Clinton County, Michigan Building Permit Guide

Clinton County runs a full construction code program from the Courthouse at 100 East State Street, Suite 1300, St. Johns (989-224-5181). Its Building Department issues building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits in the 13 general law townships and the City of St. Johns and villages within them, and it also administers the county soil erosion ordinance everywhere except DeWitt Charter Township. Fees follow Resolution #2022-19: $63 for the first $1,000 of valuation and $7.20 for each additional $1,000, with valuation taken from the ICC’s Building Valuation Data. Applications go in most quickly by email to permits@clinton-county.org.

What requires a permit in Clinton County?

The Building Department’s FAQ sets a wide rule: a permit is needed for any construction that physically alters or adds to a structure, or for work regulated by county codes or ordinances, and building may start only after the permit is issued. Its forms center carries checklists for the jobs it sees most.

Electrical, mechanical and plumbing work each need a separate trade permit, and the new home checklist warns that the residential building application does not include them. Earth changes need the county soil erosion permit or a written waiver.

What the county decides and what the state holds

The construction code itself is the state’s. The Board of Commissioners runs the enforcement program, adopted its fee schedule, keeps a Construction Board of Appeals for code interpretation disputes, enforces its own soil erosion ordinance (adopted August 30, 2022), and zones ten townships under the Clinton County Zoning Ordinance, in effect since January 1, 2022 and amended through March 11, 2025.

Clinton County building department: who handles permitting

The county’s jurisdiction list and the state Bureau of Construction Codes’ Statewide Jurisdiction List (revised November 6, 2026) agree on the main split: the county program covers 13 townships and the city and villages inside them, and four units run their own programs for every trade.

By the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimates, DeWitt Charter Township has 15,516 people, Bath Charter Township 13,556, Watertown 5,890 and the City of DeWitt 4,795, while St. Johns, the largest place the county serves, has 7,780. The county’s list also names a “Village of Bath” among places it does not cover; Bath is part of Bath Charter Township.

Clinton County permit types and application documents

The forms center has separate applications for residential building, commercial building, demolition, single-inspection jobs, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work, plus project packets for new homes, decks, pools and accessory structures, and residential and commercial soil erosion applications. Online, BS&A takes trade permits and building permits for roofing, siding and windows or doors (three or more); every other building permit is filed with the department.

Residential permits

The new home checklist says review does not begin until every item is supplied and asks you to expect at least 7 to 10 business days. Each packet needs a zoning permit application with one plot plan, or the local unit’s zoning approval; a new address from county Equalization (989-224-5170) or the City of St. Johns, and a copy of the deed if the land was just bought; well and septic or sewer and water permit numbers; a driveway permit from the Road Commission or MDOT; one set of plans with floor plan, foundation plan, cross section, braced wall design and truss specifications; and the residential soil erosion application. Michigan law lets a homeowner act as general contractor for their own primary single-family residence, the FAQ notes.

Building or remodeling a home here? Alliance handles home building permits, so the crew isn't waiting on the counter.

Commercial permits

Commercial, multi-family and industrial buildings use the commercial building application and need plan review, charged on the same valuation basis. Commercial soil erosion permits for site development add plan review, a per-acre fee and a surety bond.

For tenant improvements and new commercial builds, Alliance handles commercial permit filing through issuance. More on this: commercial building permits explained.

What comes before the building permit

• Zoning. County Planning & Zoning administers zoning in Bingham, Duplain, Essex, Greenbush, Lebanon, Olive, Ovid, Riley, Victor and Westphalia townships; the zoning (land use) application costs $75. Bengal, Dallas and Eagle townships, St. Johns and the villages handle their own zoning. The county Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday, and applications are due 45 days ahead.
• Soil erosion. The Building Department issues soil erosion permits in every unit except DeWitt Charter Township, which took over its own on February 17, 2026; the county still covers the City of DeWitt and Bath and Watertown townships.
• Well and septic. The Mid-Michigan District Health Department’s Clinton branch, 1307 East Townsend Road, St. Johns (989-224-2195).
• Driveway. The Clinton County Road Commission, 3536 South BR 127, St. Johns, (989) 224-3274, for county roads; MDOT for state highways.
• Drains. County drains are the Drain Commissioner’s office (989-224-5160).

Clinton County permit costs and fees

The Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution #2022-19 on October 25, 2022, and the code enforcement and soil erosion fee schedules in it took effect on January 1, 2023; the county’s fee page still lists those schedules as current. Building fees are set by valuation from the ICC’s Building Valuation Data, calculated after the packet is approved, so the owner’s own cost estimate does not set the fee.

Worked example from the schedule: a project the department values at $250,000 pays $63 for the first $1,000 plus 249 × $7.20 ($1,792.80), a building permit of $1,855.80; if it is a single-family house over 3,000 square feet, plan review adds 0.0016 × $250,000, or $400. Soil erosion fees double when work starts without a permit. The department’s web page now quotes a $15 contractor registration fee (with notarization), while the 2023 schedule lists $20; ask which applies when you register.

