In Washtenaw County — home to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan — every address lies in a city, village or township, and each of them has an enforcing agency for the state code. Washtenaw County Building Inspection enforces the building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing codes for the City of Dexter and Augusta, Lodi, Saline, Scio, Sharon and Webster townships. Every other city, village and township in the county — the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, and Pittsfield and Ypsilanti townships, among them — runs its own program, and no Washtenaw community relies on the State Bureau of Construction Codes.
This guide covers what requires a permit, the Michigan permit process, fees, trade permits, and inspections — so your Washtenaw County project stays on track.
Washtenaw County — home to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan, seat Ann Arbor — contains a mix of cities, villages, and townships, with no unincorporated land outside them. Washtenaw County Building Inspection, 705 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor (734-222-3900), issues building and trade permits for the City of Dexter and Augusta, Lodi, Saline, Scio, Sharon and Webster townships. Bridgewater, Freedom and Manchester townships and the City of Manchester use the Western Washtenaw Construction Authority (912 City Road, Manchester; 734-428-7001), and the other cities, villages and townships each run their own building department. Confirm which department governs a specific address through the BCC jurisdiction list before you file.
Michigan enforces a single statewide construction code set by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC), under the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act (Public Act 230 of 1972). Michigan’s defining feature is its enforcing-agency model: a city, village, township, or county may assume administration and enforcement of the state code as the local enforcing agency — running plan review, permits, and inspections — and where no local agency has assumed that role, the State BCC is the enforcing agency and issues permits and inspects directly. The BCC keeps a statewide jurisdiction list so you can confirm which agency governs a specific address. Commercial, industrial, and multi-family buildings follow the Michigan Building Code (MBC); one- and two-family dwellings follow the Michigan Residential Code (MRC). As of 2026 the MBC is based on the 2021 IBC (a 2024 edition is in active rulemaking), while the MRC remains on the 2015 IRC pending the state’s residential update — so Michigan runs its commercial and residential cycles on different editions. The Michigan Mechanical Code (2021 IMC) and Michigan Plumbing Code (2021 IPC) took effect in March 2024, and the Michigan Electrical Code adopts the 2023 NEC (effective March 12, 2024). Local enforcing agencies enforce the state code as written: they set their own fees and procedures but cannot change the code.
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Get a free quote →What requires a building permit in Washtenaw County?
Under the Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code, a permit is required for most construction activities:
Permit required
- New residential and commercial construction, additions, and conversions
- Structural and load-bearing alterations
- Reroofing, siding, windows, doors, decks, porches, and ramps
- Finishing basements and attics
- Electrical service changes and most wiring work
- HVAC installations, changeouts, and ductwork
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Detached garages, sheds above the state size limit, pools, and signs
Ordinary repair / minor work
- Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, and cabinet installation
- Minor repairs and finish work that replace materials in kind
- Gutters and downspouts (in many jurisdictions)
- Fences up to 7 ft (zoning may still need a permit), and one-story sheds up to 200 sq ft next to a house (120 sq ft under the commercial code)
Thresholds vary by enforcing agency. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Building without a permit in Washtenaw County can result in penalties, stop-work orders, and (in many jurisdictions) doubled fees or mandatory correction.
Who handles permitting in Washtenaw County?
Building permits in Washtenaw County are handled by the enforcing agency for the city, village or township. Washtenaw County Building Inspection is that agency for the City of Dexter and Augusta, Lodi, Saline, Scio, Sharon and Webster townships, for building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work alike, and takes applications through its online Citizen Self Service portal; every other community, including the Western Washtenaw Construction Authority members, runs its own program. Each enforcing agency reviews plans, issues permits, and inspects work for the MBC (commercial/multi-family) or MRC (one- and two-family). Township zoning approval is handled separately and must be confirmed before a permit issues.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Washtenaw County Building Inspection, 705 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 · (734) 222-3900 — for the City of Dexter and Augusta, Lodi, Saline, Scio, Sharon and Webster townships; elsewhere the city, village or township building department (or the Western Washtenaw Construction Authority) |
| Apply | MBC / MRC permit application — file with the enforcing agency (online portal where adopted) |
| Government | Washtenaw County, Michigan — county enforcement in seven communities; local enforcement elsewhere |
| Code authority | LARA Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC) — single statewide code |
| Licensing | State Residential Builder / M&A license (residential jobs of $600 or more); separate LARA electrical, plumbing & mechanical licenses |
| Code | 2021 MBC (commercial) & 2015 MRC (residential), 2023 NEC, 2021 IMC/IPC |
Apply on the MBC / MRC forms. Complete the building permit application with construction documents, confirm zoning approval, verify your Residential Builder / M&A license and trade-contractor licenses are current, pay fees, and post the permit on site before work begins.
Washtenaw County building permit cost
Michigan permit fees are set by each enforcing agency’s adopted fee schedule — typically by valuation or square footage. In the seven county-served communities the Washtenaw County Building Inspection schedule applies; elsewhere the local department’s schedule does. Plan-review fees are generally due at submission.
