The Building Department was established to ensure the minimum requirements to safeguard life, limb, health and public welfare for the community through the enforcement of Michigan Building Codes and Clay Township Ordinances relating to construction and land use regulations.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Michigan State Construction Code Act, Public Act 230, of 1972, as amended, the Building Official of the Township of Clay is hereby designated as the enforcing agent to discharge the responsibility for the Township under Section 9 of the Act. The Township assumes responsibility for the administration and enforcement of Act 230 and all related codes throughout the Township's corporate limits.

If you have any questions, please email the building department through our web site.

Building/Zoning Department Administrator Michael Kras  -  mkras@claytownship.org
Building/Zoning and Planning Office Staff Patty Watson  -  watsonbuilding@claytownship.org

The building department has put together a series of handouts to educate and guide the community in home projects. The first in the series is a list of suggestions a homeowner can use to choose the right contractor for the job.

PERMITS

Building permits fees, which include processing, staff review and all required inspections, are based on the cost of the project as determined by square footage. Trade permits fees are based on the actual work being performed. 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.
Permits are required for the following work: 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:

• New Construction
• Alterations / Structural repairs
• Electrical, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling installation
• Accessory structures
• Decks / Porches
• Re-roof (if the old roofing is removed to bare wood)
• Occupancy and Land Use
• All Signage
• Any repairs with an estimated cost of more than $600.00
• Any structures, fences, or projects not needing a building permit do, however, require a Zoning Compliance Permit.
• Any work exempt from a building permit does require a zoning compliance permit to be submitted for review and compliance.

INSPECTIONS

Inspections are required for all projects requiring permits to insure code compliance. To request an inspection for all construction activity call 810 794-9329 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 building permit application.
STATE REQUIREMENTS

All inspectors in Clay Township hold appropriate licenses from the State of Michigan in their respective fields and are registered with the State of Michigan Consumers and Industry Service as inspectors. All inspectors are required to complete a set number of hours of continuing education programs approved by the State for their individual registration.

• Michael J. Kras is registered as a Code Official with the State of Michigan, with designation as a Building Official, Building Inspector and Plan Reviewer. His duties include being the Zoning Administrator and the Clay Township Code Enforcement Officer and is certified as a Master Citizen Planner through Michigan State University Extension.
• Kelly S. Smith is registered as a Code Official with the State of Michigan, with designation as a Mechanical Inspector, Plumbing Inspector and Plan Reviewer.
• Sidney J. Browne Jr. is registered as a Code Official with the State of Michigan, with designation as an Electrical Inspector, Building Inspector, and Plan Reviewer.
• Garret N. Smith is registered as a Code Official with the State of Michigan, with designation as a Mechanical Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, and Plan Reviewer.
• Robert W. Bobcean, Jr. is registered as a Code Official with the State of Michigan, with designation as an Electrical Inspector.

CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION

A building contractor or homeowner'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 Township of Clay. Upon request for a permit, the building department clerk will verify registration status of the individual contractor with the Township records.
When a contractor registers with the Township, 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 township. At present a $10.00 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 Township of Clay and pay the registration fee.

PLANNING COMMISSION

The Planning Commission reviews and takes action on the following items:

• Special Approval Land Use reviews and approvals  
• Rezoning requests
• Planned Unit Development requests
• Site Plan reviews and approvals

 
Site plan review and approval shall be required prior to the establishment of any New Use, Special Use, change in use, addition to an existing use, the erection of any multi-family, commercial or industrial building and all new subdivisions. All site plans reviews, except those for permitted one and two family dwellings shall be reviewed by the three (3) member Site plan review Committee of the Planning Commission appointed by the Planning Commission Chair. This includes those site plans, which will subsequently require full Planning Commission Approval.

Contact the Planning/Zoning Official for specific questions regarding the above items. Applications and fee amounts for submittal to the Planning Commission are available at the Township Offices.

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Complete applications, $250.00 fee and a legal survey must be submitted to the Building Department by twelve noon on the Tuesday of the fourth week of each month to be on the ZBA agenda for the following month. At this meeting, you must appear in person or be represented by an agent or attorney.
Prior to the meeting, notices from the Zoning Board of Appeals will be sent first-class mail to all property owners listed on the Clay Township tax rolls bordering within a radius of 300 feet of the property requesting the variance approval. There will also be a notice of the requested variance published in a qualified newspaper (The Downriver Voice) at least fifteen days prior to the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting date.

Your application will not be considered unless all required information is provided at time of submission, to include a survey of the property depicting measurements, structures and proposed additions/alterations to the property.

The Zoning Administrator will be available to answer questions or assist you in filing out the application.

If your variance is approved building permits cannot be issued for eight days following the meeting.

CODES

The Township of Clay has adopted the State of Michigan Building Codes and is the enforcing agency for the following codes:

• 2006 Michigan Building Code                                                               effective: August 1, 2008
• 2006 Michigan Residential Code                                                         effective: August 1, 2008
• 2006 Michigan Mechanical Code                                                        effective: December 3, 2007
• 2006 Michigan Plumbing Code                                                             effective: January 24, 2008
• 2005 Michigan Electrical Code                                                             effective: November 23, 2007
• 2006 Michigan Rehabilitation Code for Existing Buildings           effective: August 1, 2008                                 
• 2006 International Fire Code                                                                  effective: May 1, 2002
  
  

You may order code books from the Township of Clay Building Department.
 
In an effort to save time, the following forms will be available for the public to print and complete before bringing them into the Clay Township Offices for processing. Click on the name of the form to view or download.

Electrical Permit Application                                                        Zoning Compliance Permit

Mechanical Permit Application                                                   Plumbing Permit Application

Building Permit and Plan Examination                                     Zoning Board of Appeals Application for Hearing

Sign Permit and Plan Review                                                     Site Plan and Special Use Application

Application for Re-Occupancy                                                    Application for Re-Zoning

If you have any questions please contact the Clay Township Building Department at (810) 794-9329.