Dearborn, Michigan Building Department 2026: Permits, Inspections & Services

Dearborn, Michigan · 2026 permit and inspection guide

Dearborn Building Permits & Inspections: What to Do First

If you are remodeling a house, adding a room, building a garage or deck, changing electrical, plumbing or HVAC work, opening a business, selling a home, or preparing a rental property in Dearborn, the City of Dearborn’s Department of Economic Development is the main starting point for building permits and many property inspections.

Dearborn now uses BS&A Online for most permit applications, payments and building/trade inspection requests. The important part is not simply opening the portal: your account must be set up correctly, the right permit type must be selected, supporting documents must be attached, and required inspections must be completed before the permit can be closed.

Dearborn Building Department Contact Information

Information checked against current City of Dearborn resources on October 24, 2026. Holiday hours, fees and project-specific requirements can change.

What Permits Does Dearborn Handle?

Dearborn identifies four main construction permit categories: building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing. One project can require more than one permit. A basement renovation, for example, may involve a building permit plus separate electrical, plumbing or mechanical permits depending on the work.

Common Residential Projects to Check Before Starting

Dearborn’s residential renovation material specifically identifies many projects that can require a permit or plan review. The exact requirement depends on the scope, so use this as a preparation list rather than assuming every project is identical.

• New house or residential addition
• Moving, adding or removing walls where framing is involved
• Changing the size of a window, door or wall opening
• Structural floor or joist work
• Major roof-deck/sheathing work
• Basement waterproofing
• Decks, porches, ramps and steps
• New bathrooms or substantial interior remodeling
• Attached or detached garages
• Concrete drives, walks, patios or other regulated hard-surface work
• Swimming pools, spas and hot tubs
• New or replacement fences
• Basement finishing
• New or altered stairways

How to Apply for a Dearborn Building Permit Online

The City’s current process starts online through BS&A. Dearborn’s August 2026 homeowner and contractor instructions show almost the same workflow, with contractors also selecting an eligible licensee when the work requires one.

1. Open the official Dearborn permit page. Go to the City permit application page and select Apply for a Permit. This routes you to Dearborn’s BS&A service.
2. Create or sign in to your BS&A account. Homeowners use the Resident area; contractors use the Contractor area. Dearborn publishes separate account-creation guides on its Online Services page.
3. Make sure the account is linked to Dearborn. The City states that your BS&A account must be linked before permits can be submitted. If linking is not available or your records are missing, email DBNInspections@dearborn.gov.
4. Select the property. Search by the available address, parcel number or owner-name fields, then select the correct property. Stop if the address or parcel does not match your project.
5. Choose the permit and describe the work. Select the appropriate permit type, enter a clear scope of work and complete the required project fields. A precise description helps prevent review delays.
6. Confirm applicant and license information. Check contact details. Contractors must select an active licensee when applicable, and the license must match the work being performed.
7. Review fees and attach documents. BS&A displays applicable fee selections and allows plans, drawings, photographs and other supporting files to be attached where required.
8. Accept the declarations and submit. Review the application summary, accept required disclaimers and submit. Keep the confirmation and monitor your account for review comments or status changes.

BS&A is also used by several other Michigan municipalities, but the local rules and account connections are not interchangeable. For comparison, our Birmingham, Michigan building permit guide covers a different city’s BS&A setup and local requirements.

What to Prepare Before Submitting

The exact package changes with the project. For residential renovation and building work, Dearborn’s published materials identify items such as property/site information, construction drawings, project details and contractor information.

• Correct property address and parcel information
• Owner and applicant contact details
• Clear written description of all proposed work
• Estimated construction value
• Site plan or survey when location, additions, concrete, setbacks or exterior improvements are involved
• Floor plans with dimensions
• Exterior elevations when walls, roofs, doors or windows are affected
• Framing, footing, stair, handrail or guard details where applicable
• Signed construction contract when required
• Contractor and license information where regulated work requires it
• Historic-district, civic-association, planning, zoning or other approvals when applicable
• Separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical or fire-system information when those systems are part of the project

How Long Does Plan Review Take?

Dearborn currently says a normal plan review typically takes about 5–10 business days. That is not a guaranteed approval date. Larger projects, incomplete plans, corrections, seasonal workload and additional departmental reviews can extend the process.

The City’s detailed plan-review page describes projects roughly as low, medium and high complexity. Smaller items such as fences, sheds, pools, garages, decks and minor nonstructural renovations are generally simpler reviews. Residential additions, structural renovations, new construction and major commercial work can require broader review.

Online Submission vs. Plan Sets

Dearborn’s current permit system accepts applications online, while its detailed plan-review guidance still refers to plan sets and the City also states that approved stamped plans may need to be picked up at the Dearborn Administrative Center. For a large project, it is sensible to submit through BS&A first and follow the plan reviewer’s instructions about any paper copies or pickup requirements rather than printing multiple sets unnecessarily.

Read the City’s Detailed Plan Review Process before submitting a complex addition, new house or commercial project.

Dearborn Building Permit Fees

Permit cost depends on the project. Dearborn’s permit page currently links a City Permits & Occupancy Fee Schedule. Some common published charges are shown below so you can budget before applying.

The fee document available through the City’s current permit page carries an older document date, so treat these figures as the City’s published reference rather than a guaranteed quote for every 2026 application. Your assessed BS&A charge and any current City instructions should be checked before payment.

View the official Dearborn permit fee schedule (PDF).

How to Schedule a Dearborn Building Inspection

Permit work must be inspected at the required stages. Some jobs may only need a final inspection, while structural and trade projects may need several inspections before work is covered or completed.

