Dearborn, MI Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- sale, transfer, or reoccupancy
- Requires
- certificate of occupancy first
- Cert validity
- 6 months for sale closings
- No cert alternative
- signed compliance agreement
- Penalty
- misdemeanor, daily violation
Summary
Dearborn bars occupying any building for any purpose, including rental turnover, until the Department of Economic Development inspects and approves it under Sec. 11-42.
It shall be unlawful for any person to occupy or for any owner or agent thereof to permit the occupation of any building or addition thereto, or part thereof, for any purpose, until occupancy has been approved by the Department of Economic Development. (1) A certificate of occupancy is issued when all violations noted on the inspection report issued by the Department of Economic Development have been corrected and required repairs have been made.
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 Sec. 11-42, no one may occupy a Dearborn building or dwelling unit "for any purpose" until the Department of Economic Development has approved occupancy and issued a certificate: a rule that reaches new tenancies as well as sales, since it applies to occupancy generally, not just closings. The same certificate is required before any real-estate sale or transfer closes, and it expires six months after issuance, forcing reinspection if a deal drags on. Buyers of uninspected property must instead sign a compliance agreement under Sec. 11-42(a)(1) to fix every violation on the inspection report. Right-of-entry authority for these inspections comes from Sec. 11-41, covering residential and nonresidential structures citywide.
Violations & Fines
Occupying or selling property without a valid certificate of occupancy is a misdemeanor under Sec. 11-43, with each day of continued violation charged as a separate offense; the city may also seek a circuit court order blocking occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dearborn inspect rental units before a new tenant moves in?
What happens if a Dearborn property sells with uncorrected violations?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dearborn
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Inspection Programs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle inspection programs.