Administrative overview · FIPS 26161
Washtenaw 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
Washtenaw County Building Inspection Department
For a project in or near Washtenaw 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
(734) 222-3900; automated inspection line (866) 458-7358
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Western Washtenaw County Service Center, 705 N. Zeeb Road, P.O. Box 8645, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8645
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; automated inspection system is available 24 hours a day.
Review expectation
N/A; no fixed plan-review turnaround was published. Plans must be submitted and approved before a permit is issued, and the application must include required zoning, health, soil-erosion, and other applicable approvals.
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 Washtenaw County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Washtenaw County Building Inspection 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 (734) 222-3900; automated inspection line (866) 458-7358.
How long might review take?
N/A; no fixed plan-review turnaround was published. Plans must be submitted and approved before a permit is issued, and the application must include required zoning, health, soil-erosion, and other applicable approvals.
How are inspections scheduled?
Schedule required building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing inspections through the county's automated inspection system at (866) 458-7358, available 24 hours a day, or through the permit portal. Provide the permit number and job address, keep work accessible and uncovered until approval, and request inspections as construction progresses. The county's current trade application instructs applicants to give advance notice and states that a visible permit number is required.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Washtenaw County Building Inspection provides county enforcement of Michigan's State Construction Code for building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems in the county jurisdictions it serves. The current Michigan framework includes the 2021 Michigan Building Code, 2015 Michigan Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings while the proposed 2021 residential update is stayed, 2021 Michigan Mechanical and Plumbing Codes, 2023 National Electrical Code with Michigan amendments, and current Michigan energy and rehabilitation provisions. Local zoning approval and other agency approvals may also be required before issuance. The county's applications identify limited plan-review exceptions rather than a single cosmetic-work list. Examples include certain small electrical systems, minor mechanical alterations as determined by the official, and specified one- and two-family mechanical work; no work may be concealed before inspection. Confirm whether ordinary repairs, reroofing, siding, decks, pools, or accessory structures require a permit before starting.