Pontiac, MI Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Pontiac City Code § 22-2 adopts "the current version of the International Property Maintenance Code, Michigan Building Code, Michigan Electrical Code, Michigan Plumbing Code, Michigan Mechanical Code, and Michigan Residential Code along with all appendixes for each code," plus future amended versions, as the city's construction codes, so the Michigan Electrical Code governs wiring and equipment installations citywide. Article III of Chapter 22, titled Electrical Code, states its purpose is "to provide standards for electrical installations and electrical wiring in the city, in order to protect the public safety and welfare." The former Division 4 sections that spelled out electrical permit procedures, §§ 22-156 through 22-164, were repealed by Ordinance No.

2305 in August 2013, and the electrical code adoption and contractor registration sections, former §§ 22-64 and 22-65, were repealed by Ordinance No. 2467 in May 2025, so § 22-2's adoption of the Michigan Electrical Code is now the operative permit authority. Section 22-63 preserves liability for anyone owning, operating, controlling, or installing electrical equipment, stating that the article "shall not be construed to relieve from or lessen the liability of any person" for damages caused by defective work, and that the city is not liable by reason of any inspection it performs.

Under § 22-6, the Department of Community Development, through its director, officials, inspectors, plan reviewers, and code enforcement personnel, is the enforcing agency for the adopted electrical code. Electrical contractors must register with the city before starting work and renew that registration each license year under § 22-7, with the annual fee set by City Council resolution; construction work, including electrical installation, is limited to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday under § 22-4.