Act 230 of 1972 allows a local unit of government to legally adopt and enforce the Michigan building code at the local level.
Michigan Building Code
The current building code (Industrial/Commercial/multi-family) is the Michigan Building Code 2015, which went into effect April 20, 2017.
Use Plan Analyst for the 2015 IBC to automate your commercial plan reviews / code studies so you complete them accurately and quickly.
Michigan Residential Code
The current residential code (Residential/ 1 and 2 family dwellings/townhouses) is the 2018 Michigan Residential Code became effective October 4, 2021.
Use Plan Analyst for the 2018 IRC to automate your residential plan reviews / code studies so you complete them accurately and quickly.
July 29, 2021 Michigan Residential Code Notification from Director of the Bureau of Construction Codes on the decision to update the Michigan Residential Code.
The Bureau of Construction Codes
The Michigan Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC) conducts plan reviews, issues permits, and provides inspections in the area of building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, health facilities, and mobile home parks as well as issues permits and provides inspections for boilers and elevators. BCC reviews and approves local ordinances for approval to administer and enforce state construction codes. BCC also provides advisory and explanatory interpretations and explanations related to its purview.
Building Code Compliance Software for Michigan
Plan Analyst code compliance software programs make it easy for building officials, architects and other designers to quickly perform commercial and residential building code plan reviews / code studies.
Plan Analyst for the 2015 IBC and Plan Analyst for the 2018 IRC (the basis for the Michigan Building and Residential Codes) simplifies the plan review / code study process enabling compliance with the state code and allowing modifications to accommodate state amendments, where applicable. Specifically, all of the questions in the checklist and most of the analysis report items are stored in files that can be edited. Users have the ability to add code requirements and to add to the checklist. Changes can be made permanent by changing the data file using the setup section of Plan Analyst, or specific reports can be edited for special conditions.
Plan Analyst Calculators: Deck – Sign – Beam & Column
Plan Analyst Deck, Sign and Beam & Column Calculators are additional simple and effective design and code review software tools that will quickly become your go-to resources when working on associated tasks.
Users of Plan Analyst in Michigan have included:
| City of Plymouth | CKS Consulting |
| City of Madison Heights | North Country Inspection Services |
| Grand Blanc Township | Stucky-Vitale Architects |
| Otsego County | Three Rivers Corporation |
| Charter Township of Ypsilanti | Fire Safety Specialists |
| Blackman Charter Township | Burkett Signs |
| City of Auburn Hills | DeWulf Associates |
Building and residential code resources in Michigan:
- Code book sources
- Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) website.
- Plan Review Information from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
- Purchase Plan Analyst for the 2015 IBC and or 2018 IRC to automate and simplify your Michigan plan reviews / code studies plananalyst.com.
- The ICC General Code website provides access to some municipal codes.
Energy Code Compliance Software for Michigan
Visit the U.S. Department of Energy website to see the latest on energy code adoption in Michigan, including the use of the COMcheck Energy Code compliance software. COMcheck enables architects, builders, designers, and contractors to determine whether new commercial or high-rise residential buildings, additions, and alterations meet the requirements of the IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.1.
The “Building Codes Assistance Project” also provides information on Michigan’s building energy codes.
FEMA Building Code Adoption Tracking
The FEMA Building Code Adoption Tracking program reports on the status of hazard-resistant building code adoption in each state. Michigan is in FEMA Region 5. Read the 2023 Region 5 fact sheet showing the annual metric of the percent of communities adopting hazard-resistant building codes in Michigan.
AIA and ICC
American Institute of Architects – AIA Michigan – represents architects in the state. There are over a combined 5,000 registered and reciprocal architects in Michigan.
Michigan code adoption status on the ICC website