Commerical - Plan Review FAQ's
1. When is a Plan Review required?
2. When is a Site Plan Review required?
3. What codes are enforced by the City of Lansing?
4. Are there local amendments to the building code?
5. What is the minimum footing depth?
6. What is the roof snow load?
7. What is the design wind speed?
8. What is the Seismic Design Class for Lansing?
9. What does the energy code require?
10. Do I need an architect or engineer to obtain a plan review and building permit?
11. What is required for a set of drawings to be "sealed"?
12. Must the architect seal each page of a drawing set?
13. What must I submit to receive a plan review?
14. How do I calculate the fee?
15. Are any other approvals or reviews required?
16. I want to build a factory, is there someplace I can find information about other regulations that would affect me?
17. I have an older building that I wish to renovate. Must I comply with Barrier Free requirements?
18. What about the ADA?
19. How can I be sure the architect I hired is licensed?
20. Where do I find the square foot cost amount used to determine the valuation of my project?
Didn't find your question? Feel free to submit your specific question to buildingsafety@ci.lansing.mi.us
1. When is a Plan Review required?
A plan review is required whenever a commercial building is erected, altered, enlarged, structurally repaired, moved, or converted to different use group (as defined in the building code).
2. When is a Site Plan Review required?
A site plan review is required for new commercial buildings and additions to existing buildings that are larger than 1,000 square feet in floor area.
3. What codes are enforced by the City of Lansing?
The City enforces.
2003 Michigan Building Code (MBC)
2000 International Fire Code
2002 National Electrical Code
2003 Michigan Mechanical Code
2003 Michigan Plumbing Code
Michigan Barrier Free Design Rules (Part 4 Michigan Building Code Rules)
Michigan Uniform Energy Code (Part 10 Michigan Building Code Rules)
4. Are there local amendments to the building code?
No. State Law no longer allows local jurisdictions to amend the building code. The Michigan Building Code (MBC) that is in effect statewide incorporates the 2003 International Building Code with state amendments. You can see the state amendments at the following link.
5. What is the minimum footing depth?
Minimum footing depth is 42 inches below finish grade.
6. What is the roof snow load?
Design roof snow load must be determined in compliance with sections 1603.1.3 MBC, 1608 MBC, and section 7 of ASCE 7-98. The ground snow load is 30 pounds per square foot per Figure 1608.2 MBC 2003.
7. What is the design wind speed?
Design wind speed is 90 MPH for a three second gust per Figure 1609 MBC 2003.
8. What is the Seismic Design Class for Lansing?
The City of Lansing is located in Seismic Design Class A.
9. What does the energy code require?
Commercial buildings, other than residential buildings, must be designed and constructed to comply with the requirements of Table B17 of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2001. See the residential FAQ for further information on the requirements for residential buildings.
10. Do I need an architect or engineer to obtain a plan review and building permit?
Michigan State Law requires that work done on commercial buildings be under the seal and signature of a licensed architect or engineer. The Building Official may waive the requirement for sealed drawings if the proposed work is of a very minor nature. It is a very rare occasion that this requirement is waived.
11. What is required for a set of drawings to be "sealed"?
The registered (licensed) architect or engineer must seal the drawings with either an embossed seal or a wet ink seal and then validate that seal with an original signature in ink. A set of plans that is "sealed" therefore contains both the seal and signature of the architect or engineer. Photocopies of a previously sealed drawing are not acceptable. The seal and signature on each set of submitted plans must be original.
12. Must the architect seal each page of a drawing set?
The architect may seal each individual sheet within the set or they may seal an index page that lists all the pages within the set for which the architect is responsible.
13. What must I submit to receive a plan review?
You must submit.
- Completed building permit application
- Three (3) complete sets of construction drawings, with two (2)of the sets properly sealed, including spec books if applicable.
- A sealed copy of the soil boring report (for new buildings and additions)
- Plan review fees.
14. How do I calculate the fee?
Please see the fee schedule and the fee calculation narrative.
15. Are any other approvals or reviews required?
New buildings and additions require a Site Plan Review.
If the project involves the alteration or installation of a commercial kitchen, a review by the Ingham County Health Department is required. Call (517) 887-4525 for more information.
If the project is located near, or will affect a wetlands, a review and permit may be required from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
If the project is located in the flood plain, the project must comply with the requirements for flood proof construction or the project must be elevated out of the flood plain and a "Elevation Certificate" is required.
16. I want to build a factory, is there someplace I can find information about other regulations that would affect me?
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Environmental Assistance Division, produces the publication "Michigan Manufacturers' Guide to Environmental and Health and Safety Regulations". The publication is available in hard copy by calling 1-800-662-9278, or it is available online at the following link.
17. I have an older building that I wish to renovate. Must I comply with Barrier Free requirements?
Alterations to any building must comply with the requirements of Michigan Barrier Free Design Rules (BFDR). Additionally, an accessible route must be provided to the improved areas. Within the BFDR, there are some exceptions for existing buildings meeting certain criteria. Contact our Office or your Design Professional to see if these exceptions may apply to your project. If you wish to seek a variance from the BFDR, you must go to the Barrier Free Design Board of the State of Michigan. The City of Lansing has no authority to grant variances to the BFDR.
18. What about the ADA?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a Federal civil rights law, which the City of Lansing has no authority to enforce. Therefore, we do not review projects for compliance with ADA.
19. How can I be sure the architect I hired is licensed?
Ask to see his/her license or for his/her license number. Any reputable architect or engineer will be glad to give you this information. You can then check the license by following the link "Verify License" to check the status. If you search by license number, you may have to add the digits 13010 at the beginning of the number the Architect gives you or 62010 at the beginning of the number the engineer gives you (these digits are common to all engineer or architects and they may give you only the unique portion of their license number). If you wish, you can also search by name.
20. Where do I find the square foot cost amount used to determine the valuation of my project?
The square foot values are found in the document Cost Data. You can use this link to Cost Data and a link is also contained in the fee Schedule A.
