Battle Creek, MI Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

Section 1424.10(a) of the Battle Creek Codified Ordinances prohibits any plumbing work, whether new or replacement, without first obtaining a permit from the Building Inspection Division, and issues the permit only to a licensed master plumber or to a homeowner doing work on their own residence (single-family dwelling). The application is a sworn form giving the owner's name and address, the premises address, the responsible master plumber's name and address, the State plumber's license number, and a description of the installation with the number and kind of fixtures (Section 1424.10(b)).

Once a properly filed application meets all requirements, the permit is granted or refused within ten days, exclusive of Sundays and holidays, and a refusal must be explained to the applicant in writing (Section 1424.10(c)). A permit gives no right to connect with a master main, remove any sidewalk or excavate any street, and it lapses if work has not commenced within 180 days of issuance (Section 1424.10(d)). No permit issues until fees are paid under the City Fee, Bond, and Insurance schedule in Section 802.24, subject to City Commission approval (Section 1424.11).

Inspection follows quickly. Section 1424.07 requires a plumbing inspection within twenty-four hours on a regular work day after a request is made, covering the work to a point five feet outside the building for water services and to the street main for sanitary and storm sewers. A private sanitary facility where no public sewer is available needs a permit from the County Health Department, which inspects before backfilling.

Plumbers carry their own obligations. Master and journeyman plumbers licensed by the State and all plumber's apprentices register with the Building Inspection Division before working in the City, on or before the first day of April each year (Section 1424.08). Master plumbers keep public liability insurance on file, with renewal certificates filed each year on or before April 1 (Section 1424.09). Work must be supervised by a licensed master plumber except homeowner work on their own single-family residence (Section 1424.15), and no licensee can let another person use their name to obtain permits (Section 1424.16).