Trade and specialty permits in Clinton County

In the county’s area the same department issues electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits, which contractors can file and pay for online through BS&A. A contractor must first register with the county using the notarized registration form and then create a BS&A contractor account. Each trade has a $65 application fee and unit charges, for example $15 for an electrical service through 200 amps and $5 per circuit, $50 for a new-construction residential heating system, and $5 per plumbing fixture; trade plan review, when required, is 25% of the building plan review fee.

• Electrical inspections run Monday to Thursday.
• Plumbing and mechanical inspections run Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
• Propane. The occupancy checklist requires a mechanical permit secured by a licensed contractor for propane gas, with its final passed before occupancy.

Builders and maintenance and alteration contractors hold state licenses. Homeowners building their own primary single-family residence may act as their own general contractor; the county pages say nothing further about owners pulling their own trade permits.

How to apply for a Clinton County permit

Review, corrections and what causes delay

The county gives three different review times: its FAQ says 3 to 5 business days after plans are in and fees are paid, the new home checklist says at least 7 to 10, and the department page warns of 10 to 14 business days in the busy season. Incomplete or unclear plans are returned without review, and revised plans must be approved by the Building Official before the change is built. Construction must start within 180 days of issue and may not stop for more than 180 days.

Clinton County inspections and final approval

Call the inspection line at (989) 224-5183 and leave a message by 4 p.m. on the business day before you need the inspection; the department asks for 24 hours’ notice. Building inspections are made Monday to Friday, electrical Monday to Thursday, and plumbing and mechanical on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. No inspections are made on days the courthouse is closed, as on Veterans Day, November 11, 2026.

Before a certificate of occupancy, the county’s occupancy requirements list:

• approved finals on every electrical, mechanical and plumbing permit, with the breaker panel directory complete and fixtures, covers and bulbs installed;
• the site address posted under the 911 ordinance, grade falling at least 6 inches within 10 feet of the foundation, and required steps, handrails, guards and landings in place;
• working smoke detectors, an installed furnace and duct system, and operable fireplaces;
• final septic and water approval from the health department, and any re-inspection fees paid.

A new occupancy carries a $70 fee, and a third inspection after failed re-inspections, locked-out sites or uncancelled visits costs $65; only the Building Official can waive it.

Michigan building code

The county enforces the state code as written; disputes over how it is read go to the Clinton County Construction Board of Appeals. Floodplain programs belong to the local units: no Michigan county is a National Flood Insurance Program community, and FEMA lists Bath Charter Township, DeWitt Charter Township and the City of DeWitt among the participating communities here, each with maps dated May 3, 2011.

Michigan enforces one statewide construction code under the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act (1972 PA 230); local units cannot amend it, and enforcement sits with the city, village or township, a county program or the state Bureau of Construction Codes, sometimes split by trade. Michigan rules

Clinton County permit search and official resources

Permit and inspection records for jobs in the county’s area are held by the Building Department; for copies, use the county’s Freedom of Information Act request form under its FOIA procedures and guidelines. The county’s online mapping and GIS site helps confirm which township a parcel is in before you file.

• Clinton County Building Department
• Building jurisdiction list and map
• Forms center: applications and checklists
• Residential new home checklist
• Fee schedule page
• Code enforcement fee schedule, Resolution #2022-19
• Soil erosion fee schedule
• Soil erosion and sedimentation control
• Building permit FAQ
• Occupancy requirements
• BS&A Online (search for Clinton County)
• Planning & Zoning
• Zoning (land use) application
• Zoning Board of Appeals
• Construction Board of Appeals
• Freedom of Information Act requests
• Mid-Michigan District Health Department well and septic
• BCC Statewide Jurisdiction List

Clinton County building-permit FAQ

Does Clinton County issue permits in DeWitt or Bath?

No. DeWitt Charter Township and the City of DeWitt share Community Building Services, and Bath and Watertown charter townships run their own programs.

How is the building permit fee worked out?

$63 for the first $1,000 of the department’s ICC-based valuation plus $7.20 per additional $1,000; a $250,000 valuation is $1,855.80.

Do farm buildings need a permit?

Not a building permit under the Right to Farm Act, but a $75 zoning permit and the county agricultural affidavit.

How do I book an inspection?

Leave a message on (989) 224-5183 before 4 p.m. on the business day before.

Can I apply online?

Through BS&A for trade permits and roofing, siding and window permits; other building permits go by email to permits@clinton-county.org.

Who issues soil erosion permits?

The county Building Department everywhere except DeWitt Charter Township, which has issued its own since February 17, 2026.

How long does review take?

The county quotes 3 to 5 business days in its FAQ, at least 7 to 10 for new homes, and up to 10 to 14 in the busy season.

Simplify Clinton County permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Michigan. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Clinton County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.