Chesterfield Building Department 2026: Permits, Inspections & Services

Chesterfield Township, Michigan · 2026 permit guide

Chesterfield Township Building Permits, Inspections & Local Services

If you are looking for the Chesterfield Building Department to apply for a permit, check a fee, schedule an inspection, find an old permit, or understand what documents you need, this guide covers the practical steps in one place.

Chesterfield Building Department Contact Information

The department reviews building plans, issues building and trade permits, performs inspections, and administers local code-enforcement functions. Separate permits may be required for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work even when the project already has a building permit.

How to Apply for a Chesterfield Township Building Permit

Chesterfield Township has moved away from ordinary paper counter filing for new permit applications. Township forms state that electronic applications have been required since January 1, 2024. The easiest starting point is the Township’s BS&A Online municipal page.

The Township also publishes downloadable permit forms on its Building & Code Enforcement page. Some forms state that they may be submitted electronically to building@chesterfieldtwp.org. Use the current department instructions for your permit type before emailing documents.

What Documents Do You Need?

The exact package depends on the project. A simple fence application will not require the same information as a new home. Still, applicants can save a surprising amount of time by collecting the basics before opening the permit portal.

• Property address and parcel information.
• Owner and applicant contact details.
• Clear written description of the proposed work.
• Estimated construction cost where required.
• Construction drawings with dimensions.
• Site plan, plot plan, mortgage survey, or certified survey where applicable.
• Distances to property lines, easements, and existing structures.
• Builder or contractor license information where required.
• Applicant identification requested by the applicable form.
• Electrical, plumbing, or mechanical applications when those trades are involved.
• Energy, structural, engineering, septic, soil-erosion, driveway/approach, or health approvals when applicable.

New Home Construction Has a Longer Checklist

Chesterfield Township’s residential new-construction checklist is much more specific. For a new home, the Township’s published checklist calls for items that may include:

1. Building permit application.
2. Macomb County soil-erosion permit.
3. Macomb County approach permit.
4. Blueprints submitted as a PDF.
5. Energy package.
6. Builder license and driver’s license.
7. Septic permit when applicable.
8. Health Department approval when applicable.
9. Required water-meter size.
10. Certified plot plans with grade elevations.
11. Heating-system documentation.
12. Parcel number.

The heating documentation can involve equipment sizing and load calculations. The Township checklist references ACCA Manual S and Manual J or another method accepted by the code official. This is the kind of item that is easy to overlook until plan review, so preparing it early can prevent an avoidable resubmittal.

Which Projects Have Chesterfield Permit Forms?

Chesterfield Township publishes a broad set of project-specific forms. That is useful because it tells homeowners what the department commonly reviews rather than forcing everyone into one generic application.

Chesterfield Township Building Permit Fees for 2026

Chesterfield Township publishes a dedicated 2026 Fee Schedule, revised April 14, 2026. Fees are not one flat amount. They depend on the project type, construction value, trade work, plan review, inspections, and any required bond.

Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits have separate itemized charges. Each currently lists a $65 base application fee, and the final cost depends on the equipment, fixtures, circuits, inspections, and other work included.

How to Schedule a Chesterfield Building Inspection

Once work reaches a required inspection stage, do not cover it before the inspector has had the required opportunity to inspect it.

1. Find the permit number for the job.
2. Confirm which inspection is required next.
3. Make sure the work is complete and accessible for that stage.
4. Call 586-949-0400, ext. 6476.
5. Leave the property address, permit number, and requested inspection type.
6. For a requested next-day inspection, call before the Township’s published 3:00 PM cutoff.
7. Keep approved plans and permit information available at the site when required.
8. If corrections are issued, complete them before requesting the applicable reinspection.

The Township FAQ says inspectors are generally available for questions in the office between approximately 8:00–9:30 AM and 4:00–4:30 PM. If you need clarification about an inspection correction, calling during those windows may be more useful than guessing at the inspector’s intent.

