Building permits in Detroit, Michigan
Of the 9 common home projects we have verified in Detroit, 1 needs a permit outright and 8 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 2 official sources
Verified against official sources- Project types verified
- 10
- in Detroit
City of Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED)
- Development Resource Center, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Room 434, Detroit, MI 48226
- Phone: (313) 224-2372
- Email: DRC@detroitmi.gov
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
- Official fee schedule
Look up a permit in Detroit
Detroit runs an online permit portal. Many local portals let you check application status, search permit records, and view inspection results without calling the office.
What needs a permit in Detroit
Of the 9 common home projects we have verified in Detroit, 1 needs a permit outright and 8 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | deck area | ...under the BSEED Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2024, modified 7/18/2025: $2,000... |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | electrical alterations beyond replacing switches or receptacles | ...effective January 1, 2024, modified 7/18/2025, ELECTRICAL PART A: "Base fee"... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | fence height, for a fence outside a Special Review District | ...and RESIDENTIAL PERMITS, New Buildings, Alterations, Repairs, And Additions, $2,000... |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | Before installing or altering any heating, cooling, gas piping, air distribution or... | ...HOMEOWNER, "Central heating units, conversion burner, floor furnace, Each"... |
| Patio Permit | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not published |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | plumbing alterations beyond the working parts of a faucet or valve or clearance of stoppages | ...PLUMBING INSTALLATION PERMITS: "Application Fee (Non-Refundable), Flat"... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | prefabricated above-ground pool accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy holding not more than 5,000 gallons | ...under the BSEED Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2024, modified 7/18/2025: $2,000... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | roof-work beyond replacing a few shingles | ...under the BSEED Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2024, modified 7/18/2025: $2,000... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure in residential construction | ...under the BSEED Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2024, modified 7/18/2025: $2,000... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...systems (per visit): Systems with NO connection to utility grid, Per visit... |
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Detroit permit fees compared with nearby Michigan localities
| Michigan locality | Deck Permit | HVAC Permit | Electrical Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | ...effective January 1, 2024, modified 7/18/2025: $2,000... | ...units, conversion burner, floor furnace, Each"... | ...modified 7/18/2025, ELECTRICAL PART A: "Base fee"... |
| Ann Arbor | ...Fees (effective October 2019, revised 7/15/2025): $15... | ...Permit Fees (effective July 1, 2017): $15 base... | ...Permit Fees (effective January 2020): $15 base... |
| Grand Rapids | ...1, 2026, Building Permits: "Residential Deck $66.00... | ...Fees: "Application (Includes 1 Inspection) $52.00"... | ...Fees: "Application (Includes 1 inspection) $52.00"... |
| Sterling Heights | ...Application 26-27 fee chart: 'Deck/Porch' $78.00... | ...2026-2027: non-refundable application fee $55.00... | ...26-27: non-refundable application fee $55.00, then... |
Each cell is the opening clause of that Michigan jurisdiction's own fee schedule; the full wording and source sit on each permit page.
Detroit permit questions, answered from the data
- Do you need a permit in Detroit?
- For most projects, yes. Of the 10 permit types we have verified for Detroit, 1 always requires a permit (for example a solar permit), 8 depend on size or scope (a deck permit, for instance). Each Detroit permit type's page states the exact rule and its source.
- How much does a permit cost in Detroit?
- Detroit publishes a fee for 9 of the 10 permit types we cover, each quoted on its page from the jurisdiction's own schedule (linked on every page that carries one). Fees are set by City of Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED); we do not estimate or mark them up.
- Where do you apply for a permit in Detroit?
- City of Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) issues permits in Detroit, with an online portal for applications, plan uploads and status checks, and takes questions at (313) 224-2372. The Detroit official page and portal are linked in the office section above.
How the Detroit pages were verified. 10 permit types, 6 distinct official sources, most recently checked . Every rule is read from City of Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) or the applicable code and cited on its page; anything we could not confirm for Detroit is marked rather than estimated. How we verify.