City Building Permits
Harrison, MI - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Harrison, Michigan. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
County building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits within the City of Harrison; city zoning handled locally.
- Department
- Clare County Community Development
- Address
- 225 W Main St., Harrison, MI 48625
- Phone
- 989-539-2761
- goodmant@clareco.net
- Website
- https://clareco-buildingdev.net/
Online Permit Portal
Platform: PDF forms + email • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Confirm zoning and review city ordinances.
- Prepare a site plan or sketch and any required county trade permit applications.
- Submit building/trade permits to Clare County Community Development and coordinate city zoning requirements separately.
- City states most projects require an application and site plan/sketch.
- Pay required permit fees and request inspections as work progresses.
General Requirements
Building permit required for building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work in the City of Harrison.
Required Documents
- Signed county permit application
- Project scope and cost information
- Site plan or sketch (as required by city guidance)
- Permit validity
- Permit becomes invalid if work does not start within six months of issuance or is suspended/abandoned for six months, based on county form language.
- Building code
- State Building Code, Michigan Electrical Code, State Plumbing Code, Michigan Building Code / Michigan Residential Code
- Owner-builder
- Owner-builder may be permitted on county application, and the owner remains responsible for code compliance and inspections.
- Contractor requirements
- Use licensed and insured trades where required.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Trade-specific fees based on item counts or project scope plus non-refundable application fee; closed permits cannot be refunded or reinstated.
- Reinspection fee
- Reinspection fee may be charged if inspection is cancelled after 9:00 a.m., denied access, or fails.
- Payment note
- Work started before permit issuance may double total permit fees on trade forms.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Clare County Community Development to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Inspection line 989-539-2741 (phone)
- Inspection fax 989-539-7385 (fax)
- Scheduling deadline
- Most inspections are completed within three business days after request.
Typical inspection sequence: Most recently requested inspections are scheduled on a first-requested, first-scheduled basis.
Additional Resources
- Building code: State Building Code, Michigan Electrical Code, State Plumbing Code, Michigan Building Code / Michigan Residential Code
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- City of Harrison code enforcement officer
- County permit contact sheet
- 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 Clare County Community Development before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Harrison Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Harrison, MI?
- Building permit required for building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work in the City of Harrison.
- How much does a building permit cost in Harrison, MI?
- Fees are calculated as: Trade-specific fees based on item counts or project scope plus non-refundable application fee; closed permits cannot be refunded or reinstated..
- How do I apply for a building permit in Harrison, MI?
- 1. Confirm zoning and review city ordinances. 2. Prepare a site plan or sketch and any required county trade permit applications. 3. Submit building/trade permits to Clare County Community Development and coordinate city zoning requirements separately. 4. City states most projects require an application and site plan/sketch. 5. Pay required permit fees and request inspections as work progresses.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Harrison, MI?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Inspection line 989-539-2741, Inspection fax 989-539-7385. Most inspections are completed within three business days after request..
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