COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT/PLANNING OFFICE
CITY HALL
410 LUDINGTON STREET
ESCANABA, MI 49829
(906) 786-9402
(906) 786-4755 FAX
email: Community Development/Planning
Mission Statement
The mission of the Community Development-Planning Department is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens, and preserve the aesthetic character of Escanaba through the enforcement of Zoning Ordinance, Planning Ordinance, Property Maintenance Codes, Bed and Breakfast Ordinances and the Fence and Hedges Ordinance.
The department will strive to meet every challenge in assisting the Planning Commission in governing and maintain all codes created by the Escanaba Comprehensive Plan, and assist in all matters which may alter the City of Escanaba or its Plan.
The department is manned by one full-time Code Official who performs specialized inspection work involving existing structures to insure compliance with established Property Maintenance Codes, Electrical Codes, Plumbing Codes and Mechanical Codes. The Code Official is also ex-officio for the General Appeals Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and the Escanaba Planning Commission. Additional duties include Zoning Site Approval, Comprehensive Plan Management and Land use supervision. Work is performed under the general supervision of the City Manager.
MEET THE DIRECTOR
James V. O'Toole, a seventeen-year veteran of the department is the person charged with the enforcement of Escanaba's Property Maintenance Code, Zoning Code, Rental Licensing, Registration Code, Escanaba's Bed and Breakfast Ordinance and the Fences & Hedges Ordinance. James is a registered Building Inspector with the State of Michigan, a licensed Residential Builder, a State certified Lead Inspector and State certified Lead Risk Assessor. James is also responsible for the various owner-occupied, rental and commercial property rehabilitation programs. James can be contacted at jotoole@escanaba.org.
To improve efficiency and better serve our customers contractor license verification, state electrical permits and other state services related to construction and fire safety can now be obtained on line from the state of Michigan.
State of Michigan's Bureau of Construction Codes and Fire Safety website.