Detroit contractor permit guide

Overview

BSEED’s current building-permit page directs applicants to Accela/eLAPS. Submit the application and required fee, then respond to customer-service review and upload requested documents. Follow correction emails and check the portal. Water/sewer approvals are separately handled by DWSD and right-of-way work by DPW.

Authority

Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED)

Portal

Accela / eLAPS

Trades

Select a trade for its permit path, licensing, code resources, fees and filing pitfalls.

Electrical scope and permit coordination

Detroit BSEED / applicable Michigan authority

Applicable Code

Confirm the City electrical provisions and filing-date state code.

License Requirement

Specific current contractor registration and owner-work eligibility not verified; confirm before applying.

License Fee

Current credential and registration amounts not verified in this review.

CEUs

Current credential-specific renewal hours not verified here.

Permit Fee

Current electrical permit rate not verified; excluded from the historical refund illustration.

Plan Review Time

Confirm the selected trade service and required document review in eLAPS.

Common Pitfalls

A building application does not establish electrical contractor eligibility.
A paid intake fee does not replace the issued permit and required inspections.

Permit-to-closeout workflow

Define jurisdiction and scope

Confirm Detroit property and required building, trade and external approvals.

Create eLAPS account

Submit the selected application and required intake fee.

Upload complete records

Respond to the customer-service review and provide requested plans/specifications.

Resolve corrections

Monitor email notifications and the Accela record.

Obtain and post permits

Download issued records and post permits on the property exterior.

Inspect and certify

Complete required construction inspections and acceptance/occupancy records.

Permit fees and worked estimates

The City currently offers a schedule labeled effective January 1, 2024, modified July 18, 2025. Its actual PDF body could not be read here, so current permit and trade rates remain unverified.

Historical illustration only: the August 18, 2021 archived code, Section 8-2-7 / 109.7, allowed an 80% refund for an unused permit cancelled within 180 days before inspection, subject to its conditions. An assumed eligible $1,000 paid permit fee × 80% = $800 historical refund, leaving $200 retained. The $1,000 is an assumption, not a published permit price. This is not a 2026 refund entitlement or project estimate; current rules, other charges and nonrefundable components require City confirmation.

Trade	Permit fee	License fee
Electrical scope and permit coordination	Current electrical permit rate not verified; excluded from the historical refund illustration.	Current credential and registration amounts not verified in this review.
Plumbing and water-service coordination	Current plumbing permit rate not verified; excluded from the historical refund illustration.	Current credential and registration amounts not verified in this review.
Mechanical permit and plan scope	Current mechanical permit rate not verified; excluded from the historical refund illustration.	Current credential and registration amounts not verified in this review.
Fire and system approval coordination	Current fire/system permit rate not verified; excluded from the historical refund illustration.	Current specialist and registration amounts not verified in this review.
Building permit and construction closeout	Current building permit rate not verified. Archived August 2021 text illustrates an 80% conditional refund, not a current permit price. This unverified amount is excluded from the worked example.	Current contractor credential and registration amounts not verified in this review.

Submission checklist

Confirm Detroit jurisdiction, use and every affected building/trade scope.

Create an eLAPS account and select the correct application.

Provide plans, specifications and requested supporting documents.

Resolve corrections, obtain issued permits and post them on the exterior.

Homeowner and licensing

Confirm the applicant, contractor credentials and any owner-work exception with BSEED for each discipline. This review did not establish a current broad homeowner exemption or license-price table. Ownership alone should not be treated as approval to perform regulated trade work.

Codes and amendments

Confirm current state-code applicability and Detroit additions for the filing date. The retrieved Municode version is explicitly an August 18, 2021 archive; its older code-edition references and refund provision are not presented as current adoption or current fees.

Inspections and closeout

The current City process requires construction inspections and directs scheduling questions to its construction-inspection guidance. After completion, obtain a Certificate of Acceptance and/or Certificate of Occupancy; some projects require both. Keep approved records available and confirm the actual stage sequence before covering work.

Official resources

Current City building permit and closeout process ↗City fee download landing; offered PDF body unverified ↗City-offered fee schedule modified July 2025; not readable in this review ↗Archived August 18, 2021 City code; historical fee-refund illustration only ↗

Detroit Contractor Licensing & Permit Guide (2026)