Dearborn, MI Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing body
- Historic District Commission (7-9 members)
- Permit required
- Certificate of appropriateness for exterior work
- Max civil fine
- $5,000 per violation
- Commission response time
- 60 days or deemed approved
- Appeal path
- State review board, then Wayne County Circuit Court
Summary
Dearborn requires a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic District Commission before any exterior work on a resource within a designated historic district, with civil fines up to $5,000 per violation.
Historic preservation is hereby declared to be a public purpose and the city council may hereby regulate the construction, addition, alteration, repair, moving, excavation, and demolition of resources in historic districts within the city limits.
(b) The purpose of this division is to:
(1) Safeguard the heritage of the city by preserving districts which reflect elements of its history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and/or culture.
(2) Stabilize and improve property values in each district and surrounding areas.
(3) Foster civic beauty.
(4) Strengthen the local economy.
(5) Promote the use of historic districts for the education, pleasure and welfare of the citizens of the city and of the State of Michigan, and to visitors.
(c) The city may by ordinance establish one or more historic districts. The historic district(s) shall be administered by the historic district commission pursuant to this division. (Ord. No. 98-747, 11-17-98; Ord. No. 99-791, 9-21-99; Ord. No. 25-1861, 12-9-
25) State Law reference—MCL 399.202
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 the city's Historic District Ordinance, no work affecting the exterior of a building, site, or structure inside a designated historic district may proceed without a building permit reviewed by the Historic District Commission. The commission issues a certificate of appropriateness or a notice to proceed, applying the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. Work done without a permit can be ordered restored to its prior condition, with costs charged to the owner or assessed against the property.
Violations & Fines
Violating the ordinance is a civil infraction punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 per violation, plus a possible court order to restore or replicate the resource and pay attorney fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need city approval to alter a historic building's exterior in Dearborn?
What happens if I do exterior work without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dearborn
Compare Dearborn to another location·View the Michigan historic preservation overview
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Historic-Cultural Monuments in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle historic-cultural monuments.