Building Inspection Department

The Inspection Department processes all permits and performs all inspections for Building, Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing activities within the City. The Department processes all Rental registrations & inspections and carries out Property Maintenance code enforcement. In accordance with the Michigan's SHHS directives, during the COVID-19 pandemic City Hall currently remains closed to the public. Staff is primarily working remote or in the field. At the Broad Street entrance to City hall contractors and home owners alike can find paper copies of most the relevant application forms. Links to all permit applications are also listed below. The public may continue to call 269-983-1212 to speak with staff about Inspection Department questions or email staff using the link below.

When submitting an Application please make sure it is administratively complete. This includes a thorough Site plan for most building permits and fence & shed permits, payment in full and a signed application and contact information. The City has a secure 24/7 drop box located at the Broad Street entrance for submission of all applications. Administratively complete applications are typically issued within a week, however, this turn-around time depends on the complexity of the project and the completeness of the application. Work cannot begin until a building permit has been issued and received by the applicant. If you plan is impacted by City Zoning, Sign Ordinances or the Land Division Ordinance, please use this link https://sjcity.com/government/departments/zoning to view all relevant information such as the Zoning Ordinance & Map.

Address: 700 Broad Street
Phone: (269) 983-1212
Fax: (269) 985-0347

Citation Implementation Notification from LARA - Attention all individuals licensed/registered as residential builders, maintenance & alteration contractors, electricians, plumbers, mechanical contractors, and boiler tradesmen please read this important notice from LARA. 

Inspection Department 

St. Joseph enforces the following code editions:

• 2015 Michigan Building Code
• 2015 Michigan Residential Code
• 2017 Michigan Electrical Code Part 8 (NFPA 70 2017)
• 2015 Michigan Mechanical Code
• 2015 Michigan Plumbing Code
• 2015 Michigan Energy Code
• 2009 Uniform Fire Code
• 2015 International Property Maintenance Code
  
  

Building Permits must be obtained from the Inspection Department before beginning any construction, remodeling, mechanical, electrical, or plumbing work. Purely cosmetic (non-structural) changes such as painting or flooring, may not require a permit.

Please be sure to include ALL necessary documentation when submitting plans for review. For Building Permits, please be sure to include a full size set of blueprints and a digital copy. Site plans are required for most building permits.

Aerial Photographs  

To obtain an aerial "birds-eye" view of any parcel in Berrien County use  Berrien Co. Beacon Maps. This county GIS data base provides basic information on any city parcel. Once linked in to Beacon Maps the user will need to go to the upper left corner and hit the "Search" button, then enter the address under "Address Search", then select the "Map" option (upper left). If the user wishes to see lot dimensions, etc., use the "Layer List" dropdown menu on the left side. 
Please be aware there is some 'drift' in property lines as the photographic imagery is take from aerial fly overs. While this tool is helpful, the most accurate way to determine property line boundaries and dimensions, for a Site Plan for example, is to obtain a Survey from a licensed Michigan surveyor.

If you have any questions about these topics, please contact the City and staff will be happy to help you.

 Applications, Forms and Processes - (Fillable Forms)

• Building Permit Application with Fee Schedule
  • Homeowner Building Permit Policy
  • When do you need a building permit?
  • Site Plans -- A simple Explanation
  • Sample Site Plan
    A Site Plan must be submitted for Building, Fence & Shed permits which shows both existing and proposed conditions of the site. The Sample Site Plan explains the information typically requested and how to depict it on the drawing.
  • Required Submittals for NEW Residential Construction Building Permit Applications
  • Fence Information
    • Chapter 12 Fences – Code of Ordinances
    • Fence Application, Process and Instructions – Note Application Fee is $40 at time of permit submittal
    • Example Site Plan – Note: If the property is a corner lot please contact city staff for additional information
    • Fence Informational Handout – Coming Soon, until then please reference Residential Fences – A 4-step process to building a fence
  • Residential Sheds – A 3-step process to obtaining a shed permit

• Sign Permit Application
• Electrical Permit 
• Mechanical Permit
  • Code Restrictions for Mechanical Equipment
• Plumbing Permit
  • Code Restrictions for Plumbing Equipment
• Downtown Dumpster Permit Form
• Temporary Dumpster or Portable-On-Demand (POD Storage Permit  
• Pre-Demolition Utility Disconnect Form
• Construction Board of Appeals Application 
• 2020 Construction Board of Appeals (CBOA) Meeting Schedule
• City Block Map
• Zoning Map

To view the Building Permit Fee Schedule, please click on it. To view the City entire Fee Schedule, please click on it.

Rental Program and Permits

Administration, scheduling, and inspection of all rental properties is processed through the Inspection Department: 

• Residential Rental Informational Handout - January 2021
• Rental Inspection Ordinance
• Rental Registration for Minimum One Month Stay Rental Form
• Rental Registration for Short Term Rental Form
• Conditional Use Permit - Short Term Rental  
• Rental Inspection Form Under COVID-19 
• Carbon Monoxide Detector requirements for Rental Certification

Property Maintenance Program 

The Property Maintenance Program is designed to be implemeted over a rotating 6-year period, with different neighborhoods of the City being inspected each year.  Within each Focus Area the Code Enforcement Officer inspects every property and identifies those which have deficiencies, as defined by the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC, 2015 Edition).

Individual inspections may also be made outside the Focus Area rotation when needed.

The City Commission adopted the IPMC under Section 8-96 of the Code of Ordinances. It is the stated intent of the IPMC to “ensure the public health, safety and welfare insofar as they are affected by the continued occupancy and maintenance of structures and premises. Structures and premises that do not comply with these provisions are required to be altered or repaired to provide a minimum level of health and safety.” 

Documents

Summary of the 2020 Property Maintenance Program – Focus Area 6

Focus Area Map of the Entire City

To view the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) please click this link https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/IPMC2015

Property Maintenance Board of Appeals (PMBOA)

2021 PMBOA & CBOA Meeting Schedule

PMBOA Rules of Procedure

Applications, Forms and Processes - (Fillable Forms)

PMBOA Application –  2020 FOCUS AREA 6

PMBOA Application – HEARING REQUEST

PMBOA Application – 75-DAY EXTENSION REQUEST

Property Maintainance Issue Complaint Form

Neighbor to Neighbor Program

 For specific questions about the Property Maintenance Program please contact Joan Ross at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.