Priority Home Mortgage · Wexford County new-homeowner guide · mypriorityhome.com · checked September 2026
Wexford County, Michigan: the new-homeowner guide
Wexford County sits at the northern end of the White Pine Trail: about 34,000 residents centered on Cadillac, the county seat, set beside Lake Cadillac and Lake Mitchell. Beyond the city it is Manton, small villages like Mesick, Buckley, and Harrietta, farm country, and a lot of Manistee National Forest, so wells, propane tanks, and serious snow are part of everyday homeownership here. This guide covers what actually needs doing after you get the keys.
Covers Cadillac, Manton, Mesick, Buckley, Harrietta, Haring Township, Clam Lake Township, Cherry Grove Township, Selma Township, Colfax Township, Springville Township, Boon, Meauwataka. County seat: Cadillac.
Local to this one: Michele Fulcher lives in Fife Lake and works this part of the state.
- County seat
- Cadillac
- Schools
- Wexford-Missaukee ISD, seven districts including Cadillac
- Electric
- Consumers Energy in most of the county, two co-ops in rural pockets
- Well & septic at sale
- Not required at sale, but worth doing on a rural home
- Tax bills
- Summer taxes July 1, winter taxes December 1
Questions about buying here? Priority Home Mortgage is a Grand Rapids direct lender with in-house underwriting, lending throughout Michigan. (616) 951-1561 · www.mypriorityhome.com
Setting up your utilities
Who serves a house can change from one road to the next, so check your exact address with the provider before you schedule anything.
Electric
Consumers Energy serves Cadillac, Manton, and most of the county, but two electric co-ops serve rural pockets: Great Lakes Energy mostly toward the south end of the county and Cherryland Electric Cooperative in the northwest corner. Their lines interlace, so look at the seller's last bill before you call anyone.
| Provider | Contact |
|---|---|
| Consumers EnergyCadillac, Manton, and most of Wexford County | (800) 477-5050 |
| Great Lakes EnergyRural areas, mainly in the southern townships (member-owned co-op) | (888) 485-2537 |
| Cherryland Electric CooperativeThe far northwest corner of the county, in parts of Wexford Township (member-owned co-op) | (231) 486-9200 |
Natural gas & propane
DTE Gas serves Cadillac, Manton, and much of the central and eastern county. The state's service-area map shows no gas utility around Mesick, Buckley, or Harrietta or across most of the western townships, so many rural homes heat with propane; ask DTE whether gas reaches the specific address. If the house has a tank, find out whether the seller owns it or leases it from a supplier, because that decides who can fill it.
| Provider | Contact |
|---|---|
| DTE Energy (DTE Gas)Cadillac, Manton, Haring Township, and much of central and eastern Wexford County; confirm service at your address | (800) 477-4747 |
| Crystal Flash (Cadillac)Propane and fuel oil delivery in the Cadillac area | (231) 775-5007 |
Water & sewer
Cadillac, Manton, and Mesick run public water systems; call the city or village office to confirm sewer at the address. Nearly everywhere else in the county, including most lake and township homes, you are on a private well and septic system.
| Provider | Contact |
|---|---|
| City of Cadillac Utilities DepartmentCity of Cadillac water and sewer | (231) 775-0181 |
| City of MantonCity of Manton | (231) 824-3572 |
| Village of MesickVillage of Mesick water and wastewater systems | (231) 885-1646 |
Trash & recycling
Inside Cadillac the city contracts weekly trash pickup with Republic Services, with separate every-other-week curbside recycling through the city program. Outside the city there is no countywide pickup, so you subscribe with a private hauler.
| Provider | Contact |
|---|---|
| City of Cadillac Trash RemovalCity of Cadillac (weekly trash, one large item per week, seasonal yard waste) | (231) 775-0181 |
| Republic ServicesSubscription trash and recycling in the Cadillac area | See website |
| WM (Waste Management)Subscription trash and recycling in the Cadillac area | See website |
Internet & cable
Cable reaches Cadillac and has been pushing into the townships, and co-op fiber is building out in Great Lakes Energy territory. On back roads service can change from one driveway to the next, so run an address check with every provider before you count on working from home.
| Provider | Contact |
|---|---|
| SpectrumCadillac and a growing share of the rural townships (cable and fiber) | See website |
| TruestreamFiber for Great Lakes Energy electric members where it has been built; check the availability map | (888) 485-2537 |
| T-Mobile 5G Home InternetCadillac and other areas where 5G coverage allows (fixed wireless) | See website |
| StarlinkCountywide where there is a clear view of the sky (satellite) | See website |
Your first-month checklist
Roughly the order they need doing in.
Transfer utilities before closing day
Check the seller's bills to see who actually serves the house: Consumers Energy, Great Lakes Energy, or Cherryland for electric, and DTE or a propane supplier for heat. Give each a week's notice. In Cadillac, call the Utilities Department at (231) 775-0181 to put water and sewer in your name; the city treats an unpaid water bill as a lien on the property, so settle the final reading at closing.
