Plan Examination Information

Plan Examination 
The purpose of a plan examination is to assure the construction project is designed in compliance with the code. If there are issues of noncompliance they may be addressed during the review process. This saves the applicant time and money as it is more economical to make revisions prior to the start of construction.

Who may submit? 
Construction documents may be submitted by the owner or the owner's architect, engineer, contractor, or agent. The construction statutes or codes do not fix the responsibility for the submission of construction documents. However, the owner of the construction project has the responsibility to assure that it is done.

Is a plan review necessary? 
Plans are required for all building types, except:

Building 

• When repair work is determined by the building official to be of a minor nature.
• When utility structures are 100 square feet or less relative to one-and two-family dwellings.

Electrical 

• When the electrical system rating does not exceed 400 amps and the building is not over 3,500 square feet in area.

Mechanical 

• One-and two-family dwellings when the total building heating/cooling system input rating is 375,000 Btu's or less.
• Alterations and repair work determined by the mechanical official to be of a minor nature.
• Business, mercantile, and storage buildings having HVAC equipment only, with one fire area and not more than 3,500 square feet.
• Work completed by a governmental subdivision or state agency costing less than $15,000.00.

Plumbing 

• One-and two-family dwellings containing not more than 3,500 square feet of building area.
• Alterations and repair work determined by the plumbing official to be of a minor nature.
• Assembly, business, mercantile and storage buildings with a required plumbing fixture count less than 12.
• Work completed by a governmental subdivision or state agency costing less than $15,000.00.

Description of Work. 
The plan examination submission shall give a complete description of the work to be performed. This shall include the location, the occupancy of all parts of the buildings or structures, and the open space on the lot. Any special inspection requirements in accordance with section 1705 of the building code shall be identified.

Site Plan. 
The site plan shall provide the location and size of all buildings on the lot. The roads and access points and open spaces shall be shown and dimensioned.

Construction Documents. 
The construction documents shall indicate the size, shape, and height of all features of the buildings and structures of the project. Specific information shall be given to establish the quality and requirements of the construction for compliance with the code. The information may be submitted in any combination of written and graphic material. The codes shall not be cited, or the term "legal" or similar shall not be used in place of specific information. All construction documents shall be sealed and signed by an architect or professional engineer licensed in Michigan in accordance with P.A. 299 of 1980, as amended.

Exception: 

• A residence building not exceeding 3,500 square feet in calculated floor area.
• Public work for which the contemplated expenditure for the completed project is less than $15,000.00.

Engineering Detail. 
Structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work shall include adequate detail including computation, stress diagrams and other essential technical data.

How to Submit. 
Two sets of construction documents and a completed Application for Plan Examination with a $125 deposit must be submitted to the Plan Review Division. When the plan examination is completed the total charges will be calculated and any amount due will be billed to the applicant. When the project is approved and all the fees paid, one set of approved construction documents will be returned to the applicant. These documents are to be placed on the project site and made available for examination by the code inspectors.

Plan Review Fee Schedule (Effective 04/01/2013)
Plan Examination Application (Effective 04/01/2013) 

Questions regarding plan examinations should be directed to the Plan Review Division at 517-241-9328.