Administrative overview · FIPS 26099
Macomb 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
Macomb County Public Works for soil-erosion and drain permits; building and zoning enforcement is handled by the county's cities, villages, and townships
For a project in or near Macomb 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
Macomb County general: 586-469-5100; Public Works: 586-469-5325; Soil Erosion: 586-469-5327; Plan Review: 586-469-5910
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
County Administration Building, 1 South Main Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043; Public Works, 21777 Dunham Road, Clinton Township, MI 48036
Operating hours
Macomb County Public Works: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM-5:00 PM; soil-erosion and plan-review assistance is listed Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM. Municipal building department hours vary.
Review expectation
N/A countywide for building permits because municipal timelines vary. Macomb County Public Works reports residential and smaller soil-erosion reviews average about one week; larger or more complex reviews may take up to 30 days for the first review.
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 Macomb 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 Macomb County general: 586-469-5100; Public Works: 586-469-5325; Soil Erosion: 586-469-5327; Plan Review: 586-469-5910.
How long might review take?
N/A countywide for building permits because municipal timelines vary. Macomb County Public Works reports residential and smaller soil-erosion reviews average about one week; larger or more complex reviews may take up to 30 days for the first review.
How are inspections scheduled?
For building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical inspections, contact the building department of the city, village, or township where the property is located. State inspectors respond to inspection requests within two business days and typically perform inspections within five business days when the state is the enforcing agency. County drain inspections are scheduled in the Public Works portal; non-reinspection soil-erosion inspections are requested by calling 586-469-5327.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Municipal enforcing agencies apply the Michigan construction codes. Current state 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). Confirm the enforcing agency and any local ordinance requirements for the specific municipality. Michigan ordinary repairs may be exempt when they do not cut or remove structural members, change required egress, or affect regulated plumbing, electrical, mechanical, or other public-safety systems. Other state examples include certain one-story detached accessory structures up to 200 square feet, fences up to 7 feet, qualifying retaining walls, and certain sidewalks or driveways; local zoning approvals may still be required.