City Building Permits
Detroit, MI - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Detroit, Michigan. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
City of Detroit building permits and inspections; zoning and special land use review run through BSEED and related Detroit departments.
- Department
- Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED)
- Address
- Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 401, Detroit, MI 48226
- Phone
- 313-224-2733
- bseed@detroitmi.gov
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Accela eLAPS + ProjectDox ePlans • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online or in-person
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Create an Accela account and, if applicable, connect contractor license credentials.
- Submit permit application in Accela; upload scope and plans in ProjectDox when plan review is required, or file at the DRC office for eligible work.
- Respond to revision comments and complete zoning or related clearances.
- Pay assessed permit and plan review fees.
- Receive permit in Accela/eLAPS, post on site, schedule inspections in Accela or through Construction Division.
- Pass finals and obtain Certificate of Acceptance or Certificate of Occupancy as applicable.
Typical processing time: About 5 days for many residential permits; some permit tracks estimate 20 days after application submission.
Source: Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED)
General Requirements
New buildings, additions, alterations, repairs, change of use, demolition, signs, and work requiring building review or trade permits.
Required Documents
- Permit application
- Scope of work
- Sealed architectural or engineering plans when required
- Contractor license linkage or city registration where applicable
- Zoning or related approvals when triggered
- Permit validity
- Verify expiration rules on issued permit and any hearing approval documents.
- Building code
- Current State of Michigan Building Code and related Michigan construction codes, plus Detroit zoning and local ordinances.
- Owner-builder
- Homeowners applying for residential permits do not need a contractor license.
- Contractor requirements
- Residential contractors must hold builder license and city registration; commercial work must follow sealed plans requirements where applicable.
Fees
- Plan check fee
- Separate plan review charges where required; revised permit minimum $187.
- Permit fee formula
- Mixed; valuation-based for many building permits, flat fees for some residential and specialty categories.
- Reinspection fee
- $176
- Penalty (no permit)
- $351 for contractors; $176 for homeowners who build without permit.
- Payment note
- Fees are paid through the permit workflow in Accela/eLAPS or at city cashiering points depending on application path.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective July 18, 2025).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Accela/eLAPS portal (online)
- Construction Division Office (phone)
- Plumbing: 313-224-3202 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Mechanical inspector office hours posted by division; plumbing inspections generally within 48 hours.
Typical inspection sequence: Rough or progress inspections by trade and building discipline, then final inspection, then Certificate of Acceptance or Occupancy.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Current State of Michigan Building Code and related Michigan construction codes, plus Detroit zoning and local ordinances.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- BSEED Contacts
- Residential Building Plan Checklist
- License lookup guide: Michigan Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Michigan Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Michigan hub: Michigan Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Detroit Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Detroit, MI?
- New buildings, additions, alterations, repairs, change of use, demolition, signs, and work requiring building review or trade permits.
- How much does a building permit cost in Detroit, MI?
- Fees are calculated as: Mixed; valuation-based for many building permits, flat fees for some residential and specialty categories.. Plan check fee: Separate plan review charges where required; revised permit minimum $187..
- How do I apply for a building permit in Detroit, MI?
- 1. Create an Accela account and, if applicable, connect contractor license credentials. 2. Submit permit application in Accela; upload scope and plans in ProjectDox when plan review is required, or file at the DRC office for eligible work. 3. Respond to revision comments and complete zoning or related clearances. 4. Pay assessed permit and plan review fees. 5. Receive permit in Accela/eLAPS, post on site, schedule inspections in Accela or through Construction Division. 6. Pass finals and obtain Certificate of Acceptance or Certificate of Occupancy as applicable.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in Detroit, MI?
- Typical processing time is About 5 days for many residential permits; some permit tracks estimate 20 days after application submission..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Detroit, MI?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Accela/eLAPS portal, Construction Division Office, Plumbing: 313-224-3202.
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