County Building Permits
Cheboygan County, MI - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Cheboygan County, Michigan. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Cheboygan County building safety serves countywide and is also used for City of Cheboygan, Village of Mackinaw City, and Village of Wolverine for building-code enforcement.
- Department
- Cheboygan County Department of Building Safety
- Address
- 870 South Main Street, Room 102, P.O. Box 70, Cheboygan, MI 49721
- Phone
- (231) 627-8813
Application Process
- Complete all required zoning and other prerequisite approvals before building permit submission.
- Submit complete building permit application and supporting plans with all required permit numbers and project details.
- Send or deliver the application by email, fax, mail, or county building drop-off.
- County reviews for completeness before inspection scheduling and permit issuance.
General Requirements
Building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work performed under state construction code requires permit under county enforcement.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application
- House number
- Application package and plan set details
- Zoning approval when applicable
- Soil and sedimentation permit when required
- Septic permit when required
- Driveway permit when required
- Permit validity
- Not separately published on the county page.
- Building code
- 2015 Michigan Residential Code, 2015 Michigan Building Code, 2015 Michigan Rehabilitation Code, 2017 National Electrical Code, 2015 Michigan Plumbing Code, and 2018 Michigan Mechanical Code.
- Owner-builder
- Applications may be made by the owner or lessee of the building/structure or their agent.
- Contractor requirements
- Licensed contractors must obtain electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits for commercial and rental properties; homeowners may apply for work on their own single-family dwelling.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Permit fees are typically square footage multiplied by an average cost per square foot for construction, plus plan review.
- Payment note
- No refunds on permits 6 months after issue or from previous calendar year; plan review, application, and administrative fees are non-refundable.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Cheboygan County Department of Building Safety to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- buildingsafety@cheboygancounty.net (email)
- (231) 627-8813 (leave permit number, address, and phone/email) (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- Requests are scheduled with 24 hours notice.
- Inspection hours
- Office hours Mon-Fri 8:00 AM-12:00 PM and 1:00 PM-4:00 PM; inspector office 8:00-9:00 AM and 3:00-4:00 PM; field inspections 9:00 AM-3:00 PM.
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2015 Michigan Residential Code, 2015 Michigan Building Code, 2015 Michigan Rehabilitation Code, 2017 National Electrical Code, 2015 Michigan Plumbing Code, and 2018 Michigan Mechanical Code.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Cheboygan County planning and zoning applications
- Floodplain and shoreline references
- Cheboygan County permit procedures PDF
- License lookup guide: Michigan Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Michigan Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Michigan hub: Michigan Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Cheboygan County Department of Building Safety before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cheboygan County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Cheboygan County, MI?
- Building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work performed under state construction code requires permit under county enforcement.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Cheboygan County, MI?
- Fees are calculated as: Permit fees are typically square footage multiplied by an average cost per square foot for construction, plus plan review..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Cheboygan County, MI?
- 1. Complete all required zoning and other prerequisite approvals before building permit submission. 2. Submit complete building permit application and supporting plans with all required permit numbers and project details. 3. Send or deliver the application by email, fax, mail, or county building drop-off. 4. County reviews for completeness before inspection scheduling and permit issuance.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Cheboygan County, MI?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: buildingsafety@cheboygancounty.net, (231) 627-8813 (leave permit number, address, and phone/email). Requests are scheduled with 24 hours notice..
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