Common Inspection Stages

The exact sequence depends on the project, but inspections may include footing or foundation, underground work, rough framing, rough electrical, rough plumbing, rough mechanical, insulation or energy-related items, and final inspections.

For example, Chesterfield’s published deck guidance identifies a post-hole inspection and a final inspection, with a framing inspection in certain deck configurations. A new home or major commercial project will involve a much broader sequence.

How to Search Chesterfield Building Permits and Records

You do not have to call the department first for every basic permit-status question. Chesterfield Township’s BS&A municipal page provides a Building Department Record Search.

1. Open Chesterfield Charter Township BS&A Online.
2. Select Building Department Record Search.
3. Use the available record, address, or other supported search fields.
4. Open the matching record.
5. Review available permit information, status, fees, and inspection details.
6. If the record you need is not online, contact Building & Code Enforcement with the property address and approximate project date.

This can be especially useful before buying a house or beginning a renovation. Look for open permits, incomplete final inspections, permit descriptions that do not match the finished structure, or recent work that may need further clarification.

A missing online record should not automatically be treated as proof that no permit ever existed. Older files or supporting documents may require a direct records request or department assistance.

Building Codes Used in Chesterfield Township in 2026

Chesterfield Township administers the construction codes adopted by the State of Michigan. Michigan’s official Bureau of Construction Codes currently lists the following major code editions relevant in 2026:

One detail matters in 2026: Michigan’s planned residential-code update became involved in litigation. State LARA guidance continues to identify the 2015 Michigan Residential Code as the current code while the court order affecting the newer residential rules remains in place. Because this situation can change, verify the current state code listing before submitting final plans for a new home or major residential project.

Contractors who also work in other Michigan jurisdictions can compare local processes in our Birmingham, Michigan building permit guide and Bloomfield Township Building Department guide. The state codes may be shared, but the application portals, local zoning rules, fees, and inspection procedures are not interchangeable.

Building Permit vs. Zoning Approval

This is one of the easiest places to lose time. A building permit answers construction-code questions. Zoning controls how the property can be used and where improvements can be placed.

A deck might meet structural requirements but still conflict with a setback or easement. A detached garage might be structurally acceptable but too large or too close to a lot line. A business remodel might meet building-code requirements while the proposed use still requires planning approval.

Chesterfield Township’s FAQ directs planning questions to the Planning Department at the main Township number, extension 86, and zoning complaints to extension 87. For a new structure, addition, pool, fence, deck, sign, or commercial project, checking zoning early can save redesign costs later.

Hiring a Contractor: What Homeowners Should Check

For paid residential construction, Michigan has licensing rules for residential builders and maintenance-and-alteration contractors. Before signing a contract, verify the contractor’s license when one is required and make sure the name on the contract matches the licensed person or company.

Michigan LARA also recommends that homeowners use written contracts, confirm who will obtain required permits and variances, and check insurance. A permit is not just paperwork—it creates an inspection trail that can catch unsafe or incomplete work before it becomes much harder to fix.

If you are comparing permit procedures elsewhere in Michigan, our Ann Arbor building permit guide explains another Michigan permitting system, while the Bloomfield Hills Building Department guide covers a nearby BS&A-based municipal process.

Common Problems That Delay Chesterfield Permits

A Simple Checklist Before You Start Work

1. Confirm Chesterfield Township is the correct permitting authority.
2. Write down the exact scope of work.
3. Check zoning and property setbacks.
4. Identify building and separate trade permits.
5. Download the correct Township forms.
6. Prepare plans, plot information, cost and contractor details.
7. Collect outside approvals if the project requires them.
8. Submit electronically through the instructed system.
9. Respond to plan-review comments completely.
10. Do not begin regulated construction until the permit is issued.
11. Schedule each inspection before covering the work.
12. Complete corrections and final inspections.
13. Keep final permit and inspection records with your property documents.

10 Frequently Asked Questions

Information reviewed for 2026: Permit procedures, office information, inspection instructions and published fees can change. Use the official Chesterfield Township department and BS&A portal for the final application, payment, inspection request, or property-specific determination.