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Detroit, MI Privacy & Surveillance: License Plate Readers (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Approval required
City Council vote after public hearing
Governing law
Detroit City Code § 17-5-452
Data sharing disclosure
External entities named in annual report
NDA contracts
Need three-fourths council vote
Adopted
Ordinance No. 2021-17, effective 6-14-2021

Summary

Detroit requires City Council to publicly vote to approve any license plate reader or camera surveillance purchase, with mandatory reports on data retention and any sharing with federal agencies like ICE.

Surveillance technology includes, but is not limited to: ... b. Automatic license plate readers; ... No City department may engage in a surveillance technology procurement until: (1) The City department has provided the City Council with a Surveillance Technology Specification Report ... and (3) The City Council has voted to approve the surveillance technology procurement.

View official 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

Detroit City Code Chapter 17, Division 12 (Sec. 17-5-451 to 17-5-459) names automatic license plate readers as regulated surveillance technology. Before the Police Department or any city agency can buy or deploy an ALPR system, it must file a public Surveillance Technology Specification Report disclosing data retention limits and any agency the data will be shared with, then win a City Council vote after a noticed public hearing under the Michigan Open Meetings Act. Annual reports must name every outside entity, including federal agencies, that received or supplied surveillance data. Contracts requiring secrecy about ALPR use need a three-fourths council vote to permit a non-disclosure agreement.

Violations & Fines

Deploying ALPR technology without City Council approval, or outside the terms of its Specification Report, is unlawful under Sec. 17-5-459; violators face City discipline and whistleblower protections shield reporting employees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Detroit require council approval before buying license plate readers?
Yes. Detroit City Code § 17-5-452 bars any city department from procuring surveillance technology, including ALPR systems, until City Council holds a public hearing and votes to approve the purchase.
Can Detroit share ALPR data with ICE or other federal agencies?
Only if disclosed in advance in the department's Surveillance Technology Specification Report and approved by City Council; annual reports under § 17-5-455 must then name every outside entity that received the data.

Sources & Official References

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