Administrative overview · FIPS 26051
Gladwin 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
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Gladwin County Construction Codes Department
For a project in or near Gladwin 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
989-426-5931 (building, mechanical, plumbing, plan review, and clerk); 989-426-4961 (electrical inspector)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Gladwin County Annex Building, 555 West Cedar Avenue, Suite C, Gladwin, MI 48624
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM; the county notes that some offices close from 12:00 PM-1:00 PM for lunch.
Review expectation
N/A; the county publishes a $50-per-hour plan-review rate with a one-hour minimum for commercial projects or residential projects over 3,500 square feet, but no standard review turnaround. Permits are valid for 18 months; extensions cost $50 and add six months.
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 Gladwin County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Gladwin County Construction Codes Department is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area 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 989-426-5931 (building, mechanical, plumbing, plan review, and clerk); 989-426-4961 (electrical inspector).
How long might review take?
N/A; the county publishes a $50-per-hour plan-review rate with a one-hour minimum for commercial projects or residential projects over 3,500 square feet, but no standard review turnaround. Permits are valid for 18 months; extensions cost $50 and add six months.
How are inspections scheduled?
Call the Construction Codes Department at 989-426-5931 to arrange building, mechanical, or plumbing inspections and to confirm the required permit-specific inspection sequence. The official electrical permit states that electrical inspections are performed Tuesdays and Thursdays; the plumbing permit also states inspections are available Tuesdays and Thursdays. Work must remain accessible until inspected. No standard online scheduling link or published inspection lead time was found.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Gladwin County states that it enforces Michigan state construction codes. Its current electrical permit identifies the 2015 Michigan Residential Code and 2023 National Electrical Code; Michigan's current published commercial codes are the 2021 Michigan Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Rehabilitation, and Commercial Energy Codes, with the 2015 Michigan Residential Code remaining in effect for residential work while the 2021 residential update is enjoined. The county's zoning ordinance says no zoning permit is required for a fence unless the ordinance specifically provides otherwise; this does not waive any building or trade permit. For plan review, the plumbing application lists one- and two-family dwellings up to 3,500 square feet, minor alteration or repair work as determined by the plumbing official, buildings with fewer than 12 required plumbing fixtures, and governmental/state work under $15,000 as cases where plans are not required. Ordinary-repair and other building-permit exemptions must be confirmed with the Construction Codes Department.