File your USPS change of address
Do it online at usps.com a week or two before the move so forwarding starts on day one. Forwarding runs 12 months for first-class mail, so use that window to update banks, insurers, and subscriptions.
Update your driver's license and vehicle registration
Update your address with the Secretary of State right after you move: Michigan law says immediately for a driver's license and within 10 days for a vehicle registration. The address change is free and takes minutes online at Michigan.gov/SOS, with no office visit needed.
Check your voter registration
In Michigan, updating your driver's license address with the SOS updates your voter registration automatically. Confirm your new precinct and ballot status at the state's Voter Information site before the next election.
File your Principal Residence Exemption (PRE)
Michigan's PRE exempts your primary home from up to 18 mills of school operating tax. File Form 2368 with your city or township assessor: by June 1 to get it on that year's summer bill, or by November 1 for the winter bill. It's often handled at closing, but verify it actually got filed, especially if the home was someone's cottage or rental before you bought it.
Learn the property tax rhythm
Wexford County communities issue summer taxes July 1 and winter taxes December 1, payable to your city or township treasurer through February 28. From March 1, unpaid bills move to the County Treasurer with a 4% administration fee plus interest. In the Village of Mesick, some properties also carry a village special sewer assessment on the village tax bill.
Set up trash, recycling, and yard waste
In Cadillac, trash goes out weekly; the tote can go to the curb the night before and must come back in the same day it's emptied. Recycling is picked up every other week in a separate bin, and yard waste is collected on trash day from April 1 through November or the first snowfall. Outside the city, start a subscription with a hauler such as Republic Services or WM, and ask neighbors who serves the road.
Get to know your well and septic
Most homes outside Cadillac, Manton, and Mesick have both. Test the well water soon after you move in, and ask about PFAS results if the house is near one of the state's PFAS investigation areas around Cadillac. District Health Department #10 recommends pumping a septic tank every 3 to 4 years, and it holds permit records for many existing systems.
Enroll the kids in school
Wexford-Missaukee ISD works with seven local districts, including Cadillac Area Public Schools, Manton Consolidated, and Mesick Consolidated. Buckley Community Schools serves the far north of the county, and some edge addresses belong to districts based in neighboring counties, so confirm your district by address before you register.
License your dog
Dogs need a county license, which requires a current rabies vaccination. Wexford County licenses expire December 31 no matter when you buy them, and prices double after February 28. A one-year license is $10 for a spayed or neutered dog and $15 otherwise. Buy online, at the County Treasurer's office, or by appointment at the Wexford County Animal Shelter.
Check before you burn
Outside city limits, Wexford County is in the DNR's burn permit area: look up whether burning is allowed that day at Michigan.gov/burnpermit, and check your township's rules too. Inside Cadillac, recreational fires are allowed unless the DNR or Forest Service has a burn ban in place, and a ringed fire pit must sit at least 25 feet from any structure.
Every step above is written out in full in the online guide at www.mypriorityhome.com/local-resources/wexford-county-mi/
Places worth seeing
William Mitchell State Park
A 770-acre state park on the strip of land between Lake Mitchell and Lake Cadillac, joined by the historic Clam Lake Canal, where people fish from shore. It has a campground, a beach, and boat access to both lakes.
Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center
The DNR visitor center inside Mitchell State Park, with exhibits on Michigan hunting and fishing history, archery and pellet ranges, and family programs in every season.
Cadillac Commons and City Park
Downtown Cadillac's lakefront block: the Shay logging locomotive, the memorial fountain, a splash pad that turns into a skating rink in winter, the covered farmers market, and summer concerts at the Rotary pavilion.
Wexford County Historical Society Museum
County history housed in Cadillac's Carnegie library, built in 1905 and 1906, from lumber-era artifacts to maps and photographs. It is open seasonally, spring through fall, Wednesday through Saturday; check the site for this year's dates.
Harrietta State Fish Hatchery
Michigan's oldest operating state fish hatchery, opened in 1901 near the village of Harrietta. Visiting is free, with outdoor trails and exhibits to explore.
Lake Cadillac
The 1,150-acre lake the city grew up around, ringed by parks and walking paths and linked to Lake Mitchell by a canal dug in the 1870s to float logs to the mills.
Manistee National Forest
Much of rural Wexford County is national forest: trailheads, two-tracks, rivers, hunting land, and quiet campgrounds, all a short drive from almost any address in the county.
Things to do year-round
Fred Meijer White Pine Trail
The 92-mile paved rail-trail from Comstock Park ends in Cadillac, at a trailhead on Cadillac Commons with a bike repair station. Ride south through the farm towns or just use it for an evening walk.
Lake Cadillac Foot & Bike Path
A 7.5-mile walking and biking path along Lake Cadillac, with access from Mitchell State Park. The city's boat launches are free, and both lakes are popular for ice fishing once the ice is safe.
Caberfae Peaks
The area's ski hill, west of Cadillac off M-55, with a slopeside lodge, about 10 miles of cross-country ski trails, and a golf course once the snow melts.
