Oakland County says it has 63 cities, villages and townships, and the State’s jurisdiction list shows each running its own building program. By the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimates the largest are Troy (88733), Farmington Hills (83291), Rochester Hills (77539) and Southfield (76111), and each schedules inspections differently.
This guide covers the four largest cities’ building offices and the county offices for septic, well, road and soil erosion permits.
What requires a building permit in Oakland County?
The Michigan construction code applies statewide; what differs inside Oakland 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 Oakland County?
The State’s Statewide Jurisdiction List (Bureau of Construction Codes) marks Oakland County as NO COUNTY PROGRAM: the county has no building department, and each city, village or township listed as LOCAL runs its own program.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Community | Building office | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Troy | Building Department, City Hall, 500 W. Big Beaver Rd | 248.524.3344; 8 am - 4:30 pm Monday-Friday |
| Farmington Hills | Building Division, 31555 W. Eleven Mile Road | 248-871-2450 |
| Rochester Hills | Building, Ordinance & Facilities, City Hall, 1000 Rochester Hills Dr. | 248-656-4615; Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm |
| Southfield | Building Department, 26000 Evergreen Road | (248) 796-4100; Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. |
Oakland County offices and local rules
Troy
The department is paperless and accepts only electronic plans, with applications on BSAonline.com. A Permit Board at least 24 x 36 inches must be posted at every jobsite or inspectors will cancel inspections.
Farmington Hills
Permits go through BS&A Online; contractors must register and be linked by the City, and homeowners must attach a signed and notarized Homeowner Affidavit to each application.
Rochester Hills
Permits and fees can be submitted online.
Southfield
Applications and inspection requests are made on bsaonline.com; in-person payments are not accepted after 4pm.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Septic and wells
The Oakland County Health Division, 1200 N Telegraph, Bldg. 34 East, Pontiac (248-858-1280, Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm), issues septic and well permits; septic permits can be applied for through its Citizen Access Portal, and a new residential septic permit on vacant land is $325.
County roads
The Road Commission for Oakland County issues permits for driveway approaches and utility connections in its right-of-way, with 3 sets of plans per application; questions to (248) 858-4835.
Soil erosion
The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner is the county soil erosion agency (One Public Works Drive, Waterford, 248-858-4939). Farmington Hills, Southfield and Troy handle their own soil erosion permits.
Oakland County permit costs and fees
Building fees are set by each community. Farmington Hills (effective July 1, 2023) charges $100.00 for the first $1,000 of valuation, $9.00 per thousand from $1,001 to $50,000 and $8.00 per thousand from $50,001; single-family plan review is $590.00, and work started before a permit is charged twice the normal fee.
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
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to get a building permit in Oakland County
Each of the 63 communities runs its own.
Septic and well from the Health Division, driveway approaches from the Road Commission, soil erosion from the county or the city.
Farmington Hills links contractors to its account; homeowners file a notarized affidavit.
Troy accepts only electronic plans.
Troy requires a 24 x 36 inch Permit Board on site.
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 Oakland County
Troy takes requests on 248.689.5744 or BS&A Online from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm; later requests are reviewed the next business day. Farmington Hills accepts requests only through its digital form; the old phone line, 248-871-2460, is de-activated. Rochester Hills schedules only online, and requests verified before 3:00 pm are scheduled for the next business day between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. Southfield takes requests on bsaonline.com.
Rather not deal with the Oakland County building department?
Get a free quote →Official Oakland 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
- Oakland County local communities
- Troy Building Department
- Farmington Hills Building Division
- Rochester Hills Building
- Southfield Building Department
- Oakland County Environmental Health
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Does Oakland County issue building permits?
No. The State lists Oakland as NO COUNTY PROGRAM; each city, village and township runs its own.
Can I phone in an inspection in Farmington Hills?
No. The old line, 248-871-2460, is de-activated; requests go through the City’s digital form.
What does a septic permit cost in Oakland County?
A new residential septic permit on vacant land is $325 from the Oakland County Health Division.
Simplify Oakland County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →- 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.
Ready to break ground in Oakland County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Oakland County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Michigan permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Oakland County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.