Leelanau County, MI - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

County-wide for building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits and field inspections; land use permits remain a township matter

Department

Leelanau County Department of Building Safety

Address

8527 E. Government Center Dr., Suite 109, Suttons Bay, MI 49682

Phone

231-256-9806

Email

buildingsafety@leelanau.gov

Website

http://www.leelanau.gov/concodes.asp

Application Process

1. Confirm the project needs a building permit and obtain any other required local approvals first.
2. Gather recorded proof of ownership, owner authorization if a contractor is applying, plans, site plan, and any related trade permits.
3. Submit the building permit application to County Building Safety.
4. Staff reviews the application and drawings for code compliance.
5. Pay fees and receive the issued permit.
6. Post the permit and address before construction starts, then schedule inspections during construction and at final completion.

Source: Leelanau County Department of Building Safety

General Requirements

County handout says not to apply for a building permit until other required permits have been obtained and says incomplete applications and drawings will not be accepted or processed

Required Documents

• Recorded proof of ownership, owner authorization letter, address confirmation, septic or sewer approval when applicable, water supply approval when applicable, two sets of complete building plans, foundation plan, floor plan, elevations, sections, truss data, scaled site plan, and related electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits when applicable

Building code

County materials reference the Michigan Construction Code baseline and the state energy code; no separate county code adoption ordinance was clearly posted

Owner-builder

The county handout requires authorization from the owner if the applicant is a contractor; no separate owner-builder policy was clearly posted

Contractor requirements

Contractor applicants need owner authorization; county materials reference state code requirements rather than a local contractor registration program

Fees

Reinspection fee

After-the-fact permit fee policy says a $150 penalty fee may be assessed for willful code violations where work started without required permits

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• County materials emphasize that county review is required whenever a building permit is needed by code

Inspections

How to Schedule

• County materials indicate field inspections are handled by Building Safety; a specific scheduling portal was not identif (online)

Typical inspection sequence: County materials indicate plan review first, then field inspections; trade permits are handled as applicable

County budget materials show reinspection fee revenue exists, but a public reinspection table was not located

Additional Resources

• Building code: County materials reference the Michigan Construction Code baseline and the state energy code; no separate county code adoption ordinance was clearly posted
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Other useful links
• Other useful links
• License lookup guide: Michigan Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Michigan Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Michigan hub: Michigan Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Leelanau County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Leelanau County, MI?

County handout says not to apply for a building permit until other required permits have been obtained and says incomplete applications and drawings will not be accepted or processed

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Leelanau County, MI?

1. Confirm the project needs a building permit and obtain any other required local approvals first. 2. Gather recorded proof of ownership, owner authorization if a contractor is applying, plans, site plan, and any related trade permits. 3. Submit the building permit application to County Building Safety. 4. Staff reviews the application and drawings for code compliance. 5. Pay fees and receive the issued permit. 6. Post the permit and address before construction starts, then schedule inspections during construction and at final completion.

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Leelanau County, MI?

The following work is generally exempt: County materials emphasize that county review is required whenever a building permit is needed by code.

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Leelanau County, MI?

Inspections can be scheduled via: County materials indicate field inspections are handled by Building Safety; a specific scheduling portal was not identif.