Shed Permit in Detroit, Michigan
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before building a detached shed or garage larger than 200 square feet or more than one story, and before any accessory structure over 100 square feet under the zoning ordinance.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
BSEED's Do I Need a Building or Trade Permit guide exempts detached accessory structures of no more than one story and 200 square feet for residential construction, naming garages and sheds as the example, and drops the exemption to 120 square feet for commercial construction. The department's Residential and Commercial Ownership page states the Michigan Building Code version of the same exemption at 120 square feet for tool and storage sheds and playhouses. Separately, Zoning Sec. 50-12-455 requires a permit for any accessory structure exceeding 100 square feet of gross floor area, so a shed between 100 and 200 square feet can be exempt from the building permit and still need zoning approval.
Typical threshold: floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure in residential construction.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
When a permit is usually needed
Before building a detached shed or garage larger than 200 square feet or more than one story, and before any accessory structure over 100 square feet under the zoning ordinance.
What a shed permit costs in Detroit
How Detroit compares in Michigan
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | Permit required | Not specified |
| Detroitthis page | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure in residential construction |
| Grand Rapids | Permit required | Not specified |
| Sterling Heights | It depends | shed floor area above which a building permit is required |
Closest shed permit thresholds outside Michigan
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Detroit's 200 sq ft.
- Austin, Texas, one-story detached accessory structures used as tool or storage sheds with floor area no greater than 200 sq ft and no more than 15 ft in height and no plumbing and not in a floodplain are exempt
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana, floor area of a detached accessory structure
- Bellevue, Washington, detached storage sheds playhouses or gazebos with a floor area of 200 square feet or less do not require a building permit; structures over 200 square feet require a permit
- Clark County, Nevada, sheds over 200 sq ft require a building permit; storage sheds 200 sq ft or under may be exempt under Building Administrative Code Section 22.02.190
How to apply in Detroit
A residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing.
What most shed permit applications include:
- A written permit application identifying the proposed work and describing the property by its address or legal description, filed with the building department before construction begins (IRC R105.3).
- A scaled site plan showing the shed's size and location and its dimensioned distances to all property lines so required setbacks can be verified before the permit is issued (IRC R106.2).
- Construction documents showing the shed's foundation: freestanding accessory structures at or under the code's small-structure size and eave-height limits (600 square feet and a 10 foot eave height in the model code) are exempt from continuous footings but must still be shown supported on undisturbed soil or engineered fill and anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1).
- Where the shed does sit on a continuous foundation with a wood sill plate, anchor bolt or approved strap details tying the sill plate to the foundation (IRC R403.1.6).
- Roof framing details showing the rafter-to-wall or truss-to-wall connections, since even a shed exempt from continuous footings must be anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1; R802.11).
General submittal guidance from IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC. Source. City of Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) sets the exact checklist for Detroit.
Where to apply 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
Inspections and closing out your permit
A permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
- Foundation or anchor inspection: called after any required footings, piers, or ground anchors are set and any forms or reinforcing steel are in place, but before concrete is placed, so the foundation or anchoring system can be verified before it is covered (IRC R109.1.1).
- Frame inspection: after the shed is framed, sheathed, and braced, the inspector checks the framing, bracing, fasteners, and the roof connections that resist wind uplift, before those elements are covered (IRC R109.1.4 frame inspection; R403.1 anchorage).
- Final inspection: made after the permitted work is complete and before the shed is used; work may not proceed past any inspection stage without the building official's approval (IRC R109.1.6 final inspection; R109.4 approval required).
- For a pre-fabricated or kit shed, the manufacturer's installation instructions must be on site at the time of inspection so the inspector can confirm the anchoring and assembly match the design (IRC R106.1.2).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Detroit permit portal or by phone at (313) 224-2372.
Inspection sequence from IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Shed Permit checklist for Detroit
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure in residential construction. Usually needed: Before building a detached shed or garage larger than 200 square feet or more than one story, and before any accessory structure over 100 square feet under the zoning ordinance.
