DeWitt Charter Township, Michigan Building Permit Guide

DeWitt Charter Township is its own enforcing agency for every trade, and it shares the work with the separate City of DeWitt through Community Building Services, a partnership that processes and inspects building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and utility permits for both. The Building Department at Township Hall, 1401 West Herbison Road (517-668-0278), is led by Chief Building Official Daniel Hufnagel. Under the fee resolution dated December 8, 2025, effective January 1, 2026, a building permit is $65 for the first $1,000 of market value and $8 for each further $1,000, plus a $15 application fee.

What requires a building permit in DeWitt Charter Township?

The township publishes its own list of work that must be permitted before it starts, and a separate list of exemptions. Anything not on either list may still need a permit, so the Building Department asks owners to call before beginning.

What the township decides and what the state holds

The construction code is the state’s, and the township cannot change it. What the township controls is enforcement: it adopted its own fee schedule, its zoning ordinance (which makes occupying a building without a certificate of occupancy a violation under Section 42-31), its subdivision rules and, since February 17, 2026, its own soil erosion and sedimentation ordinance, which replaced the county’s program inside the township. It also runs a special inspection program, with a guide, minimum inspector qualifications and a statement of special inspections.

DeWitt Charter Township building department: who handles permitting

The state Bureau of Construction Codes’ Statewide Jurisdiction List (revised November 6, 2026) shows DeWitt Township enforcing the building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing codes itself, and it lists the City of DeWitt the same way. The two are separate governments, but since they formed Community Building Services one office at Township Hall handles permits and inspections for both. Clinton County’s Building Department does not issue building permits here, and since February 17, 2026 it no longer issues soil erosion permits in the township either; it still does in the city.

The Planning Department administers the Comprehensive Development Plan, the zoning ordinance and the subdivision control ordinance and staffs the Planning Commission and Board of Appeals. The township had 15,516 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.

DeWitt Charter Township permit types and application documents

The Documents & Forms page carries residential and commercial building applications, a homeowner permit policy form, a site and plot plan form, residential and commercial soil erosion applications, demolition and sewer permit applications, packets for new builds, decks and accessory buildings, and separate electrical, plumbing and mechanical applications. Every form can be filled in electronically and emailed.

Residential permits

The residential application asks for the project valuation and the floor areas by level, one copy of the plans described in the project checklist, and either the owner’s details or a licensed contractor’s business name and license number. The new build packet adds proof of ownership (a recorded deed, land contract or the owner’s written permission), a scaled site plan showing easements, setbacks and the water meter location, copies of any well and septic permits, the driveway permit, a county address if the lot is not in a platted subdivision, and the soil erosion application. Deck and accessory building packets cover the smaller jobs.

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

Commercial permits

Commercial drawings must be sealed. Commercial projects pay 15% of the building permit fee for plan review, and the special inspection program applies where the code requires special inspections, with the township’s own testing agreement and statement forms.

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. The Planning Department reviews setbacks and use; a Zoning Compliance Application is needed even for permit-exempt fences and small sheds. The Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. on the first Monday and the Board of Appeals at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday, both at Township Hall.
• Soil erosion. The Building Department now issues these permits under the township ordinance: $300 for a new home, $180 for an addition and $90 for an accessory building, pool, pond or seawall, each for 12 months.
• Sewer or septic. Public sewer comes through the Southern Clinton County Municipal Utilities Authority (517-669-8311); the Building Department can tell you whether sewer is available and where the lead is, and the connection permit is pulled there by a licensed contractor, who must file a $10,000 permit bond and liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 personal, $1,000,000 property damage and $2,000,000 aggregate, naming the authority as additional insured. Septic and well permits come from the Mid-Michigan District Health Department’s Clinton County branch (989-224-2195).
• Water. Board of Water and Light customer service, 517-702-6006; areas it does not serve use private wells.
• Driveway. Clinton County Road Commission, 3536 South BR 127, St. Johns, (989) 224-3274.

DeWitt Charter Township permit costs and fees

The current Schedule of Fees carries a resolution date of December 8, 2025 and took effect on January 1, 2026. Building fees run on the project’s market value, meaning what it would cost to hire the work out, including labor, materials and profit but not land; the department uses ICC square-foot data from the previous year as a minimum value. Trade fees are a base fee plus unit charges and extra inspections.

Worked example from the schedule: a house with a market value of $200,000 pays $65 for the first $1,000 plus 199 × $8 ($1,592), a building permit of $1,657; with the $15 application fee and plan review, which the schedule caps at $70 for a one- or two-family dwelling, the total is $1,742. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits for the same house are separate. The Building Official may adjust the unit costs for unusual architectural or structural features, and the Township Board may waive fees on written application from another municipality, political subdivision or public school body. A mobile home park operator must tell the Building Department within 24 hours when a home is placed, replaced or moved in the park.

