Garfield Charter Township, Michigan Building Permit Guide

Garfield is the one township in Grand Traverse County with its own building department. The Garfield Township Building Department, 3848 Veterans Drive, Traverse City (231-941-1620; Monday to Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., closed Fridays), led by Building Official Carl Studzinski, reviews plans, issues building permits and inspects; electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits come from the Grand Traverse County Construction Code office. Most projects first need a township land use permit ($50 for a house under the fee schedule adopted June 23, 2026), and since 2025 the township also issues its own soil erosion permits.

What requires a building permit in Garfield Township?

The Building Department’s own answers set the local line for common jobs, and the Zoning Department adds a land use permit that reaches smaller work than the building permit does.

Separately, a township land use permit is needed for a change of use, any addition, any new structure of 100 square feet or more (sheds and decks included) and any earth disturbance of 100 square feet or more.

What the township decides and what the state holds

The state writes the construction code; Garfield enforces it for buildings and sets its own building fees, plan submittal rules and local design answers, such as 42-inch footings (24 inches in sandy, well-drained soil, 48 inches typical for pole barns) and a 60-pound-per-square-foot snow load. Zoning, land use, stormwater and soil erosion are township ordinances: Ordinance 80 for stormwater and Ordinance 78, approved January 14, 2025, for soil erosion.

Garfield Township building department: who handles permitting

Three offices share the work. The Bureau of Construction Codes’ Statewide Jurisdiction List (revised November 6, 2026) shows Garfield enforcing the building code and the plumbing code itself and the county enforcing electrical and mechanical. The township’s Building page says instead that all electrical, plumbing and mechanical permitting is handled by the Grand Traverse County building codes office, and the county’s own process page says its trade permits cover the whole county. Apply for plumbing permits at the county, as both local offices direct, and ask the Building Department if you are unsure.

Township offices are open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and closed Fridays. Garfield joins the National Flood Insurance Program on its own (community 260753B); its flood map, effective April 19, 2023, is marked as having no elevations determined, and the building application asks whether any part of the structure lies in a floodplain, in which case an elevation certificate and engineered foundation drawings are required.

Garfield Township permit types

Garfield posts its own downloadable packets: the residential and commercial building permit packets, a commercial plan review application, a demolition packet, a non-park mobile home replacement packet, and handouts for decks, pools, pole buildings and plan review requirements. Every submittal needs two sets of 24-by-36-inch plans.

Residential permits

The residential packet lists what must be approved before plans are reviewed: the land use permit with its dimensioned site plan, the soil erosion permit, the well and septic or DPW permit, a driveway permit from the Road Commission or MDOT and any EGLE permits. The building application then needs plans and energy code documentation (REScheck or the prescriptive worksheet). The application form asks the cost of improvement and whether the structure is stick-built, modular or manufactured.

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

Commercial permits

Commercial projects typically need an engineer’s or architect’s stamp and follow the commercial packet, checklist and permit process sheet. Many need stormwater review under Ordinance 80 and an escrow account for water and sewer, stormwater, private road, traffic study and legal reviews; talk to the Zoning Administrator before submitting. The Planning Commission, which approves most special use permits and site plan reviews, meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. at the Township Hall; generally the first meeting each month takes applications.

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

What comes before the building permit

• Land use permit. Usually reviewed in 24 to 48 hours. Setbacks are measured from the furthest point of the structure, typically the roof overhang; sheds and pole barns in residential and agricultural districts may sit 10 feet from the rear line, and the Silver Lake waterfront setback is 50 feet from the ordinary high water mark.
• Soil erosion. Since Ordinance 78, Garfield issues its own soil erosion permits and took over permits the county had issued here; the residential packet still says to obtain them from the county.
• Well, septic and sewer. County Environmental Health for wells and septic, or a DPW permit for public water and sewer.
• Driveway and EGLE. A Road Commission or MDOT driveway permit, and any EGLE permit for work near water or wetlands.
• Short-term rentals. Renting a dwelling for less than 30 days is currently not allowed in Garfield.

Garfield Township permit costs and fees

Building fees still come from the schedule the Township Board approved on April 23, 2009 (effective May 1, 2009). Fees are computed from an estimated construction cost, using ICC square-foot cost data, multiplied by a fee factor; where the hourly time on a project at $50 an hour would be larger, the larger amount is charged. Zoning, land use and planning fees come from the schedule adopted June 23, 2026.

