Registered to Buying · 4 min read
Service notes
- Detroit building and trade permits are applied for and managed through the city’s online permit portal.
- Water and sewer permits come from DWSD; right-of-way permits come from the Department of Public Works.
- The city’s stated turnaround for a Certificate of Acceptance or Certificate of Occupancy is 72 hours.
Many people move to Detroit for the houses: solid older homes that need work and cost less than elsewhere in Michigan. Turning one into a comfortable home, or a rental that passes inspection, runs through the city’s Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department, known as BSEED. Doing it with permits protects you when you sell, when you insure and, for landlords, when the rental inspector visits. Here is the process as BSEED describes it.
Do you even need a permit?
Start with BSEED’s guide to work that does not need a permit, available as a download on its permit pages. The city also offers an online tool that tells you whether a project has special requirements, which BSEED recommends checking early to avoid surprises later.
Building permits
For structural and building work, BSEED lays out a short sequence: gather the documents your permit type requires, which can take time; then apply for and manage the permit through the online permit portal. Different permit types have different requirements. Where architectural plans are required, BSEED says they must be sealed by a state-registered architect or engineer.
Trade permits
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work fall under trade permits. These follow the same pattern: check whether a permit is needed, gather documents, then apply online through the Accela portal or in person at the License and Permits Office. Trade work is often done by licensed contractors, and BSEED publishes contractor license requirements for each trade.
Permits from other departments
- Water or sewer work needs a permit from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.
- Work in the public right-of-way needs a permit from the Department of Public Works.
Inspections and sign-off
BSEED’s Construction Inspection Division inspects permitted work to make sure it follows the approved plans and building codes. The path to a finished job runs through a Certificate of Acceptance:
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | Schedule an inspection online or by calling (313) 224-3202 |
| 2 | A Buildings and Safety inspector checks the work against current codes |
| 3 | After the final inspection, a supervisor for that trade approves the work |
| 4 | The permit holder receives a Certificate of Acceptance by mail, email or pickup at Suite 408 of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center |
BSEED gives a 72-hour turnaround for a Certificate of Acceptance. If a contractor did the work, the property owner can receive the certificate when the contractor gives permission in a certified letter. For projects that need a Certificate of Occupancy, the permit holder applies once all work is approved; the stated turnaround is also 72 hours.
Tip: Keep every permit and Certificate of Acceptance in one folder. A buyer’s lender, your insurer and, for landlords, the rental inspector may all ask for them.
The Certificate of Occupancy application can be submitted in person at Room 408 of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center or by email, and the certificate is then picked up there or sent by mail or email.
Rentals: the Certificate of Compliance
If the house will be a rental, the end goal is a Certificate of Compliance. It requires an inspection no more than a year old, completion of all repairs on the correction order and a re-inspection confirming the work. Permitted, accepted work makes that re-inspection straightforward. See Before You Rent in Detroit: How to Check a Home’s Certificate of Compliance.
Land Bank homes
Buyers of Detroit Land Bank Authority Auction and Own It Now houses must rehab the house and get it occupied, and they sign a reconveyance deed acknowledging forfeiture if they do not. The DLBA tracks renovation progress through its compliance process, so permits and inspections are part of the deal. See Buying a Detroit Land Bank Home: Auctions, Own It Now and the Rehab Rules.
Help with repair costs
- The city’s Critical Home Repair Program provides free repairs for eligible homeowners, addressing their most critical repair needs.
- Detroit LeadSafe Housing provides free lead inspections and repairs for qualifying homes with young children, and may fund some emergency repairs such as a roof, furnace, water heater or porch; see Lead-Safe Housing in Detroit: Paint, Water Service Lines and Free Help for Families.
- Homeowners in neighborhoods with a history of basement backups have had access to a free backwater valve program when funding was available; see Detroit Weather for Newcomers: 45 Inches of Snow, Cold Nights and Basement Backups.
- Low-income households can call (313) 386-9728 about free plumbing repairs for leaks.
Before you hire anyone
- Confirm the contractor holds the license the trade requires, using BSEED’s contractor license requirements.
- Agree in writing who applies for each permit and who schedules the inspections.
- Do not make the final payment until the work has passed inspection and the Certificate of Acceptance is issued.
Renovation adds value, which can mean a higher assessment. To keep your tax bill in check, make sure the Principal Residence Exemption is on file; see Detroit Property Taxes for New Homeowners: Mills, the Principal Residence Exemption and HOPE.