Manton Area Harvest Festival
A Labor Day weekend tradition since 1924, based at Manton Station on Wall Street, with one of the biggest parades in the area plus live music and craft shows.
Mesick Mushroom Festival
The Mesick Lions' spring festival on Mother's Day weekend, right in morel season: a parade, concerts, kids' events, vendors, and plenty of people heading into the woods to hunt mushrooms.
Northern District Fair
The county's late-summer fair at the Northern District Fairgrounds, with carnival rides, livestock barns and the youth auction, a demolition derby, and exhibit halls full of baking, canning, and crafts.
Cadillac Freedom Festival
The city's Fourth of July celebration along the Lake Cadillac shoreline at Cadillac Commons: parades, a car and motorcycle show, family activities, and fireworks.
Cadillac's Craft Beer Festival
A fall festival of Michigan craft beverages with a tailgate feel at City Park on Cadillac Commons, with proceeds helping keep the area's local festivals going.
Moving to Wexford County: common questions
How do property taxes work in Wexford County?
You'll get two bills a year from your city or township treasurer: summer taxes issued July 1 and winter taxes issued December 1, both payable locally through February 28. After that, unpaid real property taxes go to the Wexford County Treasurer with a 4% administration fee plus interest. If the home is your primary residence, make sure a Principal Residence Exemption (Form 2368) is on file with your assessor by June 1 or November 1; it exempts you from up to 18 mills of school operating tax. Double-check it if the home was previously someone's second home or rental, since it would not have carried the exemption.
Does Wexford County require a well and septic inspection when a home sells?
No. District Health Department #10 runs a mandatory point-of-sale evaluation program, but only in Kalkaska and Manistee counties. In Wexford County, a buyer or lender can still order an evaluation from the health department: the current fee is $275 for well and septic together, or $180 for either one. It is worth doing on any rural home, and the health department holds permit records for many existing systems.
Should I ask about PFAS in a private well near Cadillac?
If the home is on a well near the city, yes. The Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART) has sampled private wells at several areas of interest around Cadillac, and in its self-sampling investigation covering parts of Haring, Clam Lake, Selma, and Boon townships and the city, some wells tested above Michigan drinking water criteria. MPART posts the investigation maps and results, and the City of Cadillac keeps a PFAS Resources page. Ask the seller for any past well test, check whether the address sits in an investigation area, and budget for your own test after closing. A test is cheap next to the price of the house, and the results tell you whether you need a filter.
What order should I set up utilities in?
Start by finding out who actually serves the house, since electric could be Consumers Energy, Great Lakes Energy, or Cherryland, and heat could be DTE Gas or propane. Call those about a week before closing. If there's a propane tank, confirm who owns it and schedule a fill before winter. Water and sewer come next: in Cadillac call the Utilities Department at (231) 775-0181, and in Manton or Mesick call city or village hall. Book internet early, because rural installs can take weeks. Trash can wait until you're in.
How bad are winters, and what rules come with them?
Plan on real snow. The Wexford County Road Commission's own seasonal totals have ranged from about 50 to nearly 100 inches over the last five winters, and some older winters topped 150. In Cadillac, overnight street parking is banned from November 15 to April 15 between 2:30 and 6:30 AM so plows can get through. Check with City Hall about clearing the sidewalk in front of your house. In spring, frost laws cut legal axle loads by 35% on seasonally restricted county roads while the ground thaws, which can slow heavy deliveries to rural homes.
Was the Cadillac area affected by the 2026 flooding?
Yes. Wexford County is one of the Michigan counties included in FEMA's major disaster declaration DR-4925 for the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding of April 10 to 21, 2026. If you're buying near Lake Cadillac, Lake Mitchell, the Clam River, or low ground, ask the seller directly about water in the basement and any repairs or insurance claims, check the FEMA flood map for the address, and price flood insurance before you close. The City of Cadillac keeps a Flood Impact Resources page.
Where do I go for county-level services?
County government is based in Cadillac at 437 E. Division St., and wexfordcounty.org links to every office. The County Treasurer ((231) 779-9475) handles delinquent taxes and dog licenses, and the Register of Deeds records deeds. District Health Department #10 handles well and septic permits, and the Wexford County Road Commission posts frost law updates. Inside Cadillac, call City Hall at (231) 775-0181 about water, trash, and streets. Your city or township office handles assessing, current tax bills, and voting precincts.
Nearby counties
Most buyers shop more than one county. Here are the guides next door.
Confirm before you count on it. Provider details checked September 2026. We check this page every quarter and every provider row was verified by hand, but phone numbers, service territories, fees, and local ordinances all change without notice, and which utility serves a house can change from one road to the next. Call the provider, the township, or the county before you rely on anything here, especially well and septic rules at sale. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.
Priority Home Mortgage is a dba of PFN Lending Group, Inc. NMLS #103098. Equal Housing Lender. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement; not all customers will qualify. Printed from https://www.mypriorityhome.com/local-resources/wexford-county-mi/