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Permit Information

Work Requiring a Permit

As described in the Michigan adopted codes, "Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure…shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit." If there is any question as to the need for a permit, contact the Building Department at (248) 644-1520. Permits are required for many types of jobs, including, but not limited to, the following:

• New residential & commercial building construction
• Additions, alterations or modifications to existing buildings
• Decks
• Pools
• Sheds or similar accessory structures
• Fences
• Air conditioning units
• Generators
• Retaining and screening walls
• Signage
• Window & door replacement (with structural modification)
• Piers, walls and fences in front yard areas
• Residential & commercial demolition
• All indoor and outdoor electrical work requires an electrical permit
• All indoor plumbing, water services, sanitary sewer services, storm sewer services, sprinkling systems and sump-pump installations require a plumbing permit
• Any work relating to heating, cooling and ventilation systems requires a mechanical permit.
• Low Voltage permits are no longer required; however, the low voltage work must still be in place at the time of electrical inspection.

Application Requirements

Residential Permit Applications:

• Interior Alterations*
  • Two sets of plans and/or or project descriptions
• Fences, generators, decks*, swimming pools*
  • Two sets of a site plan that shows proposed location on property
  • Two sets of complete building plans (decks and pools)
• Additions under 600 Square Feet*
  • Three sets of a site plan that shows the proposed location on property
  • Three sets of a complete building plan
• Additions over 600 Square Feet*
  • Soil Erosion Control permit issued by the DEQ (If the ground floor is affected)
  • Three sets of a complete grading/site plan that shows the proposed location on property. (See the Grading Ordinance section of the City Code that provides details of what constitutes a complete grading plan.)
  • Three sets of a complete building plan with all construction details
• New Homes*
  • Soil Erosion Control permit issued by the DEQ
  • Three sets of a complete grading/site plan that shows the proposed location on property. (See the Grading Ordinance section of the City Code that provides details of what constitutes a complete grading plan.)
  • Three sets of a complete building plan with all construction details

Commercial Permit Applications*

The following items must be submitted to the building department at time of application:

1. Two review sets of construction drawings, signed and sealed by a licensed design professional. Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, Fire Suppression and Fire Alarm drawings may be submitted later, but are required as part of those respective applications for permit.
2. For new construction, three site plans that were approved by the City of Bloomfield Hills City Commission.

*NOTE: Once plans for all projects have been approved, and prior to issuance of the Building Permit, the applicant shall provide a CD/ROM copy of the approved plans for City records. Hard copies of the approved plans will be returned to the applicant as part of the permit for site records. Substantial changes to the plans during the course of construction shall necessitate that the applicant provide as "as-built" set of plans in CR/ROM format. And, once the final as-built grading plan has been approved by the City, applicant shall provide a copy of the same in CD/Rom format. (This policy became effective December 8, 2007.)

Demolition Permits

The following items are required to be submitted by the owner or the owner's agent for a demolition project:

1. Approved disconnect notices from all utilities:
   1. Electric
   2. Gas
   3. Telephone
   4. Water
   5. Sewer
2. A survey of the property to be demolished.
3. A soil erosion permit from the DEQ
4.  A completed application with appropriate fees.

As the GENERAL CONTRACTOR, it is YOUR responsibility to monitor continued compliance by the subcontractors performing the demolition work.

Permit Forms

Permit forms may be obtained in our offices or downloaded from this site. If the form is downloaded from this site, it may be completed but must be printed for submission. The permit forms available here include:

• Building
• Accessory Structure
• Demolition
• Mechanical
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Fire Alarm
• Tent
• Commercial Fire Suppression

Fee Schedules - (Effective January 8, 2008)

Departmental Fee Schedules:

(Note: All square footage rates are based on finished/unfinished areas, basements, garages and decks.)

Residential Plan Review Fees:

• Building Plan Reviews:
  • New Construction:
    • Up to 8,000 s.f.: $500.00
    • 8,000-12,000 s.f.: $750.00
    • 12,001-20,000 s.f.: $1,000.00
    • Over 20,000 s.f.: $1,500.00
  • Additions/Alterations: $500.00 Minimum (use new construction schedule).
  • Miscellaneous Reviews:
    • Accessory Structures: $100.00
    • In-ground pools, fences: $100.00
    • Revision fees (3rd review): $100.00
    • Revisions After Permit: $50.00
    • Consultant Review Escrow: $750.00 (as required)
• Trade Review Fees:
  • New Construction:
    • Up to 12,000 s.f.: $100.00
    • Over 12,000 s.f.: $150.00
  • Additions/Alterations:
    • Up to 12,000 s.f.: $100.00
    • Over 12,000 s.f.: $150.00

Residential Building Permit Fees:

• Application Fee: (ALL) $50
• Annual Registration: $25
• New Construction Permit Fee: $0.45/square foot
• Addition/Alteration/Accessory Structures Permit Fee: $1.00/square foot
• Pool permit fee: $1.00/square foot
• Fence permit fee: $150.00 (flat rate)
• Minimum Permit Fee (ALL): $150.00

Miscellaneous Fees:

• Additional Inspections: $50.00
• Reinspection Fee: $50.00

(All fees listed are exclusive of building bonds and consultant review escrows. See the schedule below.)

