HSHomeScope GuidePlan my project

Independent municipal research · reviewed August 2026

Michigan permits do not begin in one system.

HomeScope compared the official application and inspection starting points published by 24 Michigan municipalities. The practical finding is simple: verify the jurisdiction first, then use that community’s current department, forms, portal, and inspection instructions.

24municipalities compared
13publish a digital or portal-based application path
12publish online inspection-request guidance
6names explicitly signal city or township context

What this report is: a comparison of published official starting points. What it is not: a permit determination, legal opinion, processing-time ranking, or claim that one municipality is easier than another.

What the evidence shows

The homeowner’s first task is routing, not paperwork.

Jurisdiction names matter

City and township governments can be separate permitting authorities even when they share a familiar place name. Confirm the exact property jurisdiction before relying on forms or contact information.

Digital does not mean identical

Municipalities publish different combinations of portals, downloadable forms, email instructions, department contacts, payments, permit records, and inspection requests.

One project can cross departments

Building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, zoning, planning, fire, grading, and public-works review may follow different paths. The approved project scope determines what applies.

Inspection instructions are a separate check

An application starting point does not establish the inspection sequence. Confirm required rough, site, trade, and final inspections before work is concealed.

Community comparison

Published starting paths for 24 municipalities.

Categories below summarize what the cited official pages publish. Open the official source or HomeScope community guide for the underlying instructions and project-specific questions.

CommunityResponsible departmentApplication starting pathInspection starting pathReviewedSources
Ann ArborWashtenaw CountyAnn Arbor Construction & Building ServicesDepartment and official forms published; confirm submission methodPhone-based inspection request guidance publishedAugust 1, 2026Official ↗Guide →
Auburn HillsOakland CountyAuburn Hills Community Development / Building ServicesOnline portal or digital application path publishedOnline inspection request or portal guidance publishedAugust 1, 2026Official ↗Guide →
BirminghamOakland CountyCity of Birmingham Building DepartmentOnline portal or digital application path publishedOnline inspection request or portal guidance publishedAugust 1, 2026Official ↗Guide →
Canton TownshipWayne CountyCanton Building & Inspection ServicesDepartment and official forms published; confirm submission methodOnline inspection request or portal guidance publishedAugust 1, 2026Official ↗Guide →
City of YpsilantiWashtenaw CountyCity of Ypsilanti Building DepartmentOnline portal or digital application path publishedOnline inspection request or portal guidance publishedAugust 11, 2026Official ↗Guide →
DearbornWayne CountyCity of Dearborn Economic Development — Building & SafetyOnline portal or digital application path publishedOnline inspection request or portal guidance publishedAugust 11, 2026Official ↗Guide →
Farmington HillsOakland CountyFarmington Hills Building DivisionOnline portal or digital application path publishedOnline inspection request or portal guidance publishedAugust 1, 2026Official ↗Guide →
FentonGenesee CountyCity of Fenton Building Inspection DivisionForms with email, mail, or in-person instructionsPhone-based inspection request guidance publishedAugust 11, 2026Official ↗Guide →
FerndaleOakland CountyFerndale Community & Economic DevelopmentOnline portal or digital application path publishedOnline inspection request or portal guidance publishedAugust 1, 2026Official ↗Guide →
FlintGenesee CountyCity of Flint Building & Safety InspectionsDepartment and official forms published; confirm submission methodInspection guidance published; confirm the exact sequenceAugust 11, 2026Official ↗Guide →
FlushingGenesee CountyCity of Flushing Building InspectorDepartment and official forms published; confirm submission methodInspection guidance published; confirm the exact sequenceAugust 11, 2026Official ↗Guide →
Grand Blanc (City)Genesee CountyCity of Grand Blanc Building DepartmentOnline portal or digital application path publishedInspection guidance published; confirm the exact sequenceAugust 10, 2026Official ↗Guide →
Grand Blanc TownshipGenesee CountyGrand Blanc Township Building DivisionOnline portal or digital application path publishedOnline inspection request or portal guidance publishedAugust 10, 2026Official ↗Guide →
LindenGenesee CountyCity of Linden Building & Code EnforcementForms with email, mail, or in-person instructionsPhone-based inspection request guidance publishedAugust 11, 2026Official ↗Guide →
LivoniaWayne CountyLivonia Inspection DepartmentDepartment and official forms published; confirm submission methodInspection guidance published; confirm the exact sequenceAugust 1, 2026Official ↗Guide →
NoviOakland CountyNovi Community DevelopmentDepartment and official forms published; confirm submission methodOnline inspection request or portal guidance publishedAugust 1, 2026Official ↗Guide →
Rochester HillsOakland CountyRochester Hills Building, Ordinance & FacilitiesOnline portal or digital application path publishedInspection guidance published; confirm the exact sequenceAugust 1, 2026Official ↗Guide →
Royal OakOakland CountyRoyal Oak Building InspectionDepartment and official forms published; confirm submission methodInspection guidance published; confirm the exact sequenceAugust 1, 2026Official ↗Guide →
Shelby TownshipMacomb CountyShelby Township Building DepartmentDepartment and official forms published; confirm submission methodInspection guidance published; confirm the exact sequenceAugust 9, 2026Official ↗Guide →
SouthfieldOakland CountyCity of Southfield Building DepartmentOnline portal or digital application path publishedOnline inspection request or portal guidance publishedAugust 11, 2026Official ↗Guide →
Sterling HeightsMacomb CountySterling Heights Office of BuildingDepartment and official forms published; confirm submission methodOnline inspection request or portal guidance publishedAug 10, 2026Official ↗Guide →
TroyOakland CountyTroy Building InspectionOnline portal or digital application path publishedPhone-based inspection request guidance publishedAugust 1, 2026Official ↗Guide →
WarrenMacomb CountyCity of Warren Building DivisionOnline portal or digital application path publishedInspection guidance published; confirm the exact sequenceAugust 1, 2026Official ↗Guide →
West Bloomfield TownshipOakland CountyWest Bloomfield Township Building DivisionOnline portal or digital application path publishedOnline inspection request or portal guidance publishedAugust 1, 2026Official ↗Guide →

Methodology

Every row can be checked.

  1. Scope. We included the 24 municipalities covered by HomeScope’s current Michigan community records.
  2. Sources. We used municipal department pages, permit centers, official forms, published portals, and inspection instructions—not contractor blogs or lead marketplaces.
  3. Classification. “Online” means an official record explicitly publishes a portal or digital path. Other categories describe the starting instructions without inferring whether the entire process is online.
  4. Freshness. Each row shows the latest completed official-source review date. Municipal instructions can change between reviews.
  5. Corrections. Send a source-backed correction through HomeScope’s corrections process. Review history remains visible in the municipal source ledger.

Planning one project?

Use the directory instead of comparing systems. Select the community and project to reach the relevant official starting points.

Find my official permit sources →