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Design-build in Plymouth, Michigan
Plymouth Homes, From Penniman Victorians to Township Colonials
Designed, sourced & built under one roof.
Our office is on Old Woodward, a few minutes from most of the homes wework on. We design and build kitchens, bathrooms, additions, and whole home renovations for Plymouth homeowners — one accountable teamfrom first sketch to final walkthrough.
4.8★
Google rating across 75+ reviews
5 year
Warranty on our workmanship
2014
Founded in Metro Detroit
100%
In-house design, source & build
Local design-build
The address will not tell you which Plymouth you are in.
The City of Plymouth is 2.2 square miles with about 9,400 people, the walkable, historic core with Victorians along Penniman from the early 1900s and Old Village buildings dating to the 1840s. Plymouth Charter Township is sixteen square miles with nearly 28,000 people, completely surrounding the city and entirely independent of it.
Both share the 48170 ZIP and both are addressed as Plymouth, Michigan. Two houses a few streets apart can sit under different building departments, different zoning ordinances and different historic rules.
The character differs as much as the rules. City work tends toward period houses on tight lots near downtown. Township work is ranches, split-levels and colonials on lots that run from 7,200 square feet up to a full acre.
What we build in Plymouth
Services
01 - Kitchens
Custom cabinetry in period city homes and township colonials alike.
$95,000 - $250,000
02 - Bathrooms
Primary suites and guest baths, with waterproofing and a flood-tested pan on every shower.
$48,000 – $115,000+
03 - Additions
Additions designed for Kellogg Park review in the city, or estate-lot coverage caps in the township.
$160,000 – $480,000+
04 - Whole-home
Full renovations of early 1900s city houses and later township homes.
$325,000 – $850,000+
Ranges shown are typical for Plymouth. Full tier-by-tier pricing is on each cost guide.
building in Plymouth
What Building Here Actually Involves
01
City or Township is the first question, and the address does not answer it
Both share 48170. The City of Plymouth runs its own Community Development Department; Plymouth Township runs a separate Building Department at a different address with different inspectors and different ordinances. Everything downstream, historic review, setbacks, coverage, fees depends on which one you are in. We confirm it at the first visit.
02
The city’s historic district covers Kellogg Park and reviews paint colors
The City of Plymouth established its Historic District Commission in 1994, and the local district covers the properties surrounding and near Kellogg Park downtown. A Certificate of Appropriateness is required for new construction and additions, porch work, replacement roofing, siding, windows and doors, lighting, landscaping, and paint colour changes. The Commission meets the first Wednesday, with applications due the third Monday of the preceding month.
03
The township’s historic program is voluntary and opt-in
Plymouth Township established its own Historic District Commission in 2019, but participation is voluntary. Structures fifty years or older with significance can qualify, and a single building can be designated as its own historic district. If a township property has opted in, exterior alterations are reviewed against the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.
04
Township estate lots have a fifteen percent coverage cap
In the township’s R-1-E and R-1-H districts (one acre and half acre minimums) maximum lot coverage is just 15 percent, with fifty foot rear yards. That is unusually restrictive and it is the binding constraint on large additions to estate properties, notwithstanding the size of the lot.
05
The city permits by category and posts them publicly
The City issues building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, water and sewer, and right-of-way permits separately, with trade permits expiring at six months and building permits at a year. The permit must be posted and visible from the street, address numbers must be visible throughout, and the owner or contractor must be present for interior inspections.
Requirements change and the two jurisdictions differ. Confirm current specifics with the City of Plymouth Community Development, or Plymouth Township Building Department before relying on any of the above.
where we work
Where We Work in Plymouth
We build in both the City of Plymouth and Plymouth Township, along with Northville and Novi.
Historic Old Village
Kellogg Park
Penniman Avenue
Downtown Plymouth
Hough Park
Old Town
Cambridge Village
Parklane
Liberty Street
straight answer
City or Township changes everything
The same project, on the same street, can face a Certificate of Appropriateness in the City and no design review at all in the Township. Setbacks, coverage caps, fees and inspectors all differ. We establish jurisdiction at the first visit, because every number after that depends on it.
In the City's Kellogg Park district, plan for monthly Commission review with applications due more than two weeks ahead, and design to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards from the outset rather than submitting and revising.
We don't reface cabinets and we don't paint them. We're the right fit when a house deserves proper cabinetry and millwork, whichever side of the line it sits on.
4.8 stars
Average customer review
2014
Founded in Metro Detroit
Old Woodward
Our office, in Birmingham
100%
In-house design, source & build
Good to know
Plymouth FAQ
Am I in the City of Plymouth or Plymouth Township?
This is the first thing we check, because both use the same mailing address and ZIP. They have separate building departments, separate zoning ordinances and completely different historic rules.
Do I need Historic District Commission approval?
In the City, if your property is in the Kellogg Park district, yes, including for paint colour changes, windows, doors, roofing and porch work. In the Township, only if the property has voluntarily opted into designation, since that programme is opt-in.
How much of my township lot can I build on?
In the estate and half-acre districts, only 15 percent, with fifty-foot rear yards. That is restrictive relative to the lot size, and it is usually what limits a large addition on an acre parcel.
How far ahead do I need to submit for historic review?
In the City, applications are due the third Monday of the month preceding the first-Wednesday meeting. Missing that deadline costs a month, so we design and submit against the calendar.
Does the permit have to be visible?
In the City, yes, the permit must be posted and visible from the street, address numbers must stay visible during the work, and the owner or contractor must be present for interior inspections.
Are you licensed and insured in Michigan?
Yes, licensed Michigan residential builder, Lic. 2102213502, fully insured, with our office on Old Woodward in Birmingham.
Planning a renovation in Plymouth?