The Building Department is dedicated to safeguarding health, property and the public welfare by regulating and enforcing the codes regarding the design, construction, quality, use and occupancy and location of all buildings and structures. The department accomplishes this through educating and assisting citizens through team work, expertise, and communication in an ethical and professional manner.

The Branch County Building Department is responsible for enforcing the following state construction codes:

• Building: 2015 Michigan Building Code (Commercial Projects)
• Residential Building: 2015 Michigan Residential Code
• Michigan Uniform Energy Code 2015
• Mechanical: 2015 Michigan Mechanical Code
• Plumbing: 2015 Michigan Plumbing Code
• Electrical: NEC 2017 Michigan Electrical Code

Building Permits are required to assure that the minimum requirements of various federal, state and local codes are met through affordability, structural strength, means of egress, stability, sanitation, light and ventilation, energy conservation (which could include things such as solar panels), and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards attributed to the building environment.
This could be done by the enforcement of including fire exit wall signs, necessary emergency exits, smoke alarms, and fire extinguishers, etc. Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make an application to the building department and obtain the required permits.