PRE-APPLICATION GUIDE
The purpose of the Community Development Department is to make sure all of the buildings and sites in the City are safe and functional. Permits are how we make sure work meets our standards.
What kind of project are you thinking of? Find it on this page, and learn about the required permits and approvals. The bigger the project is, the more involved the approval process will be. That’s because there are more parts to coordinate.
***Will to send documents related to when permits are needed, SOM permitting requirements, and residential building permitting
One-family and two-family residences
Accessory buildings
Swimming Pools
New homes or duplexes
If you’re planning to build a single-family home or duplex, you’ll need to check out the guide for a Residential Building Permit.
Commercial and industrial buildings
The term “commercial building” refers to almost everything that isn’t a 1- or 2-family residential home. This includes buildings for commercial, industrial, or institutional use, along with multi-family residences like apartments and mixed-use buildings. More generally, this type of development or redevelopment also includes parking lots and other major site improvements.
Opening a new business in an existing building
- In most cases, opening a new business inside an existing building will not require zoning changes, formal site plan review or special land use approval.
- To determine this, first, verify the zoning districts where the type of use the business involves are permitted. Please consult Article IV of the City of Sturgis Zoning Ordinance for more information, including specific uses and their site plan review requirements.
- Depending on the type of use, the use may be subject to site plan review and / or special land use approval, depending on the type of use the business will involve and the level of interior and exterior alterations required to accommodate the business.
- If zoning compliance is verified, the use may require submittal of building permits or trades permits for electrical, mechanical or plumbing work for the business to be established. Please consult the City of Sturgis Community Development Department for questions on permitting requirements.
- Required permits and licenses are also dependent upon the type of business. Check the Michigan Business One Stop at http://www.michigan.gov/business for information or call (877) 766‐1779.
Renovating an existing building
If you are renovating an existing building (and not expanding its size) the process will be slightly different. You will want to check out our guide for Commercial Building Renovations.
Building or expanding a building
This means that
- The area that you want to build something was previously vacant;
- There is a building there but you are tearing it down and starting over; or
- You are making an existing building larger.
When is a permit required?
- When is a permit required?
- State of Michigan permit requirements
- Residential Builder Licensing
- How to Get a Michigan Builders License
So if you’ve made it to this point, you are expanding an existing or building a new commercial building. This guide will walk you through available planning resources and the necessary steps to get approvals for your project, get permits for the work, complete the inspection process, and get the Certificate of Occupancy you need to open for business.