Administrative overview · FIPS 26007
Alpena County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
Municipal Fallback
This profile identifies a handoff outside the county’s ordinary structural permitting lane.
Required jurisdiction check
Confirm the controlling local or state authority before filing.
The record is marked Municipal Fallback. That means the county profile should be treated as a routing brief: incorporated municipalities, a state building department, or a state fire marshal may control plan review, permits, and inspections. Contact the named agency below and verify the parcel’s jurisdiction before paying a fee or scheduling field work.
Responsible agency
Municipal building departments in Alpena County; representative authority: Charter Township of Alpena Building Department
For a project in or near Alpena County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
989-356-0297 ext. 4; Building Official Kevin Pauly 989-766-3020
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
4385 US 23 North, Alpena, MI 49707
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. for the representative Charter Township of Alpena office; other county municipalities may differ.
Review expectation
N/A; no countywide or representative township review timeline is published.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Alpena County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
This record is marked Municipal Fallback. Confirm whether a city, state agency, or other local authority controls the parcel before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 989-356-0297 ext. 4; Building Official Kevin Pauly 989-766-3020.
How long might review take?
N/A; no countywide or representative township review timeline is published.
How are inspections scheduled?
The representative township application makes the applicant responsible for calling for every required inspection, including final occupancy, and for obtaining other required permits. Contact the Building Department at 989-356-0297 ext. 4; electrical inspector Andy Roznowski is listed at 989-590-9404, and mechanical/plumbing inspector Bruce Tillinger at 989-464-0985. The City of Alpena application advises 24-48 hours' advance notice for most inspections; timing may vary by municipality.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Current Michigan codes identified by LARA for 2026: 2021 Michigan Building Code (effective April 9, 2025); 2015 Michigan Residential Code (current code, effective February 8, 2016, with later 2021 residential rules held by court order); 2021 Michigan Rehabilitation Code; 2021 Michigan Mechanical Code; 2021 Michigan Plumbing Code; 2023 National Electrical Code/Michigan Electrical Code (effective March 12, 2024); and 2021 Michigan Commercial Energy Code (effective April 22, 2025). The representative township's application still labels the building code as 2015, so applicants should confirm the code edition applied to the permit with the local building official. Michigan code exemptions include one-story detached tool/storage sheds or playhouses up to 120 square feet, fences up to 7 feet, retaining walls up to 4 feet unless supporting a surcharge or impounding regulated liquids, grade-level water tanks up to 5,000 gallons, certain low sidewalks and driveways, painting/papering/tiling/carpeting/cabinets/countertops and similar finish work, qualifying above-ground pools under 24 inches deep, agricultural shade-cloth structures, playground equipment, qualifying window awnings, and specified movable fixtures. Ordinary repairs also remain exempt when they do not affect structural supports, egress, regulated systems, public health or general safety. Local zoning and trade-permit rules still apply.