Washtenaw County homeowner guide
Ann Arbor Home Project Costs & Permit Planning
Navigate Ann Arbor’s online STREAM permitting system, zoning-compliance review, historic-district checkpoint, and property permit records before committing to a design or contractor.
City-adjusted calculator
Start with a working range.
Broad installed-cost range for 240 sq. ft. Final bids depend on scope, conditions, design, products, permits, and labor.
Open the complete project guide →Local adjustments are broad planning assumptions, not measured city price indexes. Obtain several written bids and confirm current permit fees and requirements directly.
Verified local details
What is distinctive about Ann Arbor.
STREAM is the current system
Ann Arbor directs new building and trade permit applications, inspection scheduling, and current property records through its online STREAM system.
City permits page ↗Some small structures still need zoning review
The city lists certain small detached structures, fences, and floating or detached decks that may not need a building permit but do require a zoning compliance permit.
Zoning compliance permits ↗Historic districts add a checkpoint
Ann Arbor states that projects covered by its zoning-compliance list require a Certificate of Appropriateness when located in a historic district.
Historic-district note ↗Older records use an archive
The city directs post-March-2022 applications to STREAM and older records to A2Trak, which can help homeowners review prior permit history.
A2Trak guide ↗Permit desk
Know where to start—and what to prepare.
Ann Arbor Construction & Building Services
Building and inspection questions · 734-794-6263
STREAM permit portal
Current applications, payments, records, and inspection management.
Open official application path ↗How to apply
- Research current records in STREAM and older records in A2Trak.
- Check zoning-compliance and historic-district status.
- Prepare the digital application and separate trade scopes.
- Track corrections, inspections, and final approvals in STREAM.
Inspection planning
- Construction inspections generally run Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Next-day scheduling is unavailable after 2:30 p.m. the prior day.
- STREAM supplies a two- or four-hour window the morning of inspection; cancellations require a call.
- An adult must be present for entry into an occupied property.
Documents to prepare
- Digital plans and project description
- Zoning-compliance material when applicable
- Historic-district approval when applicable
- Building and separate trade permit information
Local workflow
A practical sequence for Ann Arbor.
Research the address
Review current STREAM records and older A2Trak history for previous work, open items, and useful property context.
Check zoning and historic status
Resolve zoning-compliance and historic-district questions before assuming that a small project is exempt.
Prepare a digital submission
Coordinate owner, contractor, drawings, project valuation, and separate trade-permit needs for the online workflow.
Track inspections in STREAM
Keep inspection results and final approvals connected to the property record and your contract milestones.
Project checkpoints
Questions change with the scope.
Fence or small detached structure
Check Ann Arbor’s zoning-compliance list even if the work may not require a building permit.
Historic-district exterior work
Confirm Certificate of Appropriateness timing before submitting the permit or ordering exterior products.
Addition or garage
Resolve zoning, drawings, trade permits, site conditions, and any historic review before pricing construction.
Kitchen or basement
Separate building work from electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits and inspections in STREAM.
Previously remodeled home
Use STREAM and A2Trak to understand recorded work before relying on existing layouts or systems.
Contractor-ready
Put these questions in every bid request.
- Who manages the STREAM application and account coordination?
- Has zoning and historic-district status been checked?
- Which building and trade permits are separate?
- Does the bid include revisions requested during review?
- Which inspection approvals trigger progress payments?
Primary sources
Verify directly with Ann Arbor.
Official source first