1. Confirm the permit is active. Have the full permit or record number available. If you cannot identify it, contact DBNInspections@dearborn.gov.
2. Open Dearborn’s inspection scheduling link. Visit the Permit Applications page and choose Building & Trade Permit Scheduling.
3. Choose the permit record. In BS&A, enter the record number or select the applicable record from your account.
4. Select the inspection type and available date. Choose the inspection that matches the completed stage of work, then select an available date.
5. Verify contact details. Confirm the people who should receive status notifications.
6. Add useful access notes. If appropriate, include lockbox information, location details, or other notes that help the inspector reach the work. Do not use notes as a substitute for required access arrangements.
7. Submit and prepare the site. Keep the permit and approved/stamped plans available at the job site. Make sure the work is ready and safely accessible before the inspector arrives.

If the Inspection Does Not Pass

The inspector will identify corrections that must be completed. Make the required changes, keep the work accessible and schedule the proper reinspection. When the project reaches final approval, the City can close the permit record.

Avoid requesting an inspection before the work is actually ready. Dearborn’s published fee information includes additional or reinspection charges in several situations.

Selling a Home, Rental Inspections & Certificates of Occupancy

Dearborn has property-inspection requirements that are separate from normal construction-permit inspections. This matters especially to homeowners, buyers, landlords and real-estate professionals.

Selling or Buying a Home

Dearborn requires a residential pre-sale inspection and a Certificate of Occupancy before closing. The seller or an authorized representative should arrange the process well before the closing date.

1. Submit the residential inspection request and applicable payment.
2. City staff schedules the inspection.
3. Prepare the home and provide access for the inspection.
4. Review the City’s inspection report.
5. Correct cited violations and complete any permit-required repairs.
6. Arrange reinspection when required.
7. After approval, request the Certificate of Occupancy in the purchaser’s name.

Dearborn says the residential inspection takes approximately 45 minutes, and someone age 18 or older must remain at the property during the inspection. The City’s sales guidance gives the owner one year from the first inspection to complete the listed requirements, with the inspection report valid for one year.

Once the property has passed and applicable requirements are complete, email the purchaser’s name to DbnSales@dearborn.gov. Include whether the purchaser will occupy the home. Dearborn states that the sales Certificate of Occupancy is prepared in the buyer’s name.

Start with the City’s Selling or Buying a Home guidance.

Rental / Non-Owner-Occupied Property

Dearborn requires non-owner-occupied residential properties to be registered. A property must pass the applicable inspection process and receive a Certificate of Occupancy before being listed for rent.

Rental inspections operate on a three-year cycle. Dearborn’s current rental guidance states that a rental owner has 90 days from the first inspection to complete cited requirements, while the inspection report itself remains valid for one year.

Rental questions can be sent to DBNRentals@dearborn.gov. Put the property address in the email subject line to make the request easier for staff to identify.

See the City’s Residential Rental Property Information.

Opening a Business

Businesses in Dearborn need a business Certificate of Occupancy before opening. A prospective business should first confirm that the intended use is allowed at the location, then follow the City’s re-occupancy and inspection process. Construction or remodeling can create separate permit requirements.

If you are leasing a storefront, warehouse, restaurant, office or other commercial space, do not assume the prior tenant’s approval automatically covers your business. Check the proposed use with Planning & Zoning before signing an expensive lease or starting renovations.

Planning, Zoning and Site Approval

A building permit does not replace zoning approval. Dearborn’s Planning Division and Economic Development Department oversee zoning and planning reviews. Depending on the proposal, a project can require administrative site-plan review, special land-use approval, Planning Commission action or Zoning Board of Appeals review before the building permit can move forward.

This is particularly important for new construction, major additions, substantial commercial renovations, parking lots, changes of use and projects that do not fit standard zoning requirements.

Historic, Association and Site Conditions

Some Dearborn properties can have additional review because of historic-district requirements, neighborhood conditions, easements, floodplain issues or other site restrictions. The City’s residential material references areas such as Ford Homes Historic District and several civic-association areas where additional approval may be relevant.

For utility locations and digging safety, contact MISS DIG 811 before excavation. Utility marking is not a substitute for a property survey or zoning approval.

Building Codes Used in Dearborn in 2026

Dearborn publishes an Applicable Codes sheet for designers, contractors and property owners. The current City document lists the following principal editions:

View Dearborn’s official Applicable Codes document. Code applicability can depend on project type, permit date and state amendments, so confirm the controlling edition before finalizing engineered or architectural drawings.

Michigan cities administer many of the same state construction codes but can have different local zoning, permit portals and procedures. Our Ann Arbor building department guide shows why the local process still needs to be checked even when the underlying state code family is similar.

Common Permit Problems and the Fastest Next Step

Official Dearborn Permit Resources

• Permit Applications — start a permit, reach inspection scheduling and find owner affidavits.
• Dearborn Online Services — current BS&A account, permit and inspection walkthroughs.
• Home Improvement & Construction — City explanation of permits, plan review and inspections.
• Detailed Plan Review Process — review stages, project complexity and correction process.
• Business & Commercial Permits — commercial, trade, demolition, sign and related forms.
• Planning & Zoning — land-use applications, site plans, rezoning and zoning-board information.
• Additional Applications — residential inspection request, business C/O, zoning and other City forms.

Dearborn Building Department FAQs

Independent information resource: USBuilding.org is not the City of Dearborn and does not issue permits, approve plans, schedule City inspections or collect government permit fees. Official City links above are provided so you can complete the required government action directly.