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10 permits · verified 2026-10-09

What permits do you need to open a contractor or trade in Macomb County?

In short

No permit applies to every contractor or trade in Macomb County, MI. All 10 depend on your premises, the work you do or how you are set up. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau charges $50 one-time filing, non-refundable for the articles of organization (llc). 5 of the 10 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-09 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a contractor or trade in Macomb County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permit (commercial/industrial)only if it applies to youMacomb County Public Works Office (Public Works Commissioner)Commercial/industrial under 20 acres $1,082 (1-year term); commercial/industrial 20 acres or larger $2,055 (2-year term); double fees if the project starts before the permit is issued; a bond of not less than $1,500 per acre of earth change at the Commissioner's discretion (2026 Soil Erosion Control Permit Fees, effective January 1, 2026; Ordinance §H).1 year (under 20 acres) or 2 years (20 acres or larger); renewal required before expiry2026-10-09
Residential Builder Licenseonly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes$195 application; $150 to renew every three years3 years — expires 31 May2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

Local permits that apply to every type of business in Macomb County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
County Road Right-of-Way Permit (commercial approach and construction)only if it applies to youMacomb County Department of RoadsVaries — formula on the Macomb County pageexpires one year from the date of issuance; renewable for an additional year on payment of the permit fee2026-10-09
Local Business License, Zoning and Building Permits — City, Village or Townshiponly if it applies to youMacomb County Planning and Economic DevelopmentNo feeset by each city, village or township2026-10-09
Onsite Sewage Disposal (Septic) Permit (conditional — premises off public sewer)only if it applies to youMacomb County Health Department, Environmental Health Services DivisionVaries — formula on the Macomb County pageper permit2026-10-09
Water Well Permit — Type III Public Well (conditional — premises on a private well)only if it applies to youMacomb County Health Department, Environmental Health Services DivisionVaries — formula on the Macomb County pageper permit2026-10-09

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

MI registrations that apply to every type of business

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Articles of Organization (LLC)only if it applies to youMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau$50 one-time filing, non-refundableno expiry, but an annual statement is due every 15 February2026-09-03
Articles of Incorporationonly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau$60 one-time minimum — a $10 fee plus an organization fee from $50, banded by authorised sharesno expiry, but an annual report is due every 15 May2026-09-03
General Business License — Michigan state positiononly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNo feenot applicable at state level2026-09-03
Annual Report or Annual Statementonly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing BureauVaries — formula on the MI pageannual — 15 February for an LLC, 15 May for a corporation2026-09-03

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

How much does it actually cost to permit a contractor or trade in Macomb County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 10 records listed for a contractor or trade in Macomb County, MI, 0 apply to every business of this type and 10 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

5 of the 10 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 2 have no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permit (commercial/industrial): Commercial/industrial under 20 acres $1,082 (1-year term); commercial/industrial 20 acres or larger $2,055 (2-year term); double fees if the project starts before the permit is issued; a bond of not less than $1,500 per acre of earth change at the Commissioner's discretion (2026 Soil Erosion Control Permit Fees, effective January 1, 2026; Ordinance §H).

The other 4 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Macomb County permits page and the MI state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Macomb County?

Permits for a contractor or trade in Macomb County, MI come from 7 separate offices: Macomb County Public Works Office (Public Works Commissioner), Macomb County Department of Roads, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development, Macomb County Health Department, Environmental Health Services Division, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a contractor or trade need in Macomb County that other businesses do not?

2 of the 2 permits particular to a contractor or trade here apply to no other business type we cover in Macomb County: Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permit (commercial/industrial) and Residential Builder License.

Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permit (commercial/industrial)

Under the county Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance, a permit from the Macomb County Public Works Commissioner is required before an earth change that disturbs one or more acres or is within 500 feet of a lake, stream or drain. The ordinance does not apply within a local unit granted municipal enforcing agency status; the county coverage map names Sterling Heights and St. Clair Shores as running their own soil erosion programs. The county's 2026 Soil Erosion Control Permit Fees, effective January 1, 2026, set $1,082 for a commercial or industrial project under 20 acres (1-year term) and $2,055 for one of 20 acres or larger (2-year term), with double fees if work starts before the permit is issued. Section H allows a bond at the Commissioner's discretion of not less than $1,500 per acre of earth change. Section L bars a local unit that issues building permits, other than a municipal enforcing agency, from issuing one for a covered earth change until the county permit or waiver is issued.

Residential Builder License

Michigan licenses residential builders and not commercial ones — the construction codes bureau states it directly — so a purely commercial contractor needs no state license, while the skilled trades are licensed either way. The qualifier is that a residential builder's definition reaches a combined residential and commercial structure, so mixed projects are inside the regime. Veterans have the application fee waived. A sixty-hour prelicensure course is required, and continuing education is twenty-one hours in each of the first two renewal cycles then three hours thereafter. A company license needs an individual license holder as its qualifying officer, and if that individual lapses the company is suspended. Exemption threshold: an aggregate contract price under $600. A physical Michigan address is required — a post office box will not do.

The other 4 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Macomb County, MI; what each one involves is set out on the Macomb County permits page. The 4 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across MI and are covered on the MI state page.

How does a contractor or trade compare with other businesses in Macomb County?

The closest match is a auto repair shop, which shares 0 of these permits. A contractor or trade also needs Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permit (commercial/industrial) and Residential Builder License. A auto repair shop needs Motor Vehicle Repair Facility Registration and Mechanic Certification, which a contractor or trade does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Macomb County, MI, compared with a contractor or trade
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a contractor or tradeOnly a contractor or trade needsOnly it needs
Auto repair shops2022
Childcare centres2022
Coffee shops8028
Fitness studios1021
Food trucks7027
Restaurants7027
Retail stores1021
Salons and barbers3023
Veterinary clinics1021

Sources

Every figure for the permits explained on this page was read from one of these government pages on the date shown. Sources for the permits that apply to every type of business are listed on the Macomb County permits page and the MI state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. 2026 Soil Erosion Control Permit Fees ('Effective January 01, 2026')Macomb County Public Works Office · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  2. Macomb County Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance (adopted August 16, 2007, effective January 1, 2008)Macomb County Public Works Office · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  3. Soil erosion coverage mapMacomb County Public Works Office · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  4. Soil erosion and sedimentation control pageMacomb County Public Works Office · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-09
  5. Michigan LARA Bureau of Construction Codes — builder license feesMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  6. Michigan LARA Bureau of Construction Codes — builders FAQ, confirming Michigan licenses residential but not commercial buildersMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03

Related

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.