Steps for Renovating your Property

Residential Renovations

1. Securing Permits

Any owner or owner's authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be performed, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.

2. Application for Permit

To obtain a permit, the applicant shall first file an application therefor in writing on a form furnished by the department of building safety for that purpose. Application or notice to the building official is not required for ordinary repairs to structures, replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles. Such repairs shall not include the cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing support, or the removal or change of any required means of egress, or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the egress requirements; nor shall ordinary repairs include addition to, alteration of, replacement or relocation of any water supply, sewer, drainage, drain leader, gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping, electric wiring or mechanical or other work affecting public health or general safety.

3. Submittal Documents

Construction documents, special inspection and structural program and other data shall be submitted in 1 or more sets with each application for a permit. The construction documents shall be prepared by or under the direct supervision of a registered design professional when required by 1980 PA 299, MCL 339.101 to 339.2919, and known as the Michigan occupational code. Where special conditions exist, the building official may require additional construction documents to be prepared by a registered design professional.

4. Permit Issued

If the building official is satisfied that the proposed work conforms to the requirements of this code and laws and ordinances applicable thereto, the building official shall issue a permit therefor as soon as practicable. The building permit or copy shall be kept on the site of the work until the completion of the project. Contractors or owners can now start performing work on the building.

5. Performing Work

Contractor or owner should coordinate trades to renovate residential buildings according to the approved plans submitted to the municipality. If changes are made from the original approved plans, new revised plans shall be submitted to the municipality for review and approval. All trades should have secured their individual permits once the building permit is secured. Please be aware there may be asbestos present when renovating, for additional information on asbestos, please go here.

6. Inspections

It shall be the duty of the permit holder or their agent to notify the building official that such work is ready for inspection. It shall be the duty of the person requesting any inspections required by this code to provide access to and means for inspection of such work. Work shall not be done beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the building official. The building official upon notification shall make the requested inspections and shall either indicate the portion of the construction that is satisfactory as completed or shall notify the permit holder or agent of the permit holder wherein portion of the construction fails to comply with this code. The notification shall include specific reference to the code chapter and section numbers in violation in writing. Any portions that do not comply shall be corrected and such portion shall not be covered or concealed until authorized by the building official.

All MEP installations (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) shall be in accordance with their applicable codes and all required MEP inspections must be approved before required building inspections are conducted. The building inspections are always the last inspection to be approved and the only inspections that can authorize cover on framing members, foundation, and slab pours, backfill approvals, and final inspections.

7. Types of Inspections

Each trade has many different types of inspections, here are a list of the most common inspection types per trade:

Buildings: footings and foundations, slab, damp proofing, insulation, rough frame, above ceiling, fireproofing, final.
Electrical: rough wall temporary wiring, status, final.
Pluming: underground, rough wall, re-inspection, final.
Mechanical: rough duct, final

8. Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Acceptance

After the building official inspects the building or structure and finds no violations of the provisions of this code or other laws that are enforced by the department of building safety, the building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy which shall contain the following:

The building permit number.
The address of the structure.
A description of that portion of the structure for which the certificate is issued.
A statement that the described portion of the structure has been inspected for compliance with the requirements of this code.
The name of the building official.
The edition of the code under which the permit was issued.
Any special stipulations and conditions of the building permit.
If the construction is not a change of use/occupancy or an addition to the building a certificate of acceptance will be issued from all trade permits upon final approval.

Commercial Renovations

1. Securing Permits

2. Application for Permit

To obtain a permit, the applicant shall first file an application therefor in writing on a form furnished by the department of building safety for that purpose. Such application shall:
Identify and describe the work to be covered by the permit for which application is made.
Describe the land on which the proposed work is to be done by legal description, street address or similar description that will readily identify and definitely locate the proposed building or work.
Indicate the use and occupancy for which the proposed work is intended.
Be accompanied by construction documents and other information as required in Section 107.
State the valuation of the proposed work.
Be signed by the applicant, or the applicant's authorized agent.
Give such other data and information as required by the building official.

3. Permit Issued

4. Performing Work

Contractor or owner should coordinate trades to renovate commercial buildings according to the approved plans submitted to the municipality. If changes are made from the original approved plans, new revised plans shall be submitted to the municipality for review and approval. All trades should have secured their individual permits once the building permit is secured. Please be aware there may be asbestos present when renovating, for additional information on asbestos, please go here.

5. Inspections

Construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official and such construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved. It shall be the duty of the holder of the building permit or their duly authorized agent to notify the building official when work is ready for inspection. It shall be the duty of the permit holder to provide access to and means for inspections of such work that are required by the code.
Work shall not be done beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the building official. The building official, upon notification, shall make the requested inspections and shall either indicate the portion of the construction that is satisfactory as completed, or notify the permit holder or his or her agent wherein the same fails to comply with this code. Any portions that do not comply shall be corrected and such portion shall not be covered or concealed until authorized by the building official. All MEP installations (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) shall be in accordance with their applicable codes and all required MEP inspections must be approved before required building inspections are conducted.
The building inspections are always the last inspection to be approved and the only inspections that can authorize cover on framing members, foundation, and slab pours, backfill approvals above ceiling coverings, and final inspections.

6. Types of Inspections

Each trade has many different types of inspections, here are a list of the most common inspection types per trade:

Buildings: footings and foundations, slab, damp proofing, insulation, rough frame, above ceiling, fireproofing, final.
Electrical: underground, rough wall temporary wiring, sign, status, final.
Pluming: underground, rough wall, re-inspection, final.
Mechanical: rough duct, above ceiling, hydrostatic test, final

7. Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Acceptance

The building permit number.
The address of the structure.
A description of that portion of the structure for which the certificate is issued.
A statement that the described portion of the structure has been inspected for compliance with the requirements of this code for the occupancy and division of occupancy and the use for which the proposed occupancy is classified.
The name and signature of the building official or designee, registered in accordance with the building officials and inspectors’ registration act, 1986 PA 54, MCL 338.2301 to 338.2313.
The edition of the code under which the permit was issued.
The use and occupancy, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 3.
The type of construction as defined in chapter 6.
The design occupant load.
If an automatic sprinkler system is provided, whether the sprinkler system is required.
Any special stipulations and conditions of the building permit.
If the construction is not a change of use/occupancy or an addition to the building a certificate of acceptance will be issued from all trade permits upon final approval.