Building permits in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Ann Arbor, 8 need a permit outright and 2 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 2 official sources
Verified against official sources- Project types verified
- 10
- in Ann Arbor
City of Ann Arbor Building, Rental and Inspection Services (Construction and Building), with zoning review by Planning and Development Services
- City Hall, 301 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Mailing: P.O. Box 8647, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8647
- Phone: 734.794.6263 ext. 0
- Email: building@a2gov.org
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
- Official fee schedule
Look up a permit in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor runs an online permit portal. Many local portals let you check application status, search permit records, and view inspection results without calling the office.
What needs a permit in Ann Arbor
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Ann Arbor, 8 need a permit outright and 2 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Any size | Building Permit Fees (effective October 2019, revised 7/15/2025): $15 base application... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Any size | Electrical Permit Fees (effective January 2020): $15 base application fee for all... |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Guidelines handout (revised 3/3/2025) states a flat Fence Permit Fee of... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Any size | Mechanical Permit Fees (effective July 1, 2017): $15 base application fee required for... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Before pouring or laying a patio that costs more than $100 or covers 100 square feet or... | A patio handled as a zoning compliance permit pays $25 for building projects up to... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Any size | Plumbing Permit Fees (effective July 1, 2017): $15 base application fee required for all... |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Any size | Building Permit Fees (effective October 2019, revised 7/15/2025) carries a flat line... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | Before reroofing or recovering an existing flat roof | A flat roof reroof or recover pays the $15 base application fee plus the estimated... |
| Shed Permit | Permit required | Any size | $75" |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...the electric permit basic application fee WAIVED, residential solar panels $0.00... |
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Ann Arbor permit fees compared with nearby Michigan localities
| Michigan locality | Deck Permit | HVAC Permit | Electrical Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | ...Fees (effective October 2019, revised 7/15/2025): $15... | ...Permit Fees (effective July 1, 2017): $15 base... | ...Permit Fees (effective January 2020): $15 base... |
| Detroit | ...effective January 1, 2024, modified 7/18/2025: $2,000... | ...units, conversion burner, floor furnace, Each"... | ...modified 7/18/2025, ELECTRICAL PART A: "Base fee"... |
| Grand Rapids | ...1, 2026, Building Permits: "Residential Deck $66.00... | ...Fees: "Application (Includes 1 Inspection) $52.00"... | ...Fees: "Application (Includes 1 inspection) $52.00"... |
| Sterling Heights | ...Application 26-27 fee chart: 'Deck/Porch' $78.00... | ...2026-2027: non-refundable application fee $55.00... | ...26-27: non-refundable application fee $55.00, then... |
Each cell is the opening clause of that Michigan jurisdiction's own fee schedule; the full wording and source sit on each permit page.
Ann Arbor penalty for work started without a permit
Ann Arbor publishes what it charges when work begins before the permit, quoted here from the schedule or permit page we verified.
-
Work without a permit is $130.
Ann Arbor electrical permit page · last checked
The Michigan statute, the after-the-fact permit path and who may pull the permit: building without a permit in Michigan.
Ann Arbor permit questions, answered from the data
- Do you need a permit in Ann Arbor?
- For most projects, yes. Of the 10 permit types we have verified for Ann Arbor, 8 always require a permit (for example a deck permit), 2 depend on size or scope (a patio permit, for instance). Each Ann Arbor permit type's page states the exact rule and its source.
- How much does a permit cost in Ann Arbor?
- Ann Arbor publishes a fee for 10 of the 10 permit types we cover, each quoted on its page from the jurisdiction's own schedule (linked on every page that carries one). Fees are set by City of Ann Arbor Building, Rental and Inspection Services (Construction and Building), with zoning review by Planning and Development Services; we do not estimate or mark them up.
- Where do you apply for a permit in Ann Arbor?
- City of Ann Arbor Building, Rental and Inspection Services (Construction and Building), with zoning review by Planning and Development Services issues permits in Ann Arbor, with an online portal for applications, plan uploads and status checks, and takes questions at 734.794.6263 ext. 0. The Ann Arbor official page and portal are linked in the office section above.
- What is the penalty for building without a permit in Ann Arbor?
- Ann Arbor publishes its own charge for work started before the permit: Work without a permit is $130. That is the local bill; the Michigan statute, the after-the-fact permit path and who may pull the permit are on the Michigan building-without-a-permit page.
How the Ann Arbor pages were verified. 10 permit types, 6 distinct official sources, most recently checked . Every rule is read from City of Ann Arbor Building, Rental and Inspection Services (Construction and Building), with zoning review by Planning and Development Services or the applicable code and cited on its page; anything we could not confirm for Ann Arbor is marked rather than estimated. How we verify.