County Building Permits
Gratiot County, MI - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Gratiot County, Michigan. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
building permits for all of Gratiot County except City of Alma and City of St. Louis; also zoning for only selected townships; SESC for all of Gratiot County except City of St. Louis
- Department
- Gratiot County Department of Community Development / Gratiot County Permits Office
- Address
- 214 E Center St, Ithaca, MI 48847
- Phone
- 989-875-5201
Online Permit Portal
Platform: county website with downloadable PDFs and online payment page • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Obtain the county building permit application and related forms from the county website.
- Prepare required supporting documents, including plans, site plan, proof of ownership, and township zoning approval when required.
- Submit the packet and fees to the Gratiot County Permits Office.
- County staff review the application and issue the permit if complete.
- Inspections are scheduled by appointment during construction.
- Final inspection and certificate of occupancy process closes the permit.
General Requirements
county guidance states a permit is needed for construction work that requires a county building permit; the county fee schedule also charges by estimated construction value, suggesting typical structural work and additions are permit controlled
Required Documents
- completed application, site plan, proof of ownership with legal description, two sets of plans for engineered or required projects, township zoning approval when applicable, well and septic permits when applicable, SESC packet where triggered
- Building code
- county operates under Michigan's Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act and related local ordinances; the public page did not expose a local amendments summary beyond county ordinances
- Owner-builder
- if homeowner is doing the construction, the application says enter "Homeowner" in the contractor information space
- Contractor requirements
- county permits office expects proper contractor information when a contractor is used; state electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits are handled separately
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $50 for estimated construction value from $0.01 to $2,500
- Plan check fee
- $0.08 per square foot for 0 to 5,000,000 sq ft; commercial review over 5,000,000 sq ft is $942 plus $0.75 per sq ft
- Permit fee formula
- $140 for $10,001 to $100,000 estimated construction value, plus $5 per $1,000 over $10,000; $545 for $100,001 and over, plus $2 per $1,000 over $10,000
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Gratiot County Department of Community Development / Gratiot County Permits Office to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- by appointment (online)
Typical inspection sequence: footing, foundation, rough, backfill, framing, tie down, miscellaneous, final
additional inspection fee is charged; permit holder is responsible for inspections
Additional Resources
- Building code: county operates under Michigan's Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act and related local ordinances; the public page did not expose a local amendments summary beyond county ordinances
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Building permit requirements
- Permit application instructions
- SESC manual / rules
- 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 Gratiot County Department of Community Development / Gratiot County Permits Office before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gratiot County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Gratiot County, MI?
- county guidance states a permit is needed for construction work that requires a county building permit; the county fee schedule also charges by estimated construction value, suggesting typical structural work and additions are permit controlled
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Gratiot County, MI?
- The minimum permit fee is $50 for estimated construction value from $0.01 to $2,500. Fees are calculated as: $140 for $10,001 to $100,000 estimated construction value, plus $5 per $1,000 over $10,000; $545 for $100,001 and over, plus $2 per $1,000 over $10,000. Plan check fee: $0.08 per square foot for 0 to 5,000,000 sq ft; commercial review over 5,000,000 sq ft is $942 plus $0.75 per sq ft.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Gratiot County, MI?
- 1. Obtain the county building permit application and related forms from the county website. 2. Prepare required supporting documents, including plans, site plan, proof of ownership, and township zoning approval when required. 3. Submit the packet and fees to the Gratiot County Permits Office. 4. County staff review the application and issue the permit if complete. 5. Inspections are scheduled by appointment during construction. 6. Final inspection and certificate of occupancy process closes the permit.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Gratiot County, MI?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: by appointment.
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