City Home Rules

Selling a house in Benzie County, MI: what the city requires

Benzie County, Michigan · Last checked November 2026

Required at sale

In Benzie County a home with a private well or septic system cannot be sold until a health officer has evaluated the systems and given the written results to the buyer.

What Benzie County requires

Time of Transfer septic and well evaluation

Who does it
Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department health officer.
What is checked
On-site water well and on-site sewage disposal system.
Deadline
Before the sale. The written evaluation must be furnished to the buyer.
Applies to
Sale or transfer of a dwelling or habitable building (Sanitary Code Chapter 6, Section 6.2).

Housing in Benzie County

Median year homes were built
1985
Median home value
$285,700
Owner-occupied homes
6,764 of 7,708 (88%)
Total housing units
12,326

With a median build year of 1985, many septic systems and wells here are decades old. Pumping and inspecting before you list avoids surprises.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for Benzie County, Michigan.

Need this done in Benzie County?

Get quotes from a local certified septic and well evaluator, help with repairs, or a cash offer to sell as-is. We pass your request to independent local providers. Free, no obligation.

What do you need?

How the michigan time of transfer evaluation process works

Michigan has no statewide rule, but several county health departments and townships require the private well and septic system to be evaluated before a property is sold. The written results go to the buyer, and failing systems must be corrected or the correction assured.

  1. Check whether the property is on a private well or septic system. Homes on public water and sewer are not affected.
  2. Apply to the local health department, or hire an evaluator it has certified. Some townships only accept the health department itself.
  3. Pump the septic tank if the rule requires it. Some codes require pumping within the last 2 or 5 years.
  4. Give the written evaluation to the buyer before closing. If the system fails, agree on who will repair it and when.
Typical cost ranges (estimates, not quotes)
ItemTypical range
Septic and well evaluation$300 to $700
Septic tank pumping$300 to $600
Drain field replacement$8,000 to $25,000 or more

Read the full michigan time of transfer evaluation guide

Other towns with the same requirement: Septic and well inspection

If the house fails

You can repair before closing, use an escrow or extension where the city allows it, let the buyer assume the work for a credit, or sell as-is. Compare the options.

Frequently asked questions

What does Benzie County require before I sell my house?

In Benzie County a home with a private well or septic system cannot be sold until a health officer has evaluated the systems and given the written results to the buyer.

What if my house fails?

You can make the repairs before closing, negotiate a credit with the buyer, or sell as-is to a buyer who will handle the work. Ask the municipality whether it allows a buyer to assume the work or an escrow.

Who pays, the buyer or the seller?

The ordinance usually makes the seller responsible for ordering it, but who pays for repairs is negotiable in the purchase agreement.

How old are the homes in Benzie County?

The median home in Benzie County was built in 1985, and the median home value is $285,700, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.

Nearby: Northern Michigan

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Sources

Last checked November 2026. Rules and fees change by ordinance and resolution. Confirm with the municipality before you list. See something out of date? Report a change.