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8 permits · verified 2026-10-10

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

In short

No permit applies to every contractor or trade in Washtenaw County, MI. All 8 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). 4 of the 8 are charged as a range or formula rather than a flat fee. Verified 2026-10-10 against the issuing agencies’ published fee schedules.

Permits particular to a contractor or trade in Washtenaw 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 or Waiver — Commercial (in the 14 local units listed by the Water Resources Commissioner)only if it applies to youWashtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's OfficeMinor commercial (within 500 ft of surface water, 225 sq ft to 1 acre) $500; major commercial (1.01 to 5 acres) $800; over 5 acres $800 + $75 per acre over 5; waiver $150. Additional plan reviews and all inspections $125/hour. Performance guarantee $500 per acre disturbed, $2,000 minimum (waivers excluded). Transfer $150 minor / $200 major (+$25 per acre over 5). Renewal for 6 months at half the original fee. Work without a permit: double the permit fee (Commercial Permit Fee Schedule, adopted October 1, 2025, updated 12-1-2025).commercial permits expire 24 months from the date of issuance; renewable for 6 months at half the original fee2026-10-10
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 Washtenaw County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Commercial Onsite Sewage and Type II Well Permits (conditional — premises on a private well or septic system)only if it applies to youWashtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health DivisionVaries — formula on the Washtenaw County pageper permit2026-10-10
Commercial Driveway Approach Permit (county road right-of-way)only if it applies to youWashtenaw County Road CommissionVaries — formula on the Washtenaw County pageper permit2026-10-10

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 Washtenaw County?

There is no single figure, and any site quoting one is rounding away the part that matters. Of the 8 records listed for a contractor or trade in Washtenaw County, MI, 0 apply to every business of this type and 8 are conditional. Adding every fee on the page together would overstate what most operators pay, because it would include permits they never need.

4 of the 8 are charged as a range or a formula set by the issuing agency, and 1 has no fee published at all. The ones particular to this business that vary:

Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permit or Waiver — Commercial (in the 14 local units listed by the Water Resources Commissioner): Minor commercial (within 500 ft of surface water, 225 sq ft to 1 acre) $500; major commercial (1.01 to 5 acres) $800; over 5 acres $800 + $75 per acre over 5; waiver $150. Additional plan reviews and all inspections $125/hour. Performance guarantee $500 per acre disturbed, $2,000 minimum (waivers excluded). Transfer $150 minor / $200 major (+$25 per acre over 5). Renewal for 6 months at half the original fee. Work without a permit: double the permit fee (Commercial Permit Fee Schedule, adopted October 1, 2025, updated 12-1-2025).

The other 3 variable fees belong to permits that apply to every type of business here; their formulas are set out on the Washtenaw County permits page and the MI state page.

Which offices issue these permits in Washtenaw County?

Permits for a contractor or trade in Washtenaw County, MI come from 6 separate offices: Washtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health Division, Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Office, Washtenaw County Road Commission, 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 Washtenaw 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 Washtenaw County: Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permit or Waiver — Commercial (in the 14 local units listed by the Water Resources Commissioner) and Residential Builder License.

Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permit or Waiver — Commercial (in the 14 local units listed by the Water Resources Commissioner)

The Washtenaw County Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance states that 'The Office of the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner will be the designated enforcing agency for the County.' Its Commercial Projects page lists 'Where WCWRC has SESC Jurisdiction': Augusta, Lodi, Northfield, Salem, Saline, Scio, Sharon, Superior, Webster and York Townships and the Cities of Dexter, Milan, Saline and Ypsilanti. Under 'Other SESC Agency Jurisdictions' the same page lists the City of Ann Arbor Building Division, Ann Arbor Township Building and Zoning, the Chelsea Area Construction Authority, Pittsfield Township, the Western Washtenaw Construction Authority and Ypsilanti Township Planning and Zoning, so this record applies only in the 14 listed local units. The page states that 'Commercial projects with earth changes within 500 feet of surface water and disturbs more than 225 square feet require a SESC permit.' Under the Water Resources Commissioner's Commercial Permit Fee Schedule (fee schedule adopted October 1, 2025, updated 12-1-2025, linked from the county's SESC Forms page), a minor commercial permit is $500, a major permit $800 (plus $75 per acre over 5 acres) and a waiver $150, for earth changes over 500 feet from all surface water disturbing less than one acre, or within 500 feet disturbing less than 225 square feet. Additional plan reviews and all inspections are billed at $125 an hour, and commercial permits (excluding waivers) need a performance guarantee of $500 per acre disturbed, minimum $2,000.

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 2 local permits in the tables apply to every type of business in Washtenaw County, MI; what each one involves is set out on the Washtenaw 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 Washtenaw 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 or Waiver — Commercial (in the 14 local units listed by the Water Resources Commissioner) and Residential Builder License. A auto repair shop needs Pollution Prevention (P2) Program Annual Fee (conditional — 56 gallons / 450 pounds or more; county-wide, including cities), Motor Vehicle Repair Facility Registration and Mechanic Certification, which a contractor or trade does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Washtenaw 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 shops3023
Childcare centres2022
Coffee shops6026
Fitness studios1021
Food trucks7027
Restaurants6026
Retail stores3023
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 Washtenaw County permits page and the MI state page. Confirmed by Editorial Team.

  1. Commercial Permit Fee Schedule (fee schedule adopted October 1, 2025; updated 12-1-2025)Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Office · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-10
  2. Soil Erosion — Commercial Projects (permit triggers and SESC jurisdiction areas)Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Office · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-10
  3. Washtenaw County Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance (revised ordinance published April 1, 2016)Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-10
  4. Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control (SESC) ProgramWashtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Office · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-10
  5. SESC Forms (fee schedules and applications)Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner's Office · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-10
  6. Michigan LARA Bureau of Construction Codes — builder license feesMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  7. 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.