Building Department
The City of Springfield offers a full inspection department to its residents, contractors, and investors. As a member of the Battle Creek Area Metropolitan Services Area, Springfield provides unified permits and fees; these permits and fees are uniform throughout the Cities of Battle Creek and Springfield, and the Townships of Bedford, Pennfield, Leroy, and Newton.
The Building Department was established to ensure the minimum requirements to safeguard life, health and public welfare for the community through the enforcement of Michigan Building Codes and City of Springfield Ordinances relating to construction and land use regulations. In addition to routine inspections related to improvements or new construction, the Springfield Building Department provides safety inspections and code compliance inspections. Our inspectors are also often available to review a planned project early in the planning stages to help identify and potential conflicts with current building codes. The City of Springfield has adopted the 2006 International Property Maintenance Code, 2006 Michigan Building Code, 2006 Michigan Mechanical Code, 2006 Michigan Electrical Code, and the 2006 Michigan Plumbing Code.
Permits
Building and Trade permit fees, which include processing, staff review and all required inspections, are based on the fees approved by the AMSA Board of Directors. Homeowners are eligible to obtain permits by filing an affidavit affirming they are doing the work themselves. When a contractor obtains a permit, the person who holds the license must sign the permit application.
The provisions of the Code require any owner or authorized agent intending to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit.
Examples of work requiring a permit:
- New Construction
- Alterations or Structural repairs
- Electrical, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling installation
- Accessory structures
- Decks and Porches
- Re-roof (if the old roofing is removed to bare wood)
- All Signage
Inspections
Inspections are required for all projects requiring permits to insure code compliance. To request an inspection for all construction activity call 269-965-2354 a minimum of 24 hours in advance. All inspections will be completed in a timely manner and scheduled according to the availability of the inspector. Work must not be continued until the inspection has been completed. All permits require inspections. A list of required inspections is included in the respective permit application.
Contractor Registration
A building contractor or home owner's agent who engages in work on residential properties and residential buildings must be licensed with the State of Michigan in the field of the work to be performed. All building contractors residential or commercial must be registered with the City of Springfield. Upon request for a permit, the building department will verify registration status of the individual contractor with city records.
When a contractor registers with the City of Springfield, the holder of the license must appear in person. The contractor must present a State License, a verifiable picture identification card (I.D. card may be a driver's license or state I.D. card) and a copy of the contractor's liability insurance. The contractor must pay the registration fee, as set forth by the City of Springfield. At present, a $5.00 fee is assessed for the duration of the current licensing cycle. All contractor registrations expire on the date that their state license expires. A General Contractor performing commercial construction is not required to be licensed by the State of Michigan, but is required to register with the City of Springfield and pay the registration fee.
