Charlevoix County Department of Building Safety

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Government Directory>Building Safety Department

Department Contact Information
Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday
7:00 am - 4:00 pm
Phone: (231) 547.7236
Fax: (231) 547.7250

If you have any questions, or need help with your application, please call us and we will be glad to assist in answering all of your questions.

Select the appropriate section below for inspection guidelines and available applications for download.

General Guidelines for the Permit Application Process
Required Inspections
General Building & Fire Protection System Permit Applications
Electrical Permit Application
Commercial & Residential Mechanical Permit Application
Plumbing Permit Application
Soil Erosion, Sedimentation, and/or Stormwater Permit Application
Specification Sheets & Diagrams
County & State Ordinances/Laws
Zoning Administrator Contact Information
Building Official's Recommended Web Links

General Guidelines for the Permit Application Process

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Important Reminder to Assist Permit Applicants
Please remember all applications must be reviewed before any permits can be issued.

Attention Contractors
A copy of your Residential Builder's License will be requested for our records. All contractor information on applications must be completed per State of Michigan requirements.

Permit Applications Are Available for Download
You will find each type of permit issued from this Department within its corresponding section on this page (visit the top of this page for a link to each permit type).

Adobe Reader software is required to view these application forms after downloading them. This free program can be downloaded by clicking on the following link: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html

Charlevoix County assumes no responsibility or liability for any programs installed on your computer to view this information. Charlevoix County advises the public to contact the Adobe software company for any support or technical assistance required in using Adobe software products.

Zoning Administrator References
Contact information for current zoning administrators is in the last section on this page.

The Following Items May Need To Be Submitted With Your Permit Application:
1. Present your 3,4 or 5 digit address of the job site.
2. A valid septic and well permit is needed from the Health Department if the site does not already have access to municipal sewer/water. Contact the Health Department at (231) 547-6523 located at 220 W. Garfield St, Charlevoix MI, 49720.
3. A Zoning Permit will be needed to ensure local ordinances are met. Download a listing of current zoning administrators below.
4. A complete, signed application by the proper applicant. The person who is "actually doing the work" the Contractor, or the homeowner.
5. One (1) set of construction plans are needed. These plans will be returned to you after the plan review has been completed.
6. Sealed, stamped plans will be required for all commercial jobs and residences over 3500 square feet. An architect's or engineer's seal and signature is required.
7. Truss certifications for all structures using purchased trusses. A copy is to be kept at the job site for the rough/frame inspection, and then it will be filed in the permanent file at the Department of Building Safety.
8. A Soil Erosion Permit may be necessary to comply with Michigan Public Act 451 of 1994, Part 91 Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control. If your project is within 500 feet of a lake or stream, OR if you are disturbing more than one acre of earth, then contact Marc Seelye, the County's Soil Erosion Control Officer at (231) 547-7236.
Obtain a copy of the SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION CONTROL provisions of Public Act 451 of 1994 by clicking on the following link: www.michiganlegislature.org or downloading the statute below.
9. A Wetlands Permit from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality may be necessary. Call the Land & Water Management Division office in Gaylord at (989) 705-3450.
10. If a pre-manufactured home is being installed, then the application must be accompanied by a "building systems approval report" from the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth along with one (1) set of plans.
11. HUD/Double-Wides: The application must be accompanied by a "recommended foundation plan with tie-downs", and a floor plan, from the Contractor or person actually doing the work.
12. An Electrical Permit may be necessary.
13. A Plumbing Permit may be necessary.
14. A Mechanical/Heating Permit may be necessary.
Homeowners may take out their permits only if they are actually doing the work.
15. Please contact the Charlevoix County Road Commission at (231) 582-7330 if driveway culverts need to be installed or if a driveway permit is necessary.

Required Inspections

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Required Inspections for Construction Permits

Section 109 of the State Building Code requires the permit holder to notify this office when any portion of the work is ready for inspection. Indicated below are the stages of construction when we should be notified to perform the inspection indicated. In addition, we must be notified whenever an inspection report indicates, "please call for reinspection". Call 24 hours ahead to schedule inspections. Under normal circumstances, inspections will be done within 24 hours. To contact an inspector, call between 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Monday through Friday.

Inspection Type: Type of Permit: Stage of Construction

Footing Inspections: Building Permits: Conducted when excavation is completed, forms and reinforcing are in place (prior to pouring concrete).

