Permitting is highly decentralized; the county manages building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits for townships that have not opted to administer their own codes. Incorporated cities such as Kalamazoo, Portage, and Galesburg maintain their own building departments and issue their own permits. Applicants must verify jurisdiction based on the specific property address before submitting plans.
The county enforces specific soil erosion and sedimentation control (SESC) permitting requirements for any earth change activities that disturb one or more acres or are within 500 feet of a lake or stream.
How this fits with the state
The state authority here is Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.
Source · City-by-city; Kalamazoo County Building Authority handles unincorporated areas and specific townships, while cities like Kalamazoo and Portage run independent permit portals.Last verified · 05 / 2026