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Plan review fee | By valuation or square footage, set by the enforcing agency’s adopted fee schedule; generally due at submission |
| Building permit fee | Set by the enforcing agency — Washtenaw County Building Inspection for its seven communities, otherwise the local department |
| Trade permit fees | Separate electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permit fees by device, fixture, or unit |
| Plan-review surcharge | Some agencies add a plan-review or technology surcharge to the base permit fee |
| Certificate of Occupancy | Separate CO fee where applicable |
| Work without a permit | Penalties, stop-work orders, and (in many jurisdictions) doubled or investigation fees |
Want a precise number for a specific Washtenaw County project? Send us the scope and valuation and we’ll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Washtenaw County trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work each needs its own permit and an appropriately licensed contractor.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, EV chargers, and most wiring alterations. Work is inspected against the 2023 Michigan Electrical Code — the 2023 NEC with Michigan Part 8 amendments. Electrical contractors and master/journeyman electricians are licensed by LARA’s Bureau of Construction Codes.
Plumbing & gas permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water-heater changeouts, fixtures, backflow, and sewer/gas connections. Work is inspected against the Michigan Plumbing Code (2021 IPC-based, Part 7, effective March 2024). Plumbing contractors and master/journeyman plumbers are licensed by LARA’s Bureau of Construction Codes.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC installations, changeouts, ductwork, and venting. Work is inspected against the Michigan Mechanical Code (2021 IMC, Part 9A). Mechanical contractors are licensed across HVAC classifications by LARA’s Bureau of Construction Codes.
Rather not deal with the Washtenaw County building department?
Get a free quote →On detached one- and two-family houses and townhouses, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work follows the 2015 Michigan Residential Code rather than the electrical, plumbing and mechanical codes above.
Fire protection & specialty
Sprinkler, standpipe, and fire-alarm work falls under the MBC fire-protection provisions and is coordinated with the Bureau of Fire Services / State Fire Marshal where applicable; appropriately licensed contractors are required. Pools, demolition, signs, and elevators follow separate MBC tracks.
Verify contractor licensing before you sign. Michigan licenses residential work at the state level: anyone who contracts to build, alter, repair, or improve a residential structure on a project worth $600 or more (combined labor and materials) must hold a LARA Residential Builder license or a Maintenance & Alteration (M&A) Contractor license (Michigan Occupational Code, Article 24; MCL 339.2403). Michigan has no statewide commercial general-contractor license — commercial GC requirements are set locally, and cities such as Detroit and Grand Rapids require their own registration. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work is licensed separately by LARA’s Bureau of Construction Codes; a Residential Builder or M&A license does not authorize electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work — those trades require their own licensed contractors. Confirm the state Residential Builder / M&A license and any local commercial registration before work begins.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →How to get a building permit in Washtenaw County
Confirm the enforcing agency & zoning
Identify which agency governs the address — Washtenaw County Building Inspection (City of Dexter and Augusta, Lodi, Saline, Scio, Sharon and Webster townships), the Western Washtenaw Construction Authority, or the community’s own department — using the BCC jurisdiction list. Confirm township zoning approval and determine whether the MBC or MRC governs.
Prepare your application package
Assemble the building permit application with construction documents — drawings sealed by a Michigan-licensed architect or engineer where required — plus scope, valuation, zoning approval, and your Residential Builder / M&A and trade-license numbers.
Submit to the enforcing agency
File with the enforcing agency — for the county-served communities, through Washtenaw County’s Citizen Self Service portal, with separate applications for electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits — and pay the plan-review fee at submission.
Plan review & corrections
Plan reviewers check for code compliance and issue comments or an approval. Address any corrections and resubmit; approval is required before a permit issues.
Permit issuance & fees
Once plans are approved, zoning is satisfied, and fees are paid, the permit is issued. Post it on site. A permit generally becomes invalid if work is not started within 180 days or is abandoned for 180 days, so schedule your start promptly.
Inspections & Certificate of Occupancy
Schedule the required inspections (foundation, framing, rough-in electrical/plumbing/mechanical, energy, and final) with the enforcing agency. A Certificate of Occupancy is required before legal occupancy of new or changed-use space.
Inspections in Washtenaw County
Schedule inspections through the enforcing agency for the address (Washtenaw County Building Inspection in its seven communities). Standard checkpoints include foundation, framing, rough-in electrical/plumbing/mechanical, insulation/energy, and final. A Certificate of Occupancy is required before legal occupancy of new or changed-use space.
Address correction notices before requesting a re-inspection; a final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy are required before legal occupancy or use.
Official Washtenaw County permitting resources
- 🏛️ LARA Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC)
- 📍 BCC — Find the enforcing agency for your address
- 🪪 LARA — Residential Builder / M&A licensing & verification
- 📝 Michigan Construction Code Act (PA 230 of 1972)
- 📄 Washtenaw County — official municipal site
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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Washtenaw County’s permitting process and Michigan’s enforcing-agency system reward applicants who prepare complete packages, confirm the right agency, and clear zoning from the start. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Washtenaw County — our permit expediting services in Michigan pair AI-driven document review with experts who know the Michigan process, so your Washtenaw County submissions move faster.
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Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Washtenaw County because we deliver:
- Local expertise — we know the Washtenaw County enforcing agency, Michigan’s BCC enforcing-agency process, and the state’s Residential Builder / M&A and trade-licensing requirements.
- Complete oversight — track every permit and inspection across all your jobs in one place.
- Complete submissions — AI pre-checks plus expert review catch issues before they become correction cycles.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the enforcing agency through issuance. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
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More Michigan permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the enforcing agency (or the Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes) before filing. This is not legal advice.