Dearborn Heights, MI Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- Excavation, construction, moving, renovation
- Issued by
- Building official
- Prerequisite
- Site plan approval and/or zoning compliance certificate
- Correction period
- 30 days, extendable to 180 days
- First-offense fine range
- $100 to $500 plus costs
- Subsequent-offense fine range
- $500 to $1,000 plus costs
Summary
City Code Sec. 36-5 requires a building permit from the building official before anyone excavates for, constructs, moves, or renovates a building or structure in the City of Dearborn Heights. Getting the permit requires a compliant application plus site plan approval and/or a zoning compliance certificate first, and unpermitted work is a municipal civil infraction under Sec. 36-8.
(a)Permits required. It shall be unlawful for any person to commence excavation for or construction of any building or structure, including moving or renovation of an existing building, without first obtaining a building permit from the building official. No permit shall be issued for the construction, alteration, or remodeling of any building or structure until an application has been submitted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, showing that the construction proposed is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and with the city's building code. Site plan approval and/or a zoning compliance certificate shall be required for any project before a building permit may be issued. ... (3)Penalties. The violation of any provision of this chapter by any firm, corporation, person or persons, or anyone acting on behalf of said person, persons, firm or corporation is a municipal civil infraction, for which the fine shall be as stated in this subsection (3) of this section, plus costs and other sanctions ordered by the court.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 36-5(a) bars anyone from starting excavation, construction, moving, or renovation of a building or structure in the City of Dearborn Heights without a building permit from the building official, and the building official cannot issue that permit until the applicant has also secured site plan approval and/or a zoning compliance certificate under Sec. 36-4. Sec. 36-5(b) extends the permit requirement to any new use of land, whether the land was vacant or previously used differently, and Sec. 36-5(c) requires a change-of-occupancy permit or building permit for any change to a different class or type of use in an existing building.
Once construction is complete, Sec. 36-6 requires a certificate of occupancy before the building or structure can be used, valid permanently for finished work or temporarily, for up to 6 months, while part of a project is still underway. Fees for permits, certificates, and reviews are set by City Council resolution under Sec. 36-7 and are posted for public review; the building official can also require an escrow deposit to cover outside professional review and a performance guarantee to secure completion of required improvements. If work proceeds in violation of this chapter, Sec.
36-8(2) gives the violator 30 days from a correction order to fix it, extendable up to 180 days, or immediate correction if the building official finds an imminent peril to life or property. Any structure built, altered, or converted in violation of the chapter is separately declared a public nuisance per se under Sec. 36-8(4), which a court can order abated regardless of any fine imposed.
Violations & Fines
Building without a required permit is a municipal civil infraction under Sec. 36-8(3). If no specific fine is set in the chapter and the Sec. 1-11 fine schedule does not apply, the fine runs $100 to $500 for a first offense and $500 to $1,000 for each subsequent offense within 365 days, plus court costs; each day the violation continues, and each of the first seven days after a citation, counts as a separate first offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I need a building permit in Dearborn Heights?
What happens if I build without a permit in Dearborn Heights?
Do I need a certificate of occupancy after construction is finished?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dearborn Heights
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