If you have researched construction activity in Metro Detroit, you have run into SEMCOG — the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. SEMCOG publishes regional building permit data that is useful for spotting trends. Here is what it is, and where it stops being useful for lead generation.
What SEMCOG is
SEMCOG is the regional planning agency for seven counties: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Livingston, Monroe and St. Clair. Among many datasets, it collects residential building permit information from local governments and reports it — typically as counts of new residential units by community and by month.
What SEMCOG permit data shows
- New residential units permitted — single-family and multi-family unit counts — by municipality.
- Time series — monthly and annual trends.
- Regional comparisons — which parts of Southeast Michigan are growing.
This is useful for decisions like which cities to target, whether new construction is worth staffing for, or where to open a second location.
What SEMCOG data does not give you
- Addresses. It is aggregate counts, not a list of individual projects.
- Remodels, re-roofs, mechanical, electrical, plumbing. SEMCOG’s permit reporting centers on new residential construction.
- Contractor or owner names.
- Timeliness for outreach. Regional reporting runs on a lag.
In short: SEMCOG tells you the market. It does not tell you the job.
How contractors should use each
| Question | Use |
|---|---|
| Is new construction growing in Macomb Township? | SEMCOG |
| Which SE Michigan cities are permitting the most new homes? | SEMCOG |
| Who pulled a re-roof permit in Warren yesterday? | Local permit records / Build Siren |
| Which GC is building the new subdivision on M-59? | Local building permit |
Getting from trend data to actual leads
- Use SEMCOG (or our monthly Metro Detroit permit report) to pick the cities and project types worth your time.
- Then monitor the local building, mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits in those cities for address-level opportunities.
- Build Siren does step 2 for all of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties — daily, filtered to your trade.
FAQ
Is SEMCOG permit data free?
SEMCOG publishes regional data products on its website; much is publicly available. It is aggregate, not address-level.
Can I get contractor leads from SEMCOG?
Not directly — no addresses or names. Use it for market selection, then local permit records for leads.
Related
Are Building Permits Public Record in Michigan? · Metro Detroit Construction Permit Reports · Coverage areas
Request access to Build Siren — daily permit leads for Southeast Michigan contractors, from $99/month. Call (248) 290-8979.