- Budget the fee. Building permit fees are based on project cost under the BSEED Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2024, modified 7/18/2025: $2,000 or less, Flat $271.43; Over $2,000 but not over $25,000, First $2,000 Base $271.43 plus $34.09 Per $1,000 or fraction thereof over $2,000. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. A residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing. Start at the Detroit permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. City of Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED). Phone: (313) 224-2372. Address: Development Resource Center, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Room 434, Detroit, MI 48226.
- Plan for inspections. A permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a shed permit in Detroit?
- BSEED's Do I Need a Building or Trade Permit guide exempts detached accessory structures of no more than one story and 200 square feet for residential construction, naming garages and sheds as the example, and drops the exemption to 120 square feet for commercial construction. The department's Residential and Commercial Ownership page states the Michigan Building Code version of the same exemption at 120 square feet for tool and storage sheds and playhouses. Separately, Zoning Sec. 50-12-455 requires a permit for any accessory structure exceeding 100 square feet of gross floor area, so a shed between 100 and 200 square feet can be exempt from the building permit and still need zoning approval. Floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure in residential construction. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a shed permit cost in Detroit?
- Building permit fees are based on project cost under the BSEED Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2024, modified 7/18/2025: $2,000 or less, Flat $271.43; Over $2,000 but not over $25,000, First $2,000 Base $271.43 plus $34.09 Per $1,000 or fraction thereof over $2,000. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- How long does a shed permit take in Detroit?
- In Detroit, a shed permit typically takes about 5 days for a residential building permit after the application is submitted. Times can vary by workload and project scope, so confirm with the office.
- Where do you apply for a shed permit in Detroit?
- You can apply through the Detroit permit portal or contact the City of Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a shed permit themselves in Detroit?
- Under Michigan law (MCL 339.2403(b), (c); MCL 339.2401(a)(iii), (b)(ii)(A); MCL 339.5737(3)(g); MCL 339.6107(2)(d); MCL 339.5819): Yes. A Michigan homeowner may pull the building permit and do the work on their own home without a residential builder license, because the licensing article both defines the trade to exclude them and exempts them outright. MCL 339.2401(a)(iii) says a residential builder is a person that erects a residential structure except for the person's own use and occupancy on the person's property, and MCL 339.2403(b) exempts an owner of property with reference to a structure on the property for the owner's own use and occupancy. Own use and occupancy is the condition, so the exemption does not cover building to sell, and MCL 339.2403(c) limits owners of rental property to maintenance and alteration of that property. The statute sets no cap on how many times a homeowner may use the exemption; the only frequency rule in the article catches purchase, substantial rehabilitation, and resale of the same structure more than twice in 1 calendar year, and MCL 339.2401(b)(ii)(A) exempts work for the person's own use and occupancy from even that. Homeowners can also pull their own trade permits: electrical work in a single family home and accompanying outbuildings owned and occupied or to be occupied by the person doing the work (MCL 339.5737(3)(g)), their own plumbing, building sewer, or private sewer in their single-family dwelling if a permit is secured (MCL 339.6107(2)(d)), and a heating or refrigerating system if the owner affirms in the permit application that they are or will become the owner and occupant (MCL 339.5819). Confirm how Detroit applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Detroit
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | deck area | Building permit fees are based on project cost under the BSEED Fee Schedule effective... |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | electrical alterations beyond replacing switches or receptacles | BSEED Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2024, modified 7/18/2025, ELECTRICAL PART A:... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | fence height, for a fence outside a Special Review District | Fence work is priced as a building permit on project cost under the BSEED Fee Schedule... |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | Not specified | BSEED Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2024, modified 7/18/2025, GAS FIRED EQUIPMENT:... |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | plumbing alterations beyond the working parts of a faucet or valve or clearance of stoppages | BSEED Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2024, modified 7/18/2025, PLUMBING INSTALLATION... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | prefabricated above-ground pool accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy holding not more than 5,000 gallons | Building permit fees are based on project cost under the BSEED Fee Schedule effective... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | roof-work beyond replacing a few shingles | Building permit fees are based on project cost under the BSEED Fee Schedule effective... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | BSEED Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2024, modified 7/18/2025, PART E, RENEWABLE... |
Shed Permit in other Michigan localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Detroit documents; the office above sets the local rules.
- IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC
- IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with City of Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED). Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Permit office
City of Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED)
(313) 224-2372Permit portalCompare
Shed Permit across Michigan