Development Center

The Development Center brings together people from Planning, Engineering, Code Compliance, Fire Department, and others to make it easier for you to build or renovate buildings in Grand Rapids.

We handle planning, permits, and inspections so you can rest assured that buildings in Grand Rapids are safe for people to use and meet our community's design standards.

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Below, you will find an interactive report regarding a Development Center customer service survey we recently conducted.

You can also access the Economic Development Project Team's January 9th meeting discussing the below data on the City's YouTube channel below.

Download the PDF version of the Development Center Customer Service Survey Results here.

Economic Development Project Team Meeting on YouTube

The City of Grand Rapids Planning, Design and Development Department has implemented a new "No Live Work" policy for our inspectors, effective 1/30/2025. This policy is in place to ensure the safety of our inspection personnel.
We understand this change may require adjustments to your procedures for scheduling inspections, and we appreciate your cooperation in implementing it. To minimize the potential for re-inspections due to access restrictions, we recommend assigning a qualified member of your team to accompany city inspectors during inspections. This will allow your qualified personnel to safely perform any necessary tasks involving energized equipment, such as opening enclosures, while the city inspector conducts their visual inspection from outside the arc flash boundary.
We believe this collaborative approach will streamline the inspection process and maintain a safe working environment for everyone involved.
 
Thank you for your cooperation as we navigate this change together.
 
Should you have any questions regarding this, please don’t hesitate to contact us at:
devcenter@grcity.us
616-456-4100

 

The Planning department guides public and private development projects. Planning administers related City ordinances.

Planning

Official documentation verifying the work you are doing is up to code. Permits are needed for any new construction, modifications, and system changes (i.e. mechanical, plumbing, electrical).

Permits

Schedule an inspection of building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work.

Inspections

To file a complaint regarding property maintenance or zoning, click the button below and navigate to the Property Maintenance Complaints section. This does not include building enforcement.

Enforcement

Click the button below if you'd like to register a State of Michigan license with the City and for a list of registration and examination options.

Register Here

Click the button below if you're looking for maps, reports, and other data related to the Development Center.

Reports/Maps

We have a variety of guides and resources available to assist you with your next project. Each guide contains information on related code requirements, permitting needs, and application information.

Plan Review Forms

 

Guides & Handouts

 

Planning and Permits for Commercial Projects

 

Planning and Permits for Home Projects

 

Checklists

Click the button below if you're looking for online tools related to building and planning projects in the City of Grand Rapids.

Tools