County Building Permits
Clare County, MI - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Clare County, Michigan. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Parcels not governed by city, village, or township-specific building authority.
- 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
- Use county office and permit forms for parcels in unincorporated county areas.
- Submit a complete permit application, pay required fees, and request inspections through county.
- Proceed only after permit issuance and inspection requirements are satisfied.
General Requirements
County permit, zoning, and inspection requirements apply in unincorporated Clare County.
Required Documents
- Completed county permit application
- Project scope details
- Parcel and owner/contractor information
- Permit validity
- Permit invalid if work does not start within six months of issuance or is suspended/abandoned for six months.
- Building code
- State Building Code, Michigan Electrical Code, State Plumbing Code, Michigan Building Code / Michigan Residential Code
- Owner-builder
- Owner-builder may be permitted; owner remains responsible for compliance and inspections.
- Contractor requirements
- Licensed and insured trades required where applicable.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Trade-specific fee tables and non-refundable application fee (embedded in county permit PDFs).
- Reinspection fee
- Reinspection fee may be charged for canceled inspections after 9:00 a.m., denied access, or failures.
- 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
- County inspection line 989-539-2741 (phone)
- County inspection fax 989-539-7385 (fax)
- Scheduling deadline
- Most inspections are completed within three business days after request.
- Inspection hours
- 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m.
Typical inspection sequence: Most requests processed by first-requested, first-scheduled workflow; permit holder provides permit number, site and contact details.
Additional Resources
- Building code: State Building Code, Michigan Electrical Code, State Plumbing Code, Michigan Building Code / Michigan Residential Code
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- 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
Clare County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Clare County, MI?
- County permit, zoning, and inspection requirements apply in unincorporated Clare County.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Clare County, MI?
- Fees are calculated as: Trade-specific fee tables and non-refundable application fee (embedded in county permit PDFs)..
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Clare County, MI?
- 1. Use county office and permit forms for parcels in unincorporated county areas. 2. Submit a complete permit application, pay required fees, and request inspections through county. 3. Proceed only after permit issuance and inspection requirements are satisfied.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Clare County, MI?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: County inspection line 989-539-2741, County inspection fax 989-539-7385. Most inspections are completed within three business days after request..
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