Austin Township

Mecosta County, Michigan

Last verified September 17, 2026

Austin Township is a jurisdiction in Mecosta County, Michigan, with an online portal for searching and pulling active or historical building permits. Use the contact information below to reach the local building department, or the mailing address if the jurisdiction needs to be listed as a certificate holder on a contractor's insurance documentation.

Certificate Holder Mailing Address

Mecosta County Building & Zoning Department
Services Building, 14485 Northland Drive
Big Rapids, MI 49307

Use this address when the jurisdiction needs to be listed as a certificate holder on a contractor's insurance documentation.

Additional Notes

This is Austin Township in Mecosta County (Stanwood area) - a different, unrelated government from 'Austin Township' in Sanilac County (see separate entry) despite the identical name. Mecosta County's own site states the county issues building permits only for unincorporated areas (i.e., townships) and Austin Township's own site directs residents to the county for Building & Zoning. Township Hall itself: 14132 Pierce Road / PO Box 226, Stanwood, MI 49346, phone (231) 823-9704, for non-permit township business. BS&A Online link is for bill/tax payment, not confirmed as a full permit-application portal.

What You Need Before Applying for a Permit

Most building departments ask for the same core package before they'll issue a permit: a completed application naming the property owner and contractor, the contractor's state license number and proof of insurance (general liability, and workers' comp if employees are on the job), a notice of commencement or equivalent recorded filing for larger jobs where the state requires one, and scaled plans or a site plan for anything beyond minor repairs. Roofing, fence, pool, and solar permits typically have their own simplified checklists — Austin Township's department (above) can confirm exactly what applies to your project.

Why this matters for insurance: permit history is one of the first things an underwriter or adjuster checks. Unpermitted work — a finished basement, an added bedroom, a rebuilt roof — can complicate a claim or even void coverage for that portion of the loss, and it routinely surfaces during a home inspection. Pulling the right permit up front, and keeping the closed-permit record on file, protects both the property's value and its insurability at resale.

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