Kent County, Michigan Building Permit Guide

Kent County has 21 townships, five villages and nine cities, and the State’s jurisdiction list shows every one of them running its own building program. By the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimates the largest are Grand Rapids (201183), Wyoming (78588), Kentwood (54776) and Plainfield Charter Township (34770), which hands all its building services to Cascade Township.

This guide covers the four largest communities’ building offices and the county offices for road, soil erosion, well and septic permits.

What requires a building permit in Kent County?

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

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 Kent County?

The State’s Statewide Jurisdiction List (Bureau of Construction Codes) marks Kent County as NO COUNTY PROGRAM: the county has no building department, and each city, village or township listed as LOCAL runs its own program.

The cities are Cedar Springs, East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kentwood, Lowell, Rockford, Walker and Wyoming; the villages are Caledonia, Casnovia, Kent City, Sand Lake and Sparta.

Kent County offices and local rules

Grand Rapids

Applications go through the Citizen Access Application Portal, and contractors must register their State of Michigan license with the City to apply online.

Wyoming

Electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits can be applied for online through BSA. Most residential permits are issued in one to two weeks; for all but single-family houses, site plan review from the Planning Department comes first.

Kentwood

The Inspections Department does plan reviews, permits and inspections. Electrical, mechanical, plumbing and re-roof permits can be filed through BS&A; first-time BS&A users in Kentwood need a Web PIN from the office.

Plainfield Charter Township

Plainfield uses Cascade Township for all building services. Plainfield does a zoning review first, and Cascade issues the building permit only after it is approved; applications go through Cascade’s online portal or to Plainfield Township, 6161 Belmont Ave NE, Belmont. Plainfield does a final zoning inspection for new buildings before occupancy.

County road permits

Any work in the county road right-of-way, including driveways, needs a Kent County Road Commission permit: online, by email or at the Permit Department, 1900 4 Mile Road, Walker, 616-242-6920.

Soil erosion

The Kent County Road Commission enforces the state soil erosion program everywhere except the cities of Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Rockford and Walker. A KCRC permit is needed for earth disturbance within 500 feet of a lake or stream or of more than one acre. Grand Rapids (616-456-3127) and Kentwood (616-554-0737) run their own soil erosion programs.

Well and septic

The Kent County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division, 700 Fuller Avenue NE, Grand Rapids (616-632-6900), issues well and septic permits. A septic application needs a detailed site plan, plus floorplans for new construction; permits and site evaluations are valid for 2 years. MISS Dig marking is required before the site visit, a missed appointment may cost $75, and a $50 fee applies to applications cancelled before fieldwork.

Kent County permit costs and fees

Building fees are set by each community’s own program.

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 Kent 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 Kent County

Grand Rapids schedules online in morning (8:30 AM - 12:00 PM) or afternoon (12:30 PM - 3:00 PM) blocks, or by phone, and since January 30, 2025 its inspectors work under a No Live Work policy for electrical inspections. Wyoming needs at least 24 hours notice by phone. Kentwood takes calls 24 hours ahead, 7:30-9 a.m. or 3:30-4 p.m. Plainfield inspections are booked with Cascade Township.

Official Kent 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
• Grand Rapids Development Center
• Wyoming Building Inspections
• Kentwood Inspections
• Plainfield Township building services
• Kent County Road Commission permits
• Kent County Environmental Health

Frequently asked questions

Does Kent County issue building permits?

No. The State lists Kent as NO COUNTY PROGRAM; each city, village and township runs its own.

Who issues building permits in Plainfield Township?

Cascade Township, after Plainfield approves a zoning review.

When do I need a soil erosion permit in Kent County?

For earth disturbance within 500 feet of a lake or stream or over one acre; from the Road Commission except in Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Rockford and Walker.

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