Trade permits and who may pull them

Community Building Services issues the electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits as well as the building permit, on separate residential electrical, plumbing, residential mechanical and commercial mechanical applications. The township says trade applications are reviewed and processed within 24 hours of receipt, and fees depend on the number of inspections and units, such as circuits or fixtures. Contractors register their state license with the township for $15.

• Electrical. Base fee covers one inspection; services, circuits, solar panels, fixtures, fire alarm devices and EV chargers are added by unit.
• Plumbing. Fixtures, water-connected appliances, drains, stacks, water service and distribution piping are charged by unit; sewer connections need a licensed, bonded contractor.
• Mechanical. Residential and commercial schedules are separate; new residential heating systems include duct and pipe.

Homeowner permits

The township’s rule is short: a homeowner may pull a permit only when doing their own work on their own residence; otherwise the permit must be pulled by a licensed contractor registered with the township. Its Homeowner Permit Policy Form explains that an owner may take out the building permit for their own single-family home even if a builder is heavily involved, and that the owner then carries all the liability a licensed contractor would, including correcting code violations and finishing the job.

How to apply for a DeWitt Charter Township permit

Review, corrections and what causes delay

Complete building applications are reviewed in the order received and approved in an average of 8 to 10 business days; the clock does not start until missing documents arrive, and large projects or a long queue can add time. Starting work without a permit adds an investigation fee equal to the permit fee unless the Building Official waives it; the new build packet also reminds owners that state law requires notice to MISS DIG at least three full business days before digging.

DeWitt Charter Township inspections and final approval

Give the office 24 hours’ notice to get an inspection within 48 hours, and call for it by address or permit number. The applicant or the applicant’s agent is responsible for calling for every inspection listed on the application. Trade permits include one inspection in the base fee, and each re-inspection, additional or final trade inspection costs $65; building re-inspections are billed at $65 an hour.

• Building and trades. The inspections listed on each permit, through the final for each trade.
• Soil erosion. An initial inspection before or soon after earth disturbance begins, follow-ups during construction, and a final once the site is permanently stabilized.

No structure may be occupied without a certificate of occupancy; the township treats it as a violation of both the Michigan Building Code and Section 42-31 of its zoning ordinance. A written certification of approval costs $10.

Michigan building code

The township enforces the state code as written. FEMA’s Community Status Book lists DeWitt Charter Township (community 260631) as participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, with flood maps effective May 3, 2011, and lists the City of DeWitt separately.

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

DeWitt Charter Township permit search and official resources

For copies of permits, plans or inspection records, file a written Freedom of Information Act request with the Township Clerk, who is the township’s FOIA coordinator (517-668-0270, Township Hall); the township posts its FOIA procedures and request form. Questions about a property’s zoning or setbacks go to the Planning Department.

• Building Department and Community Building Services
• When permits are required, and exemptions
• Documents and forms
• Schedule of fees, effective January 1, 2026
• New build packet
• Homeowner permit policy form
• Zoning compliance application
• Building FAQs
• Soil erosion permits
• Sanitary sewer, water, wells and septic
• Planning Department
• Planning Commission
• Board of Appeals
• Municipal records and FOIA requests
• BCC Statewide Jurisdiction List

DeWitt Charter Township building-permit FAQ

Is DeWitt Charter Township the same as the City of DeWitt?

No. They are separate governments, but Community Building Services at Township Hall handles building and trade permits for both.

Do I need a permit for a new roof or windows?

Yes. All re-roofing, re-siding and window replacement needs a permit; residing or same-size window replacement is a $65 single-inspection permit, and residential re-roofing is charged like a building permit.

Does a fence or shed need a permit?

Not a building permit for a fence up to 7 feet or a residential shed up to 200 square feet, but both need a Zoning Compliance Application.

How much is a building permit?

$65 for the first $1,000 of market value plus $8 per $1,000 after that, with a $15 application fee and plan review; a $200,000 house totals $1,742.

Can I pull my own permit?

Yes, if you are doing your own work on your own residence; otherwise a licensed contractor registered with the township must.

Who issues soil erosion permits?

The township Building Department, since February 17, 2026; Clinton County no longer does inside the township.

How fast are inspections?

With 24 hours’ notice the township aims to inspect within 48 hours.

Simplify DeWitt Charter Township 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 DeWitt Charter Township permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.