Wayne County, Michigan Building Permit Guide

By the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimates Wayne County has 1769038 residents; the largest units are Detroit city (649095), Dearborn city (105611), Canton charter township (99714) and Livonia city (92603). The State’s Statewide Jurisdiction List (Rev. 10/6/2026) shows WAYNE NO COUNTY PROGRAM, and every city, village and township in the county is LOCAL for building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing.

This guide covers which office issues building permits in Wayne County and the County permits for roads, drains, sewers, soil erosion, wells and septic systems.

What requires a building permit in Wayne County?

The Michigan construction code applies statewide; what differs inside Wayne 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 Wayne County?

No Wayne unit is STATE or COUNTY: there is no county building department and no State-served unit. Each community’s own building department issues permits — for example the City of Detroit, Dearborn, Livonia, Westland and Canton Township.

Wayne County permits for roads, drains and sewers

Roads, County property and drain easements

Work in a county road right-of-way, on County property or in a County drain easement (driveway approaches, sidewalks, utility and sewer lines, grading) needs a construction permit from the Wayne County DPS Permit Office, 33809 Michigan Avenue, Wayne, MI 48184, (734) 858-2774. The application needs the Wayne County Permit Application, at least three sets of plans, the commercial or residential plan checklist and payment of plan review costs.

Drains, sewers and storm water

Crossing, modifying or discharging storm water to a County drain, or connecting to a County sanitary interceptor sewer, needs a permit from the DPS Permit Office and must follow the Wayne County Storm Water Management Ordinance. New development storm water is regulated by the Wayne County Stormwater Control Ordinance (Enrolled Ordinance No. 2021-526a) and its Administrative Rules (Resolution No. 2021-526b).

Soil erosion

Wayne County is the soil erosion County Enforcing Agency for 35 communities: any earth change over one acre or within 500 feet of surface waters needs a Wayne County SESC permit before any earthwork. Apply online, then drop off 3 sets of plans and the plan review fee; (734) 326-3936. Belleville, Dearborn, Livonia, Southgate, Taylor, Trenton and Wyandotte are their own Municipal Enforcing Agencies, so apply to that city’s building department there. For Westland the sources conflict: the State’s Part 91 agency list shows Westland as its own agency, while the County’s page lists Westland among the communities it covers, so confirm with both.

Septic and wells

The Wayne County public health Environmental Health Section permits and inspects onsite sewage systems, including a drainfield excavation inspection before any sand or stone is placed. Outside Detroit, a Time of Sale ordinance requires a working septic system before a home with one can be sold. Contact: 33030 Van Born Road, Wayne, MI 48184, (734) 727-7400, Mon-Fri 8:30AM-4:30PM (closed 11:30AM-12:30PM); field staff are in the office M-F 8:00AM-10:30AM; wellseptic@waynecountymi.gov. In Livonia, wells also fall under the City’s Well Ordinance.

Wayne County permit costs and fees

Building fees are set by each community’s own program. For a County sanitary sewer connection (Sewer Use Permit), plan review costs $500 plus $50 per 100 lineal feet of sewer, and a flow analysis, if required, is $600; submittals go to the DPS Environmental Services Division, 3600 Commerce Court, Building E, Wayne, (734) 326-5591.

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 Wayne 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

Official Wayne 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
• Wayne County construction permits
• Environmental Services permits
• Soil erosion and sedimentation control
• Septic / onsite sewage
• Water well permits
• EGLE soil erosion (Part 91) agencies

Frequently asked questions

Does Wayne County issue building permits?

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

When do I need a Wayne County soil erosion permit?

For an earth change over one acre or within 500 feet of surface waters, in the 35 communities the County covers.

Who permits a driveway approach on a county road?

The Wayne County DPS Permit Office, (734) 858-2774.

Simplify Wayne County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm the parcel’s local building department from the State Jurisdiction List
• Line up County right-of-way, drain, sewer and soil erosion permits before the building permit
• Coordinate well and septic permits with the Environmental Health Section

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