Service Inspections: Electrical Permits: Conducted when meter base and panel is set and grounded.

Underground Inspections: Mechanical Permits: Performed when underground duct work, radiant tubing, or process piping is installed, prior to pouring concrete and backfilling.

Underground Inspections: Plumbing: Conducted after all trenches or ditches are excavated and piping is installed, prior to pouring concrete and backfilling.

Foundation: Building Permits: Conducted when foundation walls are complete, reinforcing and anchors installed, damp proofing or waterproofing and drainage system installed and prior to backfilling.

Rough Inspections: Electrical, Plumbing, & Mechanical Permits: Prior to the installation of insulation and interior finish materials.

Rough Inspections: Building Permits: Conducted when all sub-trades (electrical, mechanical, and plumbing), have been roughed in and approved. This type of inspection occurs prior to the installation of insulation and interior finish materials.

Insulation Inspections: Building Permits: Conducted after building rough is approved and prior to the installation of interior finish materials.

Final Inspections: All trades/permits: Conducted after all construction work has been completed.

A building or structure shall not be used or occupied until a certificate of use and occupancy has been issued by the appropriate enforcing agency.

General Building & Fire Protection System Permit Applications

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Always Remember to Provide Two Sets of Plans [Click here to view full size picture]

Building Inspection Staff

Kenneth B. Doty, County Building Official
Kevin G. Stark, Senior Inspector
Frank A. Shaler, Inspector
Nelson P. Fletcher, Plan Reviewer/Inspector
Stewart Kissinger, Plan Reviewer/Inspector
Arthur Shaw, Plan Reviewer/Fire Suppression

Documents/Forms:
General Building Permit Application (Updated 9/09/05)
Roofing and siding permit application

Electrical Permit Application

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Lockouts Save Lives! [Click here to view full size picture]

Electrical Inspection Staff
Jim Eisley, Inspector

Documents/Forms:
Electrical Permit Application (11/23/2007)
County Fire & Burglar Alarm Registration Form
Fire protection system plan review application

Commercial & Residential Mechanical Permit Application

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Mechanical Inspection Staff
Robert Hilton, Inspector
Robert Stebe, Inspector

Documents/Forms:
Mechanical Permit Application (2/01/08)
Fire protection system plan review application

Plumbing Permit Application

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Plumbing Inspection Staff
Robert Hilton, Inspector
Robert Stebe, Inspector

Documents/Forms:
Plumbing Permit Application (2/01/07)

Soil Erosion, Sedimentation, and/or Stormwater Permit Application

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Soil Erosion, Stormwater, and Sedimentation Inspection Staff
Marc Seelye, Soil Erosion Control Officer

Documents/Forms:
Soil Erosion, Sedimentation, and/or Stormwater Permit Application (Updated 3/22/04)

Specification Sheets & Diagrams

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Documents/Forms:
Pole Building Plans & Specifications
Garage Plans & Specifications
Deck Specifications
Building Specifications Sheet/Cross-Section
Energy Analysis Comparison Report
MUEC Prescriptive Compliance Approach Work Sheet

County & State Ordinances/Laws

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Documents/Forms:
Charlevoix County Building Inspection Code Ordinance
Charlevoix County Fire & Burglar Alarm Ordinance
Charlevoix County Stormwater Ordinance (Updated 5/17/04)
Charlevoix County Uniform Numbering Ordinance (Effective 11/14/04 thru 7/14/07)
Charlevoix County Uniform Numbering Ordinance (Effective 7/15/07)
Address Number Display Reference
State of Michigan Public Act 451 of 1994 - Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control
2000 Michigan Residential Code (Excerpts)
2003 Michigan Residential Code (550 KB)
2003 Michigan Mechanical Code Requirements
2003 Michigan Plumbing Code Requirements

Zoning Administrator Contact Information

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Nearly all local units of Government in Charlevoix County assert local zoning authority (the only exception is for building activity in the Village of Boyne Falls).

Using the list below, please contact the appropriate township or city official where the job site is located.

Documents/Forms:
Twp/City Zoning Administrators List (Updated 01/15/08)

Building Official's Recommended Web Links

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These sites may be useful to reference to locate information for your specific project. Charlevoix County assumes no responsibility for the content displayed on these sites as they are independently owned and managed by other government organizations, private organizations, and/or companies.

This page last updated on 3/2/2008.