City Building Permits
East Tawas, MI - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in East Tawas, Michigan. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
City zoning and land use; county handles building permits for the city
- Department
- City of East Tawas Zoning Administrator, with building permits issued by Iosco County
- Phone
- (989) 362-6161
- Website
- https://www.easttawas.com/
Application Process
Source: City of East Tawas Zoning Administrator, with building permits issued by Iosco County
General Requirements
the newsletter says zoning permits are required for decks, pools, fences, sheds, garages, additions, houses, and tearing down structures regardless of size
- Building code
- county building permits use Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code; city zoning materials do not publish a separate building code
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- accessory structure land use permit fee is $40.00
- Permit fee formula
- short-term rental application fee is $50.00 per property and registration is $500.00 per unit; complaint/non-compliance inspection is $50.00 per inspection
- Reinspection fee
- short-term rental complaint/non-compliance inspection fee is $50.00; ordinance also allows enforcement costs and fees
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- The newsletter specifically says even tearing down structures requires a zoning permit
Inspections
How to Schedule
- contact City Hall to make an appointment with the zoning administrator (online)
- Inspection hours
- city office hours were not separately tied to inspections in the published materials; thin data
Typical inspection sequence: zoning review first; commercial projects go to Planning Commission; site plan review requires two weeks notice before the meeting; plans for Planning Commission agenda must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. the Thursday before the meeting
short-term rental complaint/non-compliance inspection fee is $50.00 per inspection
Additional Resources
- Building code: county building permits use Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code; city zoning materials do not publish a separate building code
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Other useful links
- 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 City of East Tawas Zoning Administrator, with building permits issued by Iosco County before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
East Tawas Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in East Tawas, MI?
- the newsletter says zoning permits are required for decks, pools, fences, sheds, garages, additions, houses, and tearing down structures regardless of size
- How much does a building permit cost in East Tawas, MI?
- The minimum permit fee is accessory structure land use permit fee is $40.00. Fees are calculated as: short-term rental application fee is $50.00 per property and registration is $500.00 per unit; complaint/non-compliance inspection is $50.00 per inspection.
- What work is exempt from building permits in East Tawas, MI?
- The following work is generally exempt: The newsletter specifically says even tearing down structures requires a zoning permit.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in East Tawas, MI?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: contact City Hall to make an appointment with the zoning administrator.
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