Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-09-11
29 of Michigan's 83 counties — 35% — let an owner build their own home without a licensed contractor. That is the 18th-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Houghton County (89/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.
Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 1516 counties nationwide → Michigan: no zoning → Michigan: rv living → Michigan: no minimum home size → Full Michigan profile →
29 of 83 Michigan counties · sorted by Index score
Statewide rule. A person erecting a residential structure or combination residential-commercial structure for the person's own use and occupancy on the person's property, as a r…
Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder ↗A homeowner seeking to obtain a Charlevoix County building permit personally. Homeowners may take out their permits only if they are actually doing the work. The application mus…
Department of Building Safety ↗The county states a building owner can do a building project themselves if it is for their own use and on their own property (commercial/rental require licensed contractors).
Emmet County - Construction Resources ↗Under MCL 339.2403, a property owner building a structure for their own use and occupancy is not required to be licensed as a residential builder.
Michigan Legislature - MCL 339.2403 ↗Statewide rule. A person erecting a residential structure or combination residential and commercial structure for the person's own use and occupancy on the person's property, fo…
Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder ↗Statewide rule. An owner personally installing a heating or refrigerating system in a single-family dwelling that is, or on completion will become, the owner's residence. The ow…
Mechanical FAQ’s ↗The county building department offers a Homeowner Permit form, allowing owner-builders to obtain their own construction permit rather than using a licensed contractor.
Benzie County Building Department Forms ↗Under Michigan law (MCL 339.2403) a property owner building a structure for their own use and occupancy is exempt from the residential builder license requirement and may pull t…
Michigan Compiled Laws MCL 339.2403 ↗Statewide rule. A person erecting a residential structure for the person's own use and occupancy on the person's property, for purposes of Michigan residential-builder licensure…
Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder (RB) ↗Statewide rule. An owner constructing or acting as general contractor for a residential structure for the owner's own use and occupancy on the owner's property in Luce County. T…
Builders FAQ ↗A building owner performing a building project in Otsego County for the owner's own use on the owner's own property. The owner-builder option does not eliminate the building-per…
Building Permits | Otsego County, MI ↗Michigan law lets a homeowner act as their own residential builder for a personal residence (unlicensed), so paid contractors on work over $600 must be licensed but owners build…
Montmorency County Building Department ↗A homeowner acting as the general contractor on a building-permit application handled by the Osceola County Building Department. The homeowner must be acting as the general cont…
Building Department ↗Under MCL 339.2403, a property owner building a structure for their own use and occupancy is not required to be licensed as a residential builder.
Michigan Legislature - MCL 339.2403 ↗Statewide rule. An owner who erects a residential structure for the owner's own use and occupancy on the owner's property in Michigan, including Marquette County. The exemption …
Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder ↗Statewide rule. A person erecting a residential structure or combination residential and commercial structure for the person’s own use and occupancy on the person’s property, fo…
Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder ↗Statewide rule. Michigan residential-builder licensing for an individual who erects a residential structure or combination residential and commercial structure for the person's …
Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Builder ↗Michigan's residential builder licensing act exempts a property owner building a home for their own occupancy, allowing homeowners to pull their own building permit through the …
Schoolcraft County Building Code Department ↗Building permits may be obtained by a homeowner doing his own work in a single-family dwelling which he owns and is living in or about to occupy.
Newaygo County MI - Building Inspector / Permit Guidelines ↗Michigan LARA allows a homeowner to act as their own general contractor building on their own property for their own occupancy without a residential builder license.
Michigan LARA - Helpful Information for Homeowners ↗Michigan law (MCL 339.2403(b)) exempts an owner of property building a structure for the owner's own use and occupancy from residential builder licensing, allowing a homeowner t…
Michigan Legislature MCL 339.2403 ↗The Michigan Licensing Law gives a homeowner an exemption to act as their own general contractor for a single-family residence they will occupy, though they assume all liability.
Isabella County Community Development - Building ↗Michigan law (MCL 339.2403(b)) exempts an owner of property building a structure for the owner's own use and occupancy from residential builder licensing, allowing a homeowner t…
Michigan Legislature MCL 339.2403 ↗Michigan law allows a homeowner acting as their own general contractor to build their own single-family residence without a residential builder license (subject to the 365-day n…
Michigan LARA - Helpful Information for Homeowners ↗Clinton County's building FAQ states that Michigan law allows homeowners to act as their own general contractor for their primary single-family residence; permits and code compl…
Clinton County Building Department - Frequently Asked Questions ↗A homeowner may perform their own residential construction and obtain the permit themselves, entering 'Homeowner' in the contractor information field.
Gratiot County, MI - Requirements for Obtaining Building Permits ↗An owner and occupant may apply for and pull their own residential building permit (rather than requiring a licensed residential builder) in the City of Grand Rapids.
City of Grand Rapids - New Residential Building Permit ↗Michigan licensing law lets a homeowner act as their own builder (owner-builder) and obtain a permit for construction of their own single-family residence without a residential …
Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 125.1510 ↗Michigan licensing law lets a homeowner act as their own general contractor when building their own residence for their own use, via a homeowner affidavit.
Michigan LARA Building Permit Information ↗Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the Michigan state page for all 83 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.
General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
