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§ MI Oakland County
City building permits

City of Farmington Hills

How to apply for a building permit in City of Farmington Hills, Michigan. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

Building Division, Department of Planning and Community Development

Street address
31555 W. Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336
Phone
248-871-2450
Coverage
City-administered permits inside Farmington Hills city limits.
Online portal
BS&A Online
BS&A Online
Website
Department website
Additional resources
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Farmington Hills

New home, addition, remodeling project, garage, shed over 200 square feet, deck, pool or spa, hot tub, roofing, antenna over 12 feet, siding, structural change, window and exterior door replacement, change of use, basement finish, demolition, and listed plumbing, electrical, and heating work.

Playhouses
Playground equipment
Wading pools
Patios
Flag poles
Basketball backboards
Driveways or poured concrete without footings (though right-of-way review may apply through Engineering)
  • Exempt Playhouses
  • Exempt Playground equipment
  • Exempt Wading pools
  • Exempt Patios
  • Exempt Flag poles
  • Exempt Basketball backboards
  • Exempt Driveways or poured concrete without footings (though right-of-way review may apply through Engineering)

Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and other requirements. Confirm with Building Division before proceeding.

Required documents
  • Building permit application
  • Contractor registration where applicable
  • Plans and supporting forms based on scope
  • Trade permit applications as needed
Building code
City enforces applicable Michigan construction codes and standards through its Building Division.
Owner-builder
A homeowner may pull permits in lieu of a licensed contractor only if they are the registered legal homeowner, the home is the primary residence, and they reside in the house.
Contractor requirements
The Building Division states it registers all contractors who perform work in the city.

Source: Building Division, Department of Planning and Community Development ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: No standard turnaround time located on reviewed pages.

  1. 01
    Confirm permit trigger using the city's "When is a Permit is Required" page.
  2. 02
    Pull the correct city form from the forms and permits library or use BS&A Online permit applications.
  3. 03
    Submit plans, application, and supporting documents to the Building Division.
  4. 04
    Pay permit and plan review fees under the adopted fee schedule.
  5. 05
    Receive permit issuance after review.
  6. 06
    Schedule inspections through the posted inspection workflow.
  7. 07
    Complete inspections and final approvals.

Typical processing time: No standard turnaround time located on reviewed pages.

Source: Building Division, Department of Planning and Community Development ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Farmington Hills building permit fees

Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$100 for first $1,000 of valuation for building permits
02
Plan check fee
Single-family residence $590 at application; garage, addition, or accessory structure $50 at application; multiple residential, commercial, and industrial $250 at application with additional valuation-based review charges.
03
Permit fee formula
Valuation based; $100 for first $1,000, then $9 per thousand from $1,001 to $50,000, and $8 per thousand above $50,000.
04
Reinspection fee
$45; first reinspection for original violation no charge; subsequent reinspections $45.
05
Penalty (no permit)
Work started before permit is charged at twice the normal permit fee.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Typical sequence: Permit issuance, trade and building inspections by scope, then final approval.

Source: Building Division, Department of Planning and Community Development ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Farmington Hills permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Farmington Hills, MI? ▸
New home, addition, remodeling project, garage, shed over 200 square feet, deck, pool or spa, hot tub, roofing, antenna over 12 feet, siding, structural change, window and exterior door replacement, change of use, basement finish, demolition, and listed plumbing, electrical, and heating work.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Farmington Hills, MI? ▸
Building permit fees in Farmington Hills, MI are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $100 for first $1,000 of valuation for building permits. Fees are calculated as: Valuation based; $100 for first $1,000, then $9 per thousand from $1,001 to $50,000, and $8 per thousand above $50,000.. Plan check fee: Single-family residence $590 at application; garage, addition, or accessory structure $50 at application; multiple residential, commercial, and industrial $250 at application with additional valuation-based review charges..
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Farmington Hills, MI? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Farmington Hills, MI, follow these steps: 1. Confirm permit trigger using the city's "When is a Permit is Required" page. 2. Pull the correct city form from the forms and permits library or use BS&A Online permit applications. 3. Submit plans, application, and supporting documents to the Building Division. 4. Pay permit and plan review fees under the adopted fee schedule. 5. Receive permit issuance after review. 6. Schedule inspections through the posted inspection workflow. 7. Complete inspections and final approvals.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Farmington Hills, MI? ▸
Building permit processing times in Farmington Hills, MI typically run No standard turnaround time located on reviewed pages.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in Farmington Hills, MI? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Farmington Hills, MI. The following work is generally exempt: Playhouses; Playground equipment; Wading pools; Patios; Flag poles; Basketball backboards; Driveways or poured concrete without footings (though right-of-way review may apply through Engineering). Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and other requirements. Confirm with Building Division before proceeding. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Farmington Hills, MI? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Farmington Hills, MI via: BS&A inspection request portal, Building Division.
last verified April 2026 source Building Division, Department of Planning and Community Development ↗ entry id permits/michigan/oakland/farmington-hills
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Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Building Division, Department of Planning and Community Development before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

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