City Building Permits
Ada Township, MI - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Ada Township, Michigan. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Ada Township handles zoning review first; Cascade Township issues permits and performs inspections under contract for Ada Township.
- Department
- Ada Township Planning and Zoning, with permit issuance and inspections by Cascade Township Building Inspections
- Address
- Ada Township Offices, 7330 Thornapple River Drive, P.O. Box 370, Ada, MI 49301; Cascade Township Building Inspections, 5920 Tahoe Dr SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-7123
- Phone
- Ada Planning and Zoning 616-920-7304; Cascade Building Inspections 616-949-3765
Online Permit Portal
Platform: BS&A Online (Cascade) • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Submit the permit application form and three sets of supporting plans to Ada Township Planning and Zoning.
- Ada reviews the submittal for zoning conformance and collects any required water or sewer connection fees.
- After zoning sign-off, Ada forwards the application and plans to Cascade Township for permit issuance.
- Cascade reviews the building portion and contacts the applicant when the permit is ready.
- Pay building permit fees to Cascade Township when the permit is picked up.
- Schedule inspections through Cascade during construction.
General Requirements
Building permits route through Ada zoning review first, then Cascade issuance and inspections.
Required Documents
- Permit application
- Three sets of plans
- Zoning review materials
- Water or sewer fee documentation required by Ada
- Building code
- Cascade's published adopted-code page lists 2015 Michigan Residential Code, 2015 Michigan Building Code, 2015 Michigan Rehabilitation Code, 2021 Michigan Mechanical Code, 2021 Michigan Plumbing Code, and 2023 National Electrical Code.
- Owner-builder
- Not separately summarized on the reviewed public pages.
- Contractor requirements
- Cascade contractor registration form requires registration before applying and is valid across all jurisdictions served by Cascade Inspection Services.
Fees
- Permit fee formula
- Ada posts planning and zoning fees; building permit fees are paid to Cascade at permit pickup and public online fee detail is thin.
- Payment note
- Ada collects applicable water and sewer connection fees during zoning review; building permit fees are paid to Cascade when permit is ready.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Michigan code baseline exemptions generally apply, but Ada zoning approval may still be required for exterior or site-related work.
Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Confirm with Ada Township before proceeding.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Cascade BS&A Online (online)
- Cascade 616-949-3765 (phone)
- Cascade 616-240-4693 (text)
- Inspection hours
- Cascade office hours are Monday-Thursday 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Typical inspection sequence: Zoning approval, permit issuance by Cascade, then building and trade inspections through final approval.
Remote video inspections are available for certain occupied-home interior remodels through Cascade.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Cascade's published adopted-code page lists 2015 Michigan Residential Code, 2015 Michigan Building Code, 2015 Michigan Rehabilitation Code, 2021 Michigan Mechanical Code, 2021 Michigan Plumbing Code, and 2023 National Electrical Code.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Ada Planning & Zoning Forms
- Cascade Communities
- Ada Building Permit Form
- 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 Ada Township Planning and Zoning, with permit issuance and inspections by Cascade Township Building Inspections before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ada Township Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Ada Township, MI?
- Building permits route through Ada zoning review first, then Cascade issuance and inspections.
- How much does a building permit cost in Ada Township, MI?
- Fees are calculated as: Ada posts planning and zoning fees; building permit fees are paid to Cascade at permit pickup and public online fee detail is thin..
- How do I apply for a building permit in Ada Township, MI?
- 1. Submit the permit application form and three sets of supporting plans to Ada Township Planning and Zoning. 2. Ada reviews the submittal for zoning conformance and collects any required water or sewer connection fees. 3. After zoning sign-off, Ada forwards the application and plans to Cascade Township for permit issuance. 4. Cascade reviews the building portion and contacts the applicant when the permit is ready. 5. Pay building permit fees to Cascade Township when the permit is picked up. 6. Schedule inspections through Cascade during construction.
- What work is exempt from building permits in Ada Township, MI?
- The following work is generally exempt: Michigan code baseline exemptions generally apply, but Ada zoning approval may still be required for exterior or site-related work.. Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Confirm with Ada Township before proceeding.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Ada Township, MI?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Cascade BS&A Online, Cascade 616-949-3765, Cascade 616-240-4693.
Need help with your project?
Navigating permits in Ada Township can be complicated.
Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.
Learn how Jaspector worksOther cities in Kent County
View all Kent County jurisdictions →