Local building department guide · Updated 2026-07-30
Detroit Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact
Use this guide to find the official Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department, start a permit application, search permit records, schedule an inspection, and locate the correct zoning or plan review contact.
Start here
Quick actions
Apply for a building permit
Review the typical application path and prepare your project details.
See permit stepsTrack or search permits
Find Detroit permit search resources and application status links.
Search permitsSchedule a building inspection
Learn what to have ready before requesting your next inspection.
Schedule inspectionAccela portal login
Open the department's official online services and permit portal.
Open portalDetroit’s Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) is the local building-code enforcing authority for projects inside the City of Detroit. Detroit’s process uses the Michigan Building Code and Michigan Residential Code together with the Detroit zoning ordinance and other city requirements. A project outside the city limits may instead fall under another local, county, or state enforcing agency; Michigan LARA maintains the statewide jurisdiction guidance.
How to apply for a Detroit building permit
Start with BSEED’s building-permit guidance to identify the permit type, zoning requirements, contractor registration requirements, and plan documents. Commercial applicants generally create an account in Detroit’s eLAPS Accela portal, submit the application, and upload plan-review documents through the city’s ProjectDox/ePLANS workflow when required. Residential applicants may apply through Accela; owner-occupants have different licensing requirements than contractors.
Keep the permit record number and parcel information available. BSEED may request sealed plans, a detailed scope of work, ownership information, contractor licensing or city registration, and approvals from other city divisions before issuing the permit. Do not begin work until the required permit has been issued and posted as directed by the city.
Detroit inspections, zoning, and occupancy
Permit holders request building and trade inspections through eLAPS or the Construction Inspection Division. Required inspections depend on the work and may include foundation, framing, rough trade, fire-safety, and final inspections. Detroit plan review coordinates construction-code compliance with zoning and other city approvals. A change of use, new construction, addition, or major renovation may require a Certificate of Occupancy; some work may receive a Certificate of Acceptance instead.
Use the official BSEED zoning and plan-review pages for site-plan review, special land use, zoning verification, and project-specific requirements. Final occupancy is not a substitute for completing all required inspections and approvals.
Official contact information
BSEED lists its main office at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48226. The department directory lists (313) 224-2733 for BSEED; permit assistance is also listed at (313) 224-3179, while construction-inspection questions are handled by the Construction Inspection Division. Use the city’s current contact directory for the correct division before visiting.
Permit process
How to Apply for a Detroit Building Permit
Confirm the project scope
Identify the work, property address, project valuation, and whether plans are required.
Prepare your documents
Gather plans, owner and contractor details, site information, and any zoning approvals.
Submit and monitor
Submit through the department’s stated process, pay fees, and watch for review comments.
Field work & closeout
Building Inspections & Code Compliance in Detroit
Most permitted work must remain accessible for inspection at defined stages. Before scheduling, check your permit record for the required inspection sequence and make sure the site is safe and ready. Final inspections can be especially important for code compliance and a certificate of occupancy.
Helpful preparation
Keep the permit card or approval number available, confirm the property address, and ask the official office about lead times or reinspection fees.
Planning & review
Zoning and Plan Review Requirements
A building permit is not always the only approval your project needs. Zoning guidelines may affect use, setbacks, height, parking, signage, or lot coverage. Residential and commercial building permits can also follow different plan review tracks, so confirm the correct path before investing in a full plan set.
For a project in Detroit, start with the official department below and ask which zoning, planning, conservation, or fire review approvals apply to your address.
Keep this handy
Official Contact Information
| Department | Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department |
|---|---|
| Phone | (313) 224-2733 |
| Address | Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226 |
| Official website | https://detroitmi.gov/departments/buildings-safety-engineering-and-environmental-department-bseed |
| Last verified | 2026-07-30 |
Official source pages used for this guide
These links were checked on 2026-07-30. Requirements, fees, office hours, and portal addresses can change; use the official source as the final authority.
- https://detroitmi.gov/departments/buildings-safety-engineering-and-environmental-department-bseed
- https://detroitmi.gov/departments/buildings-safety-engineering-and-environmental-department-bseed/building-permits
- https://detroitmi.gov/departments/buildings-safety-engineering-and-environmental-department-bseed/bseed-divisions/permits-plan-review
- https://detroitmi.gov/departments/buildings-safety-engineering-and-environmental-department-bseed/bseed-divisions/construction-inspection
- https://detroitmi.gov/contact
- https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bcc/sections/permit-section/permits/building-permit-information
- https://aca-prod.accela.com/DETROIT/CommunityView