Dearborn, MI Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit name
- Compliance certificate
- Issued by
- City building department
- Validity
- Expires 180 days after issuance
- Exempt
- Minor repairs; decorative fences under 30 in.
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances § 5-123
Summary
Dearborn requires a compliance certificate, the city's version of a fence permit, before building, replacing, removing, repairing, or relocating any line fence, with narrow exceptions for minor repairs and decorative fencing.
It shall be unlawful for any person to build, replace, remove, repair or relocate a line fence in the city without first having secured a compliance certificate therefor from the department. Exceptions: (a) A compliance certificate is not required for minor repairs that do not exceed ten percent of the length of the fence along any one property line within any 12-month period, provided that the fence is permitted style and is being repaired with like material.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-07: Code: Updated through: July 22, 2026 | Zoning: Updated through: July 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Code of Ordinances § 5-123, it is unlawful to build, replace, remove, repair, or relocate a line fence in Dearborn without first securing a compliance certificate from the building department, the city's equivalent of a fence permit. Applicants file with the building official under § 5-124, show joint approval from adjacent owners, and pay a compliance certificate fee before work begins; the certificate expires 180 days after issuance. Three exceptions exist: minor repairs under ten percent of a fence line within any 12-month period using matching permitted material, decorative fences (30 inches or less), and reinstalling a portion of an already-approved fence onto adjoining property.
Violations & Fines
Building, replacing, removing, or relocating a line fence without an approved compliance certificate is unlawful; the department can order the fence corrected or removed, and a delinquent owner can be billed by special assessment for city-ordered fence work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dearborn call it a fence permit?
Do I need a certificate for a small fence repair?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dearborn
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Fence Permit Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle fence permit requirements.