Warren, MI Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Section 9-16 adopts, by reference, the State Construction Code, comprising the Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code (which itself incorporates the International Building Code), together with any and all amendments, and designates a code official to administer and enforce it; a copy is kept for public review at the city clerk's office. Section 9-17 amends that adopted code locally: the division of buildings and safety engineering collects a plan-examination, permit and inspection fee under a schedule city council sets by resolution, and an owner who cancels a still-unused permit within six months of issuance, before any inspection, can get an 80 percent refund of fees paid, though the treasurer keeps at least $30 of every canceled permit's fees.

If the city denies a permit application or makes any other decision under the adopted code or a local building ordinance, § 9-29 lets the applicant appeal in writing to the five-member construction board of appeals, whose members are appointed by the mayor and approved by council and who must issue a written decision within 30 days of the appeal; missing that deadline counts as a denial for purposes of a further appeal. Board meetings are open to the public under the Michigan Open Meetings Act, and its records are subject to the state Freedom of Information Act.