Sault Ste. Marie, MI — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Building Department, Community Development

Street address

City Hall, 225 E. Portage Ave., Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783

Phone

906-632-5700

Coverage

City of Sault Ste. Marie

Website

Department website

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Sault Ste. Marie

The city performs building permits, design review, floodplain development, sign permits, fence permits, and code enforcement.

Note: No city-specific exempt-work list was clearly published in the reviewed pages. Confirm exemptions with the Building Department before starting work.

Required documents

Building Permit and Plan Review Application
Owner/lessee information
Architect or engineer information where applicable
Contractor name, address, phone, license number, and expiration date
Project scope and floodplain details

Building code: Michigan Building Code and 2021 International Building Code (as noted on city fee references).
Owner-builder: Applicant must certify authority from the owner of record; no separate owner-builder policy was published.
Contractor requirements: Contractor name, address, phone, license number, and expiration date are requested on the application.

Source: Building Department, Community Development ↗

§ 03

Application process

Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final

01

Download the Building Permit and Plan Review Application from the city forms page.
02

Complete site, owner, contractor, use, floodplain, and construction information.
03

Submit plans and application to the Building Department for review.
04

Staff handles zoning inquiries, floodplain development, fence permits, and sign permits as applicable.
05

City staff reviews materials and issues permit after approval; begin work only after issuance.

Source: Building Department, Community Development ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Sault Ste. Marie building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

Building plan review minimum fee is $5.00; residential building permit minimum includes $25 plus unit charges.

Plan check fee

Plan review fees are published in the city fee schedule.

Permit fee formula

Commercial plan review is 0.00175 x plan review factor up to 1,000,000 and 0.0005 x plan review factor over 1,000,000; residential formulas vary by fee class and include square-foot and value-based elements.

Reinspection fee

Special inspection fee is $50 per hour with a 1 hour minimum.

Penalty (no permit)

Investigation fee for work without permit is $100 for residential and $200 for code enforcement/admin categories.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

906-632-5700 (phone)

Typical sequence: City materials indicate building, zoning, floodplain, sign, and fence review as applicable.

Source: Building Department, Community Development ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Sault Ste. Marie permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Sault Ste. Marie, MI? ▸

The city performs building permits, design review, floodplain development, sign permits, fence permits, and code enforcement.

02 How much does a building permit cost in Sault Ste. Marie, MI? ▸

Building permit fees in Sault Ste. Marie, MI are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Building plan review minimum fee is $5.00; residential building permit minimum includes $25 plus unit charges.. Fees are calculated as: Commercial plan review is 0.00175 x plan review factor up to 1,000,000 and 0.0005 x plan review factor over 1,000,000; residential formulas vary by fee class and include square-foot and value-based elements.. Plan check fee: Plan review fees are published in the city fee schedule..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Sault Ste. Marie, MI? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, follow these steps: 1. Download the Building Permit and Plan Review Application from the city forms page. 2. Complete site, owner, contractor, use, floodplain, and construction information. 3. Submit plans and application to the Building Department for review. 4. Staff handles zoning inquiries, floodplain development, fence permits, and sign permits as applicable. 5. City staff reviews materials and issues permit after approval; begin work only after issuance.

04 How do I schedule a building inspection in Sault Ste. Marie, MI? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Sault Ste. Marie, MI via: 906-632-5700.

last verified April 2026 source Building Department, Community Development ↗ entry id permits/michigan/chippewa/sault-ste-marie

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Building Department, Community Development before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of Sault Ste. Marie

Other jurisdictions in Chippewa County.