Lapeer County, Michigan Building Permit Guide

The state’s Statewide Jurisdiction List marks Lapeer County NO COUNTY PROGRAM: the county issues no building permits, and every city, village and township except Otter Lake enforces the code locally. Most of them do it through the Construction Code Authority (CCA), a public body founded by Lapeer County communities in 1980, at 1075 Suncrest Drive, Suite A, Lapeer (810-667-0420). The City of Lapeer runs its own building department, and the county itself handles soil erosion, septic and well permits through its Environmental Health office.

What requires a building permit in Lapeer County?

The state code decides what needs a permit, and each local agency applies it. In CCA communities the fee schedule shows the usual jobs: new conventional and pre-manufactured homes, additions, remodeling, garages, pole buildings and sheds over 200 square feet, decks, porches, awnings and carports, above-ground and in-ground pools, and demolition. Electrical, mechanical and plumbing work need their own permits.

In CCA communities a shed of 200 square feet or less needs only a $42 zoning permit and no inspections. CCA also charges $81 for a pond permit in its member units.

What the county decides and what the state holds

The construction code belongs to the state and no local unit can change it. Lapeer County chose not to run a building program, so each city, village and township decided for itself: most joined the Construction Code Authority, some run their own offices, and the Village of Otter Lake is served by the state Bureau of Construction Codes. Zoning is set by each township, city and village. The county’s permit role is environmental: soil erosion, septic systems and wells, and drains through the Drain Commissioner.

Lapeer County building department: who handles permitting

CCA is not a county department. Several Lapeer County cities and townships created it in 1980 under an inter-local agreement under the Urban Cooperation Act; it became a nonprofit owned by its member municipalities in 1983, with a five-member board, and a governmental entity in 1998. It is funded entirely by user fees. Its Building Code Official is Lonnie Hayes.

CCA’s office is at 1075 Suncrest Drive, Suite A, Lapeer, MI 48446 (810-667-0420, fax 810-667-2952), open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday and Friday from 7 to 11:30 a.m. CCA also serves Lynn Township, which is in St. Clair County. A sliver of Brown City (three residents) lies in Lapeer County; the state lists Brown City under Sanilac County, served by that county’s program. To confirm which unit a parcel is in, call Lapeer County Equalization, 255 Clay Street (810-667-0239).

Lapeer County permit types

CCA uses one building permit application for residential and commercial work, separate electrical, mechanical and plumbing applications (residential trade permits can also be filed online), an address application, a 2026 gas piping affidavit and an energy calculation checklist. Applications can be mailed, faxed or emailed to the office, or delivered.

Residential permits

• Houses and additions: two complete sets of drawings to scale with floor plans of every level, all elevations, a wall cross section, foundation and footing details with backfill, roof and floor truss prints, any I-joist span chart, energy calculations and a plot plan (the health department’s approved septic site plan can serve).
• Garages, decks and sheds: footing and post details, wall section, truss print, joist sizing, deck attachment to the house, guard height and spacing and stair details.
• Paperwork: a site or mortgage survey and proof of ownership (land contract, warranty deed, tax receipt or property transfer affidavit).
• Address: from CCA or the governing municipality, posted before any inspection.

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

Commercial permits

Commercial work uses the same CCA building application plus a plan review application, and CCA publishes a separate commercial building fee schedule and commercial trade applications. In the City of Lapeer, the Building Department lists the requirements for commercial, residential, multi-family and industrial permits and asks for applications through BS&A Online.

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

What comes before the building permit

• Driveway or culvert: a Lapeer County Road Commission permit (810-664-6272) or the local municipality for local streets; MDOT’s Davison office (810-653-7470) for state highways.
• Septic and well: County Environmental Health, 1800 Imlay City Road, Lapeer (810-667-0392; open 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m.), or a sewer and water tap release where public utilities exist.
• County drains: the Drain Commissioner (810-667-0371) maintains county drains and their recorded easements; owners can petition for drain work, and properties inside a drainage district pay special assessments for it.
• Soil erosion: County Environmental Health administers the state soil erosion law under the county ordinance, with residential and commercial applications.
• Zoning: from CCA in most member units, except Rich Township and the units that keep zoning themselves.
• Stake and driveway inspections: required by township ordinance in Deerfield, Elba and Lapeer townships (stake) and Arcadia, Attica, Elba and Lapeer townships (driveway).

Lapeer County permit costs and fees

Fees depend on the agency. CCA’s residential schedule was adopted April 30, 2008, effective July 1, 2008, and last revised August 26, 2020; each job has a flat building fee covering its listed inspections, a zoning fee and, for houses and additions, a plan review fee.

