Detroit, MI Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department
- Inspection request
- Permit holder must request each inspection
- Final step
- Final inspection triggers Certificate of Approval
- Overtime inspections
- Require pre-approval before non-business hours
Summary
Detroit requires permit holders to notify the Building Official when work is ready for inspection, provide site access for each required inspection, and complete a final inspection before the city issues a Certificate of Approval.
110.5 Inspection requests. It shall be the duty of the holder of the building permit, or their duly authorized agent, to notify the Building Official when work is ready for inspection. A notice which states this requirement shall be printed on all permits that are issued by the Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department. It shall be the duty of the permit holder to provide access to, and means for, inspections of such work that are required by this code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Under Chapter 8, Article II of the Detroit City Code, the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) administers inspections for permitted work. The permit holder or an authorized agent must notify the Building Official when work is ready for inspection and must provide access to the site for each inspection. A Building Permit Weather Card must be posted at the site and signed off by each discipline as work proceeds. After all permitted work is complete, BSEED performs a final inspection, and completion is confirmed only through issuance of a Certificate of Approval. Inspections outside regular hours require pre-approval.
Violations & Fines
Skipping a required inspection or starting work without a permit triggers a supplemental inspection fee from BSEED, and a project without a final inspection cannot receive the Certificate of Approval needed to close the permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Detroit
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