FAQ: Permits and Licenses

EGLE provides a directory of environmental consultants as a service to Michigan business and residents.  One of the primary obligations of any business is to maintain compliance with federal, state, and local environmental, health and safety regulations.

To find out if you need a consultant, the directory includes short descriptions of specific environmental areas, along with some of the typical instances that might require the use of a consultant’s expertise. These descriptions are not inclusive but are meant to be used as a guide to determine which questionnaire is appropriate to use for consultant evaluation and selection.  

Browse the environmental consultant directory

Remember, the consultant’s role is to aid you in achieving or attaining compliance. Ultimately, the responsibility for maintaining compliance with all of your company’s environmental requirements rests with you, not the consultant.

Use the EGLE Forms Website to find EGLE forms for registration, licensing, permitting, inspections, complaints and more.

See the EGLE Permits Website and State License Search Website to determine what authorizations are required from EGLE and the State for activities occurring in Michigan.

If yes, visit Air Quality Permit to Install, Air Quality Division (AQD), Permit Section web site.

Notification is required for asbestos removal and required for all demolitions even if the structure never contained asbestos. Asbestos Notification, AQD, Asbestos Program, 517-899-2182.

Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control (SESC) Permits:

Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA), Part 91 provides for the control of soil erosion and protects adjacent properties and the waters of the state from sedimentation.

A permit is generally required for any earth change activity which disturbs one or more acres of land or which is within 500 feet of a lake or stream.

Part 91 is administered and enforced by various state, county, and local governmental agencies. There are four categories of agencies recognized under Part 91:

1. Counties are mandated by statute to administer and enforce Part 91. The board of commissioners for each county must appoint an agency within the county, referred to as the County Enforcing Agency (CEA), to review soil erosion and sedimentation control plans, issue permits, and take enforcement actions when necessary to ensure compliance with Part 91.

2. Municipal Enforcing Agencies (MEAs) are cities, villages, charter townships, and some general law townships that have elected to enforce Part 91 through adoption of a soil erosion and sedimentation control ordinance. After approval of the ordinance by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the MEAs assume responsibility for administering and enforcing Part 91 within their jurisdictions, independent of the CEAs.

3. Authorized Public Agencies (APAs) are state, county, or municipal agencies, such as the Michigan Department of Transportation, county road commissions, and city street departments, that have been designated by EGLE to undertake earth change activities without having to obtain soil erosion and sedimentation control permits from the county or municipal enforcing agencies. Designation is dependent upon having acceptable procedures for controlling erosion and off-site sedimentation.

4. EGLE's Water Resource Division (WRD) has oversight responsibility over the statewide SESC Program and all Part 91 agencies. Please refer to the following for your local Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Agencies.

Counties have the primary responsibility for issuing permits. In some cases, cities, villages, and townships have assumed permitting responsibility within their jurisdictions. Permit applications can be obtained from the respective county or municipal agencies. Copies of Part 91 and the rules can be found on the SESC Web page. Questions regarding whether an activity requires a permit should be discussed with the county or municipal permitting agency identified.

Stormwater Coverage for Construction Activities Permits:

Construction activities which disturb one or more acres of land and have a point source discharge of stormwater to waters of the state (streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands) are required to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit from EGLE's Water Resources Division (WRD).

The WRD has adopted a process called "Permit-by Rule" (Rule 2190, promulgated under Part 31, NREPA) for issuing the necessary stormwater coverage. Permit-by Rule "streamlines" the permitting process and is dependent upon the applicant first obtaining Part 91 coverage, i.e., obtaining an SESC permit from the appropriate Part 91 permitting agency or being designated an APA.

For sites disturbing one to five acres, the applicant/permittee receives automatic stormwater coverage upon the applicant obtaining a Part 91 permit (or undertaking the project as an APA). Although the coverage is automatic, the permittee must comply with the requirements of Permit by Rule.

For sites disturbing five or more acres, the applicant/permittee must obtain a Part 91 permit (or undertake the project as an APA) and submit an application for Notice of Coverage (NOC) to the WRD. Along with the NOC application, the applicant/permittee must submit a copy of the SESC permit, approved SESC plan, site location map, and the $400 permit fee.

The permittee must follow the requirements of Permit by Rule. Permit-by Rule requires compliance with the SESC permit issued under Part 91 and also requires SESC measures to be inspected weekly and within 24 hours of a significant rain event by a certified stormwater operator. The certification materials and testing are available in most WRD district office.

To become a certified Construction Stormwater Operator, please visit our training page for all self-study training materials and exam registration information.

Visit the EGLE's Permits web page to understand what permits you may need to start your new business.