County Building Permits
Livingston County, MI - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Livingston County, Michigan. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Livingston County building department page states it handles permitting and inspections for county areas and multiple local units, but not City of Howell or Green Oak Township.
- Department
- Livingston County Building Department
- Address
- Livingston County Administration Building, 304 E Grand River Ave, Howell, MI 48843
- Phone
- 517-546-3733
- buildingdept@livgov.com
Online Permit Portal
Platform: State of Michigan Accela portal • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
General Requirements
Required Documents
- construction documents unless waived, plus any trade-specific documents and site information as required.
- Building code
- Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code are the governing state baseline. The state page does not identify a special Livingston County code amendment on the public page reviewed.
- Owner-builder
- Michigan requires a residential builder license for a person engaged in construction of a residential structure or a combination residential and commercial structure, subject to statutory exceptions.
- Contractor requirements
- residential builders must be licensed; trade work must comply with state licensing rules.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Ordinary repairs do not require a permit.
- The state page says ordinary repairs do not include removal or cutting of structural members, required egress changes, or work affecting public health or general safety.
Inspections
How to Schedule
Typical inspection sequence: permit issuance, required inspections, then final approval / certificate of occupancy where applicable
Additional Resources
- Building code: Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code are the governing state baseline. The state page does not identify a special Livingston County code amendment on the public page reviewed.
- 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 Livingston County Building Department before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Livingston County Building Permit FAQ
- What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Livingston County, MI?
- The following work is generally exempt: Ordinary repairs do not require a permit.; The state page says ordinary repairs do not include removal or cutting of structural members, required egress changes, or work affecting public health or general safety..
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