Southfield, MI Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)

Southfield adopted the Michigan Plumbing Code by reference at Sec. 8.451, acting under Section 8b(6) of the Stille-DeRossett Hale Single State Construction Code Act, 1972 PA 230, MCL 125.1508b(6), and the same section has the city also enforcing the Michigan Residential, Rehabilitation and Uniform Energy Codes for plumbing work. The Building Official, or a designee registered under 1986 PA 54, collects the fees and issues the permits, plan reviews, notices, orders and certificates of use and occupancy, and every person performing plan reviews and inspections must hold that same state registration.

A complete printed copy of the code is kept on file at the city clerk's office for public inspection under Sec. 8.452. Plumbing permit fees cover everything from apparatus and equipment installed in new buildings to alterations, additions, field inspections and repairs, billed under the schedule in Chapter 101 of the City Code, but Sec. 8.175 sets a floor: no plumbing permit can be charged less than $50.00, and additions to an open permit under the same contractor's name cannot be billed less than $15.00.

That floor applies across the trade, from residential fixture work to commercial backflow preventers and pool plumbing installations. Article V of the same chapter closes with a single penalty covering every adopted construction code, building, mechanical, electrical and plumbing, so a plumbing violation carries the same criminal exposure as violating any other construction code the city has adopted.