Worked example from the schedule: a new conventional house on a basement in a CCA community where CCA handles zoning costs $486 + $42 + $81, or $609, plus $81 for any extra inspection that applies and the separate trade permits. Card payments carry a 3.5% surcharge.

Trade permits and who may pull them

In most CCA communities the authority issues electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits too; the exceptions are Burnside Township, which handles electrical permits at its township hall, and Imlay Township, where CCA issues only plumbing and mechanical permits. CCA verifies each contractor’s state license once a year for a $15 administrative fee. Electrical, mechanical and plumbing inspections are made on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

• Electrical: the utility requires a service release before power is connected; if it is not combined with the rough electrical inspection it counts as an extra inspection.
• Plumbing: sub-soil and underground plumbing is inspected under the plumbing permit before it is covered, with the water or air test ready at rough-in.
• Mechanical: ductwork is inspected before it is covered, and a gas piping affidavit form is part of the 2026 packet.
• City of Lapeer: issues its own trade permits and posts a homeowner permit policy with its forms.

How to get a building permit in Lapeer County

Review, corrections and what causes delay

CCA says the time it needs to review the application, plans and zoning varies by project and time of year, and asks applicants to check at submittal. Work started without a permit is red-tagged and charged a $100 administrative fee. CCA’s sheet lists the zoning permit and the address among the items needed for a building permit, so in Rich Township and the other units that keep zoning or addresses themselves, get those approvals first.

Inspections in Lapeer County

CCA books inspections on its 24-hour scheduling hotline, 810-664-0981, which is for scheduling only; to cancel, or to book with a clerk, call the office at 810-667-0420. Building and rental inspections run Monday to Friday; electrical, mechanical and plumbing on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. The address must be posted before any inspection.

• Footings: when trenches are dug or formed, before concrete; a separate garage footing inspection costs extra.
• Floor joist, visqueen and backfill: before decking, before the floor is poured, and after waterproofing and drains are in and covered with stone.
• Rough and insulation: trade roughs first, then the building rough before drywall, then insulation for energy code compliance.
• Brick or cultured stone and final: base course, flashing and weep holes, then the final when the building is ready for occupancy.

CCA also publishes temporary occupancy conditions for single-family homes. Each re-inspection is $81. The office is closed on major holidays, including Thursday and Friday, November 26 and 27, 2026, for Thanksgiving.

Michigan building code in Lapeer County

Lapeer County has no county enforcing agency; the local units enforce the state code, mostly through CCA, and the state enforces it in Otter Lake. No Michigan county is a National Flood Insurance Program community: each city, village and township joins on its own, so ask the local unit about flood maps for a parcel near a river or lake.

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

Lapeer County permit search and official resources

For CCA permit records, use the FOIA request form on CCA’s forms page or call the office; City of Lapeer permits can be looked up in BS&A Online. Well and septic records are requested from County Environmental Health with its records request form.

• Construction Code Authority
• CCA participating jurisdictions
• CCA permit applications and forms
• CCA residential building fee schedule
• CCA commercial building fee schedule
• CCA building permit guideline sheet
• CCA board and minutes
• City of Lapeer building department forms
• Lapeer County Environmental Health
• Lapeer County soil erosion permits
• Lapeer County Drain Commissioner
• Lapeer County Equalization
• Michigan Statewide Jurisdiction List

Lapeer County building permit FAQs

Does Lapeer County issue building permits?

No. The state lists Lapeer as having no county program; each city, village and township chooses its own agency, most often the Construction Code Authority.

What does CCA charge for a new house?

On a basement, $486 plus $42 zoning and $81 plan review, or $609 before trade permits; on a crawl space, $405 plus the same zoning and plan review fees.

Who issues permits in the City of Lapeer?

The city’s own Building Department, through BS&A Online; City Hall is at 576 Liberty Park (810-664-2902).

Who handles soil erosion permits?

Lapeer County Environmental Health, which also issues septic and well permits (810-667-0392).

How do I schedule a CCA inspection?

Call the 24-hour hotline, 810-664-0981; cancel through the office at 810-667-0420.

Does a small shed need a permit?

In CCA communities a shed of 200 square feet or less needs only a $42 zoning permit, with no inspections.

Is the Construction Code Authority a private company?

No. Lapeer County communities founded it in 1980 under an inter-local agreement, and it has been a governmental entity since 1998, run by a five-member board and funded by user fees, including permit fees.

Who issues permits in Otter Lake?

The state Bureau of Construction Codes, for all four codes, according to the state list.

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