Commercial Plan Review Fees:

• Building Plan Reviews:
  • New Construction: $0.10 per square foot
  • Build Outs/Alterations:
    • Up to 10,000 s.f.: $0.08/s.f.
    • 10,001 to 20,000 s.f.: $0.07/s.f
    • Over 20,000 s.f.: $0.06/s.f.
  • General Review Fee Information:
    • All fees are rounded up to the next $50.00
    • Minimum building review fee is $500.00
• Trade Review Fees:
  • New Construction or Additions/Alterations:
    • Up to 10,000 s.f.: $100.00 (each trade)
    • 10,001- 20,000 s.f.: $200.00 (each trade)
    • Over 20,000 s.f.: $300 (each trade)

Commercial Building Permit Fees:

• Application Fee: (ALL) $50
• Annual Registration: $25
• New Construction Permit Fee: $0.70/square foot
• Building Permit Fee for "Shell Only":
  • Up to 10,000 s.f.: $0.55/s.f.
  • 10,001 to 20,000 s.f.: $0.50/s.f
  • Over 20,000 s.f.: $0.45/s.f.
• Building Permit Fee for Interior "Build Out" (from shell):
  • Up to 10,000 s.f.: $0.35/s.f.
  • 10,001 to 20,000 s.f.: $0.30/s.f
  • Over 20,000 s.f.: $0.25/s.f.
• Building Permit Fee for Interior Renovations/Alterations:
  • Up to 10,000 s.f.: $0.70/s.f.
  • 10,001 to 20,000 s.f.: $0.65/s.f
  • Over 20,000 s.f.: $0.60/s.f.

Miscellaneous Fees:

• Additional Inspections: $50.00
• Reinspection Fee: $50.00
• Wall sign permit fee: $75.00
• Ground sign permit Fee : $100.00

(All fees listed are exclusive of building bonds and consultant review escrows. See the schedule below.)

Building Bond Schedule: (effective 10/16/07)

• New, single-family residence: $2,500.00
• Multiple and or Condominiums: $2,500.00 (each unit)
• Residential Additions/Alterations: $1,000.00
• New commercial/office building: $5,000.00
• Alteration of commercial/office space: $1,000.00
• Swimming Pools: $1,000.00

Other Fee Expenses: (by Commission resolution of May 15, 2007)

(Amounts required on hand to reimburse City for Consultant Review Expenses)

• Major Projects: $5,000.00
  • Rezoning
  • Subdivisions
  • Site Condominiums
  • Commercial development
  • Commercial Re-development
  • Special Land Use
• Minor Projects: $2,500.00
• Administrative Reviews: $750.00
  • Pre-development Conferences
  • Signs
  • Front yard fence or gate

Certificate of Occupancy

A Certificate of Occupancy can be obtained two business days after the last required inspection has been approved. An Application for a Certificate of Occupancy must first be submitted to this office to assure that all inspections have been completed and approved, and that reimbursement to the City for all Engineering and Planning fees has been achieved.　

Certificates of Occupancy would not be issued for "Stand Alone" permitted work. "Stand Alone" permits are issued for work that involves only one or two trades. Examples of "Stand Alone" permits would be furnace replacement, electrical panel upgrades and water heater replacement. Homeowners are cautioned to tender final payment to the contractor for the work only after it has been inspected and approved by this department. This will assure that the completed work is code compliant and installed to meet the prescribed levels of safety.

Certificate of Compliance

Zoning Ordinance

The City of Bloomfield Hills Zoning Ordinance controls the location, size and height of structures such as buildings, garages and additions to homes. The Zoning Ordinance also controls what you can do in different parts of the City. For example, you cannot conduct a commercial business in a residential area, except under certain conditions.　

The Zoning Ordinance is designed to protect city residents, their homes and businesses from conflicting activities nearby. The text of this Ordinance may be found in the City Code section of this website.

Variances to the zoning ordinance require approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals. An application along with the required fee for a variance must be submitted to the City Clerk in order to be placed on the agenda for the Zoning Board of Appeals. Submission schedules and requirements may be found in the ordinance section of this website.

The Board meets according to the published schedule in the City Commission Room of the Municipal Building.　 The Board's agenda is restricted, so applications that are complete with all appropriate documentation will be heard in order of receipt until that docket is filled.