For items without a table cost, the schedule assigns values per square foot: $10 for crawl spaces and decks, $20 for covered porches and breezeways, and $30 for finished basements ($15 unfinished). Worked example: a 300-square-foot deck is valued at $3,000; at either fee factor the computed fee ($12.00 at 0.004 or $16.50 at 0.0055) is below the minimum, so the permit costs $135. Building permits expire one year after issue.

Trade permits and who may pull them

Electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits for Garfield addresses are issued and inspected by Grand Traverse County Construction Code, through its EPIC-GT portal or at 2650 LaFranier Road. Larger jobs need a county trade plan review first, at $75 per trade on two full-size sealed sets.

• Homeowners. The county lets an owner who lives in the home and does the work pull the trade permit; rental homes are treated as commercial work and need a licensed contractor.
• Contractors. The county checks each contractor’s state license number against the state database and has no local registration; residential builders and maintenance and alteration contractors are licensed by the state too, and the township’s building application asks for that license.
• Two inspection systems. Township building inspections are booked by phone with Garfield; county trade inspections are requested through the county, so each permit holder tracks both.

How to apply for a Garfield Township building permit

Review, corrections and what causes delay

An application is not complete until every required item is in; staff date-stamp and sign it only then, and an incomplete one is held for just seven days. Resubmittal fees may apply when plans come back, and second or third reviews are billed at $50 an hour. Commercial jobs often wait on stormwater review and escrow deposits.

Inspections in Garfield Township

Call 231-941-1620 to arrange a building inspection; the department does not accept inspection requests by email. Footings must reach 42 inches (24 inches in sandy, well-drained soil), and the department gives the local snow load as 60 pounds per square foot. Extra inspections and re-inspections after a failed one cost $50 an hour, as does an inspection for a temporary certificate of occupancy. Trade inspections are booked with the county.

• Soil erosion. Township inspection frequency depends on site priority, from twice a month on high-priority sites to closure checks on very-low-priority ones.
• Rental housing. A tenant can request a free inspection of an unsafe rental by written complaint; the owner pays $50 if violations are found.

Michigan building code

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

Garfield Township building permit FAQs

Do I need a building permit for a shed?

Not for a detached accessory structure under 200 square feet in a residential area (under 120 square feet in commercial areas). A shed of 100 square feet or more still needs a land use permit.

Do I need a permit to re-roof?

No, unless the job includes structural repairs such as new sheathing, trusses or rafters; no more than two layers of shingles are allowed.

Where do I get an electrical or plumbing permit?

From Grand Traverse County Construction Code, as Garfield’s Building page directs.

How much does a building permit for a new house cost?

The square-foot construction cost from the ICC table times the gross area times 0.004, with plan review included and a $135 minimum.

Who issues soil erosion permits here?

Garfield Township, under Ordinance 78 approved January 14, 2025. Permits are needed within 500 feet of surface water when more than 225 square feet is disturbed, and for any disturbance of an acre or more.

Does my deck need a permit?

Yes if it is over 200 square feet, more than 30 inches above grade at any point, attached to the house, or within 36 inches of a building and serving a door. Garfield posts a deck handout for these jobs.

Is there an inspection when I sell a house on a well or septic?

Grand Traverse County’s time-of-transfer rule, in force since January 2026, applies here too: a home whose well or septic system sits within 300 feet of surface water must have those systems evaluated before the sale closes.

Can I rent my house short-term?

Not for stays under 30 days in a residential dwelling; some districts allow bed and breakfasts, hotels and similar uses.

Garfield Township permit search and official resources

Garfield keeps its own building permit records, which the county’s permit search does not include; ask the Building Department, or file a request under the township’s FOIA page for copies. County trade permits since August 2020 are searchable in EPIC-GT.

• Garfield Township Building Department
• Building permit fee schedule (effective May 1, 2009)
• Residential building permit packet
• Commercial building permit packet
• Deck handout
• Swimming pool handout
• Zoning Department and land use permits
• Land use permit application
• Township fee schedule adopted June 23, 2026
• Soil erosion and sedimentation control program
• Soil erosion fee schedule
• Ordinance 78, soil erosion and sedimentation
• Ordinance 80, stormwater management
• Planning Commission
• Zoning Board of Appeals
• Freedom of Information Act requests
• Grand Traverse County Construction Code (trade permits)
• County time of transfer evaluations
• Bureau of Construction Codes Statewide Jurisdiction List

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