaluation, a tank-only permit, and a repair permit. A pressurized mound system permit costs even more. The Kent County Board of Health sets and revises these fees.

Kent County Health Department — Application for Residential Septic/Well Project · checked 2026-09-23

What does an inspection cost in Kent County?

These are prices, not permit fees. Each one comes from a government source.

$250 for an inspection.

Applies to an evaluation of a septic system on a lot with city water and no well.

A buyer or seller often orders this evaluation before a sale. The county charges more to test a well too.

Kent County Health Department — Application for Sanitary Facility/Real Estate Evaluation · checked 2026-09-23

Is the soil in Kent County suitable for a septic system?

USDA rates most of the county Very limited for septic absorption fields — 98.1% of the rated acres. A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.

Very limited — 503,269 acres — 98.1% of 513,231 rated acres.
Somewhat limited — 9,962 acres — 1.9% of 513,231 rated acres.
Not rated — 45,278 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.

USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-16

What Kent County sets itself

The state writes the code. Kent County adds the rules below. They are what makes this page differ from the Michigan requirements.

1,500 gallons

Applies to a single or two-family home of three bedrooms or fewer.

A four-bedroom home needs a larger tank. Each bedroom after that adds more capacity. Michigan sets no statewide minimum tank size. This is Kent County's own rule.

Kent County Health Department — Sewage Disposal Regulations for Kent County, Michigan, Table VI-B (§ 603.4.1) · checked 2026-09-23
10 feet

This is the distance from a septic tank, dosing tank, drainfield, or seepage pit to any property line. Michigan sets no statewide property line setback.

Kent County Health Department — Sewage Disposal Regulations for Kent County, Michigan, Table VI-A (§ 601.4) · checked 2026-09-23
$250

Applies to a new septic system, the base tier of five permit and evaluation fees.

The county charges a different fee for a site evaluation, a tank-only permit, and a repair permit. A pressurized mound system permit costs even more. The Kent County Board of Health sets and revises these fees.

Kent County Health Department — Application for Residential Septic/Well Project · checked 2026-09-23

Sources

Each figure above has a government source and a checked-on date. USDA's Soil Data Access service supplies the soil records. A script writes them, and nobody types them.

Kent County, MI — Staff Directory, Environmental Health Division · checked 2026-09-23
Kent County, MI — Septic & Well · checked 2026-09-23
Kent County Health Department — Application for Residential Septic/Well Project · checked 2026-09-23
Kent County Health Department — Sewage Disposal Regulations for Kent County, Michigan, § 601.8.3 · checked 2026-09-23
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-09-16
Kent County Health Department — Application for Sanitary Facility/Real Estate Evaluation · checked 2026-09-23

Verify before you act. Septic rules are set locally and they change. Check anything here before you spend money on it. Call the county environmental health office, on 616-632-6900.