Fees, valuation & enforcement
Permit fees are a project input. Enforcement exposure is a project risk. Use the official schedule where available, then confirm valuation, trade permits, plan review, and inspection charges with the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
Official fee pathway
The final charge may depend on declared construction value, occupancy classification, square footage, plan review, state surcharges, trade permits, technology fees, and inspection activity. Do not use a neighboring city’s fee table as a substitute for this jurisdiction.
Fee desk contact
(734) 222-3900; automated inspection line (866) 458-7358
Ask the counter to confirm current charges before submitting a project with multiple trades or a change of use.
Financial exposure
Plan for building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire, energy, zoning, septic, right-of-way, or other reviews that the project scope triggers. The lowest initial permit fee is not always the lowest project cost.
Enforcement exposure
When work begins without authorization, the agency may halt the site, require corrective plans, impose additional fees, withhold inspection release, or require concealed work to be exposed for review.
Closeout exposure
A missing final inspection or certificate can complicate occupancy, refinancing, sale, insurance, and utility connection. Preserve the approved plans and signed inspection record through closeout.
Professional field note
Even when a cosmetic or minor project does not require a building permit, zoning, floodplain, shoreline, historic, utility, fire, or right-of-way controls may still apply. Confirm the full jurisdictional picture before work starts.
Source trail
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Why permit costs vary
Building departments commonly calculate charges from valuation, occupancy, floor area, project type, plan review effort, trade scope, state surcharges, and inspection activity. A remodel that appears small on paper may still trigger structural, energy, fire, or utility review. Ask the permit counter which disciplines apply before you finalize the construction budget.
The same discipline applies to enforcement. Correcting unpermitted work after finishes are installed can require demolition, revised plans, additional inspections, and schedule disruption. Authorization is usually the less expensive project-management decision.