Michigan permit review deadlines
How long does it take to get a building permit in Michigan?
Michigan's deadline is short and old. Since 1973, state law has given an enforcing agency 10 business days to grant or deny a building permit, or 15 for an unusually complicated building.
Missing it does not approve the permit. It counts as a denial, which gives the applicant the right to appeal. Bills that would add fee refunds passed the Michigan House in June 2026.
See the deadlines ↓Current Michigan state-level guidelines
The short answer
Under MCL 125.1511, a Michigan enforcing agency must grant or deny a building permit application, in whole or in part, within 10 business days. For an unusually complicated building or structure, it has 15 business days. If the agency does not act in time, the law treats that as a denial so the applicant can appeal to the construction board of appeals, which has 30 days to decide. There is no fee refund and no automatic approval in current law.
By project type
Michigan permit review deadlines.
Michigan's deadline is in the state construction code act and applies statewide.
| Project type | Deadline | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | 10 business days | To grant, in whole or in part, or deny. |
| Unusually complicated building or structure | 15 business days | |
| Appeal to the construction board of appeals | 30 days | For the board to hear the appeal and file a decision. |
Step by step
How Michigan's review clock works.
If it conforms to the act, the code, and other laws, the agency must approve it and issue the permit.
Fifteen if the building is unusually complicated.
The applicant can then appeal to the local construction board of appeals.
When the clock runs out
What happens when a Michigan department misses the deadline.
Failure to act within the deadline is deemed a denial for the purpose of starting an appeal.
If the board does not decide in time, that also counts as a denial and the applicant can appeal to the state commission.
Faster permit approvals start with more efficient plan review.
See how your team can spend less time chasing comments, waiting on other disciplines, and tracking down the status of a review, without changing your permitting system or CDP.
Recent changes
What changed, and when.
January 1, 1973
The Single State Construction Code Act takes effectThe 10 and 15 business-day deadlines date from the original act.
June 10, 2026
House Bills 5932 to 5935 pass the Michigan HouseThe package would add completeness checks, fee refunds for missed deadlines, and written citations for denials on permits issued by the state. The bills are in the Senate Regulatory Affairs Committee and are not law.
City by city
How Michigan cities handle review times.
Detroit has gone further than the state deadline for small projects.
Detroit
Detroit's mayor and building department announced that most home and small business renovation permits would be approved the same day instead of taking up to 30 days. It is an administrative promise with no penalty attached.
Read the source →City details come from each city's public pages as of November 12, 2026. Cities change their targets and processes often, so check the linked source for the current version.
Common questions
Michigan building permit deadlines, answered.
How long does it take to get a building permit in Michigan?
State law gives the enforcing agency 10 business days, or 15 for an unusually complicated building. That is the deadline for a decision on the application.
What happens if a Michigan building department misses the deadline?
The law treats the missed deadline as a denial. That lets the applicant appeal to the construction board of appeals, which must decide within 30 days.
Is Michigan adding penalties for late permits?
It may. House Bills 5932 to 5935 passed the House on June 10, 2026 and would add fee refunds for missed deadlines on state-issued permits. As of this review they have not passed the Senate.
How do Michigan building departments keep up with these deadlines?
Three habits show up in the departments that hit the clock. They check applications for missing items in the first few days. They let building, fire, planning, and engineering review the same plans at the same time. And they track the days left on every review, so a manager can step in before a deadline passes.
Read it for yourself
Sources.
Keep exploring
Deadlines in other states.
If you review plans in Michigan
Working under Michigan's review clock? See how e-PlanSoft can help you hit it consistently.
Meeting a review deadline starts with a good intake process, disciplines that work together, and a clear view of every review in progress.
Book a demoSee how collaborative review works →This page summarizes public laws, rules, and city review practices in Michigan as of November 12, 2026. Deadlines vary by location and permit type. These summaries are for reference, not legal advice. Check the linked sources and local requirements for the rules that apply to your project.