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10 permits · verified 2026-10-10

What permits do you need to open a salon or barber in Washtenaw County?

In short

A salon or barber in Washtenaw County, MI has 2 permits that apply to every business of this type, plus 8 more that depend on your premises, signage 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 10 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 salon or barber in Washtenaw County

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Body Art Facility Plan Review and Inspection (conditional — tattoo, piercing, PMU; state license separate)only if it applies to youWashtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health DivisionPlan review for new or remodeled establishments $287; temporary facility inspection $174; re-inspection to confirm correction of a critical item $170 (2026 Environmental Health Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026). The State of Michigan Body Art Facility License is applied for separately.one-time plan review before construction; the state license is renewed before December 1 each year2026-10-10
Cosmetology Establishment LicenseMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing$75 application and first two-year license; $50 to renew2 years2026-09-03
Barbershop Licenseonly if it applies to youMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing$130 application and first two-year license; $80 to renew2 years2026-09-03

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
Sales Tax LicenseMichigan Department of TreasuryNo feeissued yearly, valid January to December2026-09-03
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 salon or barber in Washtenaw 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 salon or barber in Washtenaw County, MI, 2 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.

Of the 2 that always apply, 1 carry a flat fee, coming to $75.00. That is a floor, not a total. 4 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:

Body Art Facility Plan Review and Inspection (conditional — tattoo, piercing, PMU; state license separate): Plan review for new or remodeled establishments $287; temporary facility inspection $174; re-inspection to confirm correction of a critical item $170 (2026 Environmental Health Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026). The State of Michigan Body Art Facility License is applied for separately.

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 salon or barber in Washtenaw County, MI come from 6 separate offices: Washtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health Division, 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 Treasury, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing. No single office issues them all, which is why an opening means filing in several places rather than one.

What does a salon or barber need in Washtenaw County that other businesses do not?

3 of the 3 permits particular to a salon or barber here apply to no other business type we cover in Washtenaw County: Body Art Facility Plan Review and Inspection (conditional — tattoo, piercing, PMU; state license separate), Cosmetology Establishment License and Barbershop License.

Body Art Facility Plan Review and Inspection (conditional — tattoo, piercing, PMU; state license separate)

A salon or studio that will offer tattooing, body piercing or permanent makeup in Washtenaw County goes through the Environmental Health Division first. The county's body art page states: 'Any new body art facility in Washtenaw County must apply for Body Art Facility Plan Review through our office and receive plan review approval before any construction can begin. You must then receive an inspection and operating approval before any body art services can be performed.' The plan review for a new or remodeled establishment is $287, a temporary facility inspection $174 and a re-inspection $170. The figure is from the Washtenaw County Health Department's 2026 Environmental Health Fee Schedule, the county fee schedule linked from the Environmental Health Division's Applications, Forms & Fees page, which states that its fees are effective January 1, 2026. The same page links the State of Michigan Body Art Facility License application on the MDHHS site and states that the state license must be renewed before December 1st each year. It also notes that some areas of the county do not allow body art facilities because of zoning, and directs applicants to the zoning office of the city, village or township. A salon that offers no body art services is outside this record.

Cosmetology Establishment License

A barbershop and a cosmetology establishment are licensed by different boards at very different prices, which catches anyone running a combined shop: $75 to open and $50 to renew here, against $130 and $80 for a barbershop — seventy-three per cent more at the start. The license issues only after inspection. There is a sixty-day grace period after expiry, and relicensing costs $95. Expiration dates vary between licensees rather than falling on a common date, so the date printed on the license is the one that matters; the renewal window opens ninety days before it. Payment is by card only.

Barbershop License

Michigan keeps barbering and cosmetology apart, with separate boards and separate prices, and the barbershop is much the dearer: $130 to open against $75, and $80 to renew against $50. Inspection is required before issue. Relicensing costs $150. For scale, the practitioners themselves pay far less than their premises — a barber's own license is $60 for two years and a cosmetologist's $48.

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 5 state-level registrations apply to every type of business across MI and are covered on the MI state page.

How does a salon or barber compare with other businesses in Washtenaw County?

The closest match is a auto repair shop, which shares 0 of these permits. A salon or barber also needs Body Art Facility Plan Review and Inspection (conditional — tattoo, piercing, PMU; state license separate), Cosmetology Establishment License and Barbershop 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 salon or barber does not.

Permits particular to each business type in Washtenaw County, MI, compared with a salon or barber
BusinessIts own permitsShared with a salon or barberOnly a salon or barber needsOnly it needs
Auto repair shops3033
Childcare centres2032
Coffee shops6036
Contractors and trades2032
Fitness studios1031
Food trucks7037
Restaurants6036
Retail stores3033
Veterinary clinics1031

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. 2026 Environmental Health Fee Schedule (fees effective January 1, 2026)Washtenaw County Health Department, Environmental Health Division · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-10
  2. Opening & Operating a Body Art Facility in Washtenaw CountyWashtenaw County Health Department · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-10
  3. Michigan LARA — cosmetology establishment licensing guideMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs · primary source · retrieved 2026-09-03
  4. Michigan LARA — barbershop licensing guideMichigan 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.