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Serving contractors & homeowners across our partner communities Inspection line & contacts →

Building • Electrical • Plumbing • Mechanical

Building Confidence,
One Permit at a Time.

Communities trust Municipal Inspection Services to administer permits and provide inspections by licensed experts. Contractors and homeowners get one simple place to apply, submit plans, and schedule — no chasing paperwork or waiting on callbacks.

Apply or schedule Partner with us Augment your team Join our team
4Counties served
100’sOf inspections each year
11Act 407 license disciplines
30 yrsOf service

Inspections and Plan Reviews

11 Disciplines, 1 Accountable Partner

Every inspection and plan review is conducted by an Act 407 licensed inspector or plan reviewer and documented on our cloud-based system for superior transparency.

Building

  • Building Official
  • Building Inspector
  • Building Plan Reviewer

Electrical

  • Electrical Inspector
  • Electrical Plan Reviewer

Mechanical

  • Mechanical Inspector
  • Mechanical Plan Reviewer

Plumbing

  • Plumbing Inspector
  • Plumbing Plan Reviewer

Fire Protection

  • Fire Protection System Inspector
  • Fire Protection System Plan Reviewer

The Municipal Inspection Services permit portal

Apply, submit, schedule — all from one place

The same streamlined workflow in every community we serve.

  1. 01

    Apply online

    Submit a permit application in minutes — no trip to city hall.

  2. 02

    Upload documents

    Attach plans, site drawings, and contractor licensing securely.

  3. 03

    Request an inspection

    Pick a date that works; we confirm and dispatch a licensed inspector.

  4. 04

    Track to approval

    Follow every status change online until your final sign-off.

For counties, cities & townships

Outsource your building department

Hand off the staffing, liability, and software burden of permitting and inspections while your community keeps full visibility. Licensed inspectors in every Act 407 discipline, code-compliant plan review, and short lead times — with reduced overhead and no conflicts of interest.

See how we partner with municipalities →

Augment your team

Inspectors and Plan Reviewers ready when you need a hand

Our veteran team has overseen the construction of high-rise buildings, apartment and retirement communities, medical centers, compressed natural gas facilities, and more. In most of the communities we serve, our lead time is next business day.

Contract plan review

The code allows a building official to require third-party expert reports at the contractor’s expense. If your department is behind on plan review — or you want a second set of eyes on a complicated project — you can bring us in at no cost to the community.

Contract inspections

There is an inspector shortage, and many teams can’t accommodate inspection requests for days or weeks. Our team is ready to fill your short- or long-term needs to bring your lead time down and make the phone stop ringing!

Building official vacancy?

Stay compliant while you find the right hire

1972 PA 230 requires you to have a building official to legally administer your jurisdiction. Let us fill your vacancy so you have time to choose the best candidate for a permanent solution.

Talk to us

Meet our team

Three decades serving local communities

Founded by Jeff Cranson in the 1990s, Municipal Inspections has been serving local communities for 3 decades. With Jeff's retirement, the company has continued to serve the same communities and more with some added customer service enhancements. Partnering with BS&A for Cloud Based services your interaction with us will be simpler and more transparent than ever before. We are excited about the changes and hope you are too!

Joe Hardin

Joe Hardin

Building / Mechanical

Joe Hardin started rewiring homes with his father (a moonlighting electrical engineer) in the late 1970's. Joe's first full time job in construction related industries was for a Detroit area HVAC firm in 1988. Joe began to specialize in hydronic systems and ultimately went out on his own in the early 1990s. Starting as a subcontract boiler and HVAC installer, Joe later opened a full service heating and cooling company that he operated until 2017. As a sideline to HVAC Joe began work as a builder, constructing his first home in 2001. In 1999, Joe began inspecting to assist the Livingston County Team. Today, Joe is a Building Official, Building Inspector, Mechanical Inspector and Fire Protection System Inspector with all 5 plan review categories. Joe is also a licensed Residential Builder, Mechanical Contractor, Boiler Installer, Certified Fire Inspector and holds many other certifications. Joe sits on the NFPA board for Fire Plans Examiner candidate testing and teaches code at Lansing Community College. When he's not at your job sites, Joe prefers to be on his boat. If you're on Bruin Lake this summer, look him up!

Phil Gensterblum

Phil Gensterblum

Executive Administrator

Phil Gensterblum is the first person you'll interact with at MIS. With nearly 12 years working as a zoning administrator, Phil already had knowledge of our industry and BS&A. He also has his own small business as a contract planning and zoning administrator. His main task lately has been mastering the BS&A Cloud system and getting contractors their PIN's to streamline our process of issuing permits. In 2020, Phil retired after serving 30 years as a paramedic. When not working, Phil plays in a couple golf leagues, likes spending time on his Harley, and entertaining his Olde English Bulldogs (Axel & Tessa). During the camping season, he and Nat can be found in Ludington at the camper.

John Pomaville

Plumbing

John Pomaville started in construction in 1985 as a plumber apprentice. Since then, John has earned his Master Plumber and Plumbing Contractor License. He is also a Licensed Mechanical Contractor, Boiler Installer and Residential Builder. John began inspecting in 2022 and holds licenses in 2 states. John has the Michigan Building Official, Building Inspector/Plan Reviewer, Mechanical Inspector/Plan Reviewer and Plumbing Inspector/Plan Reviewer Act 407 licenses. John has multiple ICC certifications.

Bryan Thomas

Electrical

Bryan Thomas entered the construction industry in 2000. In 2008 Bryan became a master electrician and an electrical contractor in 2012. He went on to get his electrical inspector and plan reviewer license in 2017 and Building Official license in 2019. Bryan is also a licensed residential builder, NICET certified professional and ICC certified inspector. When Bryan is not on your job site he is often spotted attending or coaching one of his kids' games or practices.

Bill Richardson

Electrical

Bill Richardson has been involved in construction since 1986. As an electrical contractor Bill worked on numerous residential, agricultural and commercial projects for 4 decades. Bill began inspecting in 2023 and is a licensed Master Electrician, Electrical Contractor and Electrical Inspector. After work Bill enjoys hunting, playing pickleball and spending time with his three children and two grandchildren.

Steve Wood

Electrical

Stephen Wood graduated Springfield College in 1982 with a bachelor of science in Biology and Chemistry and Central Washington University in 1989 where he prepared for a career in education that he pursued for the next few years. In 1995 Steve came to Michigan and began a career as an electrician. Not abandoning education completely, he taught for 12 years at Grand Rapids Community College. An Electrical Inspector and Plan Reviewer with more than 30 years in the industry, Steve has been married to his wife Sandra for 40 years.

Bob Trahan

Electrical

Bob Trahan has been in construction for 35 years and is a licensed Master Electrician, Electrical Contractor, Electrical Inspector and Plan Reviewer. Bob enjoys hunting when he's not at work and since Bob's sons took over his business he likes to say "work is his hobby".

Join our team

We Are Growing!

Interested in lucrative part time work? Are you a licensed inspector? We are interested in you!

Get in touch

Apply for a permit

Find your municipality

Each partner community has its own permitting portal and inspection contacts. Find yours below.

First time? You may be asked for a PIN. Contact us at office@muniserves.com and we’ll get you what you need.

View all partner communities →

Get in touch

Get in touch with your inspector

Tell us who you are and what you need. We route your message to the right discipline and respond promptly.

General questions, scheduling & permit applications

Building official, plan review, building & mechanical inspections

Plumbing inspections

Electrical inspections (by community)

Electrical inspectors will answer questions only for the area they serve.