Services
Building Permit Info
Forms are available at City Hall or
by visiting the State of Michigan website.
The Building Code
The purpose of the building
code is to insure public safety, health and welfare
insofar as they are affected by building
construction, through structural strength, adequate
egress facilities, sanitary equipment, light and
ventilation, and fire safety; and, in general, to
secure safety to life and property from all hazards
incident to the design, erection, repair, removal,
demolition or use and occupancy of buildings,
structures or premises.
What is a building code?
The building code controls all matters concerning
the construction, alteration, addition, repair,
removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy, and
maintenance of all buildings and structures and
their service equipment. The 2006 Michigan Building
Code went into effect statewide on August 1, 2008.
Provisions for one- and two-family dwellings,
townhouses and their accessory structures as
identified in R101.2 are included in the 2006
Michigan Residential Code.
Are building permits necessary?
Before construction of a building or structure,
an owner, or the owner's builder, architect,
engineer, or agent, shall submit an application in
writing to the appropriate enforcing agency for a
building permit. A permit is also required when the
use or occupancy of a structure or portion thereof
is changed.
A permit is not required for ordinary repairs.
Ordinary repairs to structures may be made without
permit, but such repairs shall not include the
cutting away of any wall, partition or portion
thereof, the removal or cutting of any structural
beam or bearing support, or the removal or change of
any required means of egress, or rearrangement of
parts of a structure affecting the exit
requirements; nor shall ordinary repairs including
addition to, alteration of, replacement or
relocation of any standpipe, water supply, sewer,
drainage, drain leader, gas soil, waste, vent or
similar piping, electric wiring or mechanical or
other work affecting public health or general
safety.
When is a license necessary to secure a building
permit?
A person engaged in the construction of a
residential structure or a combination residential
and commercial structure must be licensed as a
Residential Builder with the Department of Labor &
Economic Growth. There are certain exceptions in the
licensing law (P.A. 299 of 1980, as amended) to this
requirement.
Plans and Specifications (Construction Documents)
A set of construction documents is required with
each application for a permit. The submission of
construction documents may be waived by the building
official when code compliance can be determined
based on the description in the application.
Construction documents must be sealed and signed by
an architect or professional engineer in accordance
with P.A. 299 of 1980, as amended. The seal and
signature is not required for one and two family
dwellings less than 3500 square feet of calculated
floor area and public works less than $15,000 in
total construction cost. For other exceptions refer
to P.A. 299 of 1980, as amended. |
