Ingham County, Michigan Building Permit Guide

The State’s jurisdiction list shows NO COUNTY PROGRAM for Ingham County; each city, village and township is LOCAL or STATE for each code. By the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimates the largest are the Ingham parts of Lansing (108771) and East Lansing (46904), Meridian Charter Township (44869) and Delhi Charter Township (28431).

This guide covers the four largest communities, the State-run areas and the county well, septic and soil erosion permits.

What requires a building permit in Ingham County?

The Michigan construction code applies statewide; what differs inside Ingham County is which office enforces it for the parcel and what it adds locally.

Delhi Charter Township, for example, exempts accessory structures under 200 square feet and a second-layer re-roof; a tear-off needs a permit.

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

Who handles permitting in Ingham County?

The State list names the cities of East Lansing, Lansing, Leslie, Mason and Williamston; the villages of Dansville, Stockbridge and Webberville; and the townships of Alaiedon, Aurelius, Bunkerhill, Delhi, Ingham, Lansing, Leroy, Leslie, Locke, Meridian, Onondaga, Stockbridge, Vevay, Wheatfield, White Oak and Williamstown.

State-run areas: the Village of Dansville and the townships of Ingham and Wheatfield are STATE for all four codes; Mason and the townships of Alaiedon, Leroy, Vevay and Williamstown are LOCAL for building but STATE for electrical, mechanical and plumbing; White Oak Township is STATE for electrical only.

Where the State list marks a trade STATE, those permits and inspections come from the Bureau of Construction Codes (LARA/BCC), 2407 N. Grand River Avenue, Lansing, open Monday thru Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Ingham County offices and local rules

East Lansing

Permits are applied for online through BS&A. Small projects typically take one to five business days to process and large projects five to 15 business days.

Meridian Charter Township

The residential checklist asks for two sets of prints, a site plan, a township water and sewer permit, Ingham County well and septic and driveway permits, and a soil erosion permit, among other items.

Delhi Charter Township

Excavation needs a soil erosion permit or waiver from the township Community Development Department.

Well and septic

The Ingham County Health Department’s Environmental Health division, 5303 S. Cedar Street, Lansing (517-887-4312), charges $495.00 for a well permit, $1,000.00 for a septic permit with drain field, $455.00 for a septic tank only and $1,355.00 for combined well and septic.

Soil erosion

The Ingham County Drain Commissioner, 707 Buhl Avenue, Mason (517-676-8395), issues soil erosion permits except where a municipal agency enforces: Delhi Charter Township, East Lansing, the Lansing Public Service Department and Lansing Township.

Ingham County permit costs and fees

Building fees are set by each community, and State fees apply in the State-run areas. County well and septic fees are listed above.

Fees are set by the enforcing agency — the local unit, a county program or the state — and may only fund that agency's work. Michigan rules

How to get a building permit in Ingham County

A Michigan permit lapses if work does not start within 180 days or stops for 180 days; confirm the expiry with the local building office on phased or delayed work. Michigan rules

Inspections in Ingham County

East Lansing homeowners and contractors can schedule inspections online. Meridian’s Building Division does the township’s building inspections and oversees the trade permits.

Official Ingham County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Michigan Statewide Jurisdiction List
• East Lansing permits
• Meridian Township Community Planning and Development
• Delhi Township building permits
• Ingham County well and septic
• Ingham County soil erosion

Frequently asked questions

Does Ingham County issue building permits?

No. The State lists Ingham as NO COUNTY PROGRAM; each community runs its own, and the State runs Dansville, Ingham and Wheatfield.

What does a septic permit cost in Ingham County?

$1,000.00 for a new or repair septic with drain field, or $1,355.00 combined with a well permit.

How long does East Lansing take to issue a permit?

Small projects typically one to five business days, large projects five to 15 business days.

Simplify Ingham County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm from the State Jurisdiction List which local or county program has the parcel
• Line up road commission, soil erosion and health department permits before the building permit
• File in the right BS&A or portal account and schedule inspections against each office’s cut-off

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 Ingham County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.