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§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Tawas City
any zoning permit application or land use change requires city review; county handles building permits for the city
The published internal review process distinguishes zoning permits that do not require site plan approval, but it does not publish a clean exempt-work list
- Exempt The published internal review process distinguishes zoning permits that do not require site plan approval, but it does not publish a clean exempt-work list
Required documents
- completed application, email address if possible, site plan if required, parcel lookup if necessary, payment based on the fee schedule
- Building code
- county building department cites Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code; city zoning materials do not publish a separate code adoption in the reviewed pages
§ 03
Fee schedule
Tawas City building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
simple fee $50.00; zoning permit simple fee also appears in the city internal review appendix
02
Plan check fee
included in the site plan / professional review deposit structure, but not separately labeled as a plan check fee
03
Permit fee formula
site plan review fee $180.00 plus $100 publication/mailing deposit plus $320 professional-fee deposit; ZBA, public hearing, rezoning, special land use, ordinance amendment, and rehearing fees are $180.00 plus the same deposits; planning commission special meeting is $50.00 plus application fee
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
§ 04
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- contact City Hall or the Zoning Administrator (contact)
- Inspection hours
- city office hours are Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Typical sequence: application intake, fee processing, zoning review, consultant review if needed, Planning Commission or ZBA hearing if required, then decision and filing
§ 05
Frequently asked
Common questions about Tawas City permits
01 Do I need a building permit in Tawas City, MI? ▸
any zoning permit application or land use change requires city review; county handles building permits for the city
02 How much does a building permit cost in Tawas City, MI? ▸
Building permit fees in Tawas City, MI are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is simple fee $50.00; zoning permit simple fee also appears in the city internal review appendix. Fees are calculated as: site plan review fee $180.00 plus $100 publication/mailing deposit plus $320 professional-fee deposit; ZBA, public hearing, rezoning, special land use, ordinance amendment, and rehearing fees are $180.00 plus the same deposits; planning commission special meeting is $50.00 plus application fee. Plan check fee: included in the site plan / professional review deposit structure, but not separately labeled as a plan check fee.
03 What work is exempt from building permits in Tawas City, MI? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Tawas City, MI. The following work is generally exempt: The published internal review process distinguishes zoning permits that do not require site plan approval, but it does not publish a clean exempt-work list. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
04 How do I schedule a building inspection in Tawas City, MI? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Tawas City, MI via: contact City Hall or the Zoning Administrator.
last verified April 2026
source City of Tawas City Zoning Administrator for zoning; Iosco County Building Department for building permits ↗
entry id permits/michigan/iosco/tawas-city
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with City of Tawas City Zoning Administrator for zoning; Iosco County Building Department for building permits before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.