Administrative overview · FIPS 26089
Leelanau 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
Leelanau County Department of Building Safety
For a project in or near Leelanau 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
231-256-9806; fax 231-256-8333
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Leelanau County Department of Building Safety, 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suite 109, Suttons Bay, MI 49682
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Review expectation
N/A; the county publishes application requirements and inspection notice rules but no standard plan-review timeline
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 Leelanau County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Leelanau County Department of Building Safety 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 231-256-9806; fax 231-256-8333.
How long might review take?
N/A; the county publishes application requirements and inspection notice rules but no standard plan-review timeline
How are inspections scheduled?
Call 231-256-9806 at least 24 hours before the inspection. Required stages include open footings, foundations before backfill, underground piping/ducts before covering, rough frame after rough trades and before insulation, and final building after plumbing, heating, and electrical approvals. A Certificate of Occupancy is required before occupancy, and the permit/address must be posted before construction.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Leelanau County Building Safety reviews and issues building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits under the current Michigan Construction Code. Current Michigan codes include the 2021 Michigan Building Code and 2021 Michigan Rehabilitation Code (effective April 9, 2025), 2015 Michigan Residential Code, 2021 Michigan Mechanical and Plumbing Codes (effective March 12, 2024), 2021 Michigan Commercial Energy Code (effective April 22, 2025), and 2023 Michigan Electrical Code/NEC (effective March 12, 2024). Land-use permits remain the responsibility of the applicable township or village. The county's materials defer ordinary building-permit exemptions to the Michigan code, including ordinary repairs that do not affect structural members, required egress, regulated plumbing, electrical, mechanical, or public-safety systems. One township ordinance cited in the county materials exempts an accessory structure of 100 square feet or less unless it is on a permanent foundation; verify the local zoning rule before relying on it. Architect/engineer seal exceptions for qualifying small one- and two-family dwellings also apply under state law.