Wayne County homeowner guide
Plan a Home Project in Dearborn
Use Dearborn’s permit center to separate building and trade permits, online applications and inspections, owner affidavits, and final approvals and handover records.
One connected homeowner record
A rough idea becomes a decision-ready plan.
- 01PriceEstimateBuild an editable local addition range and see every planning assumption.Open this step
- 02ConfirmVerify locallyPrepare the questions, documents, and inspection call for the municipality.Open this step
- 03DefineWrite one scopeGive every bidder the same project description, quantity, and expectations.Open this step
- 04DecideCompare bidsCheck allowances, exclusions, milestones, and closeout records side by side.Open this step
- 05PreserveKeep the planOpen browser-local Project Records and keep the same place, project, and quantity without an account.Open this step
The calculator gives you a planning range - not a quote. Current written bids and the local office that handles permits for the exact address remain the final decision sources.
City-adjusted calculator
Start with a working range.
Select a project only when you want a local planning range. Permit and building-department visitors can continue without choosing one.
Local adjustments are broad planning assumptions, not measured city price indexes. Obtain several written bids and confirm current permit fees and requirements directly.
Verified local details
What Dearborn homeowners should know.
One project may need several permits
Dearborn separately identifies building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permit roles.
City permit center ↗Online application and inspection paths are available
The city uses BS&A for many permit submissions, payments, records, and Building & Trade inspection scheduling.
Online permit process ↗City and private inspections are different
Dearborn explicitly says its property inspection is not a warranty and encourages an independent private home inspection.
City inspection guidance ↗Dearborn building department
Start with your local permit office, then confirm every required inspection.
City of Dearborn Economic Development - Building & Safety is the official starting point identified in our current source review. HomeScope links to the responsible municipal pages below; the department - not this guide - determines the current requirements for an address and project.
City of Dearborn Economic Development - Building & Safety
16901 Michigan Avenue · 311 or 313-943-2150
Dearborn Administrative Center: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; confirm current service hours before visiting.
Dearborn permits and BS&A application
Dearborn publishes building and trade applications and uses BS&A for many online applications, payments, permit records, and inspection scheduling.
Open official application path ↗Choose the right application path
Match the exact project scope to the municipality’s current procedure and forms.
- Confirm the address is inside the City of Dearborn.
- Identify building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, demolition, zoning, and property-sale requirements separately.
- Use the current city application or online workflow and supply the required plans and affidavits.
- Schedule applicable inspections and retain electronic results and final approvals.
Plan inspections before work starts
Know which checkpoints must happen before concrete or finished surfaces conceal the work.
- Dearborn says Building & Trade permit inspections can be scheduled online.
- More than one permit type may apply to one project.
- Do not confuse a city property or sales inspection with an independent buyer home inspection or permitted-construction inspection.
Assemble the submission package
Prepare the project information the official procedure identifies for your scope.
- Building or trade permit application
- Construction plans and complete scope information
- Commercial or homeowner owner affidavit when applicable
- Separate demolition, zoning, occupancy, or property-sale records when applicable
Local workflow
A practical sequence for Dearborn.
Name every permit type
Separate building, trade, zoning, demolition, and property requirements.
Use the current city forms
Submit plans, affidavits, and scope through the applicable channel.
Schedule inspections
Use the online Building & Trade path for issued permits.
Retain results
Keep electronic inspection and final approval records.
Project checkpoints
Questions change with the scope.
Addition or garage
Coordinate building, trade, zoning, plans, affidavits, and inspections.
Kitchen or basement
Identify every building and trade permit before demolition or concealment.
Roof, deck, or fence
Confirm the city’s current application, plan, fee, and inspection requirements.
Contractor-ready
Put these questions in every bid request.
- Which permit types are included?
- Who supplies plans and affidavits?
- Who applies and pays?
- Who schedules inspections?
- Which electronic final records are delivered?
Primary sources
Verify directly with Dearborn.
Use the local record
How to plan a home project in Dearborn without losing the local details.
This guide connects an early project range to the municipal starting point. It does not replace the official determination for an address, a complete design, or a contractor’s written scope.
Confirm the jurisdiction
Verify that the property is governed by Dearborn before choosing forms or scheduling an inspection. Postal city names, school districts, neighboring townships, and county services do not always identify the enforcing authority.
Describe the exact work
Tell City of Dearborn Economic Development - Building & Safety what is changing, where it is located, which trades are affected, and whether structural, utility, zoning, or site work is involved. A project label alone is rarely enough to establish the correct path.
Plan inspections before concealment
Ask which approvals must occur before concrete, insulation, drywall, roofing, finishes, or other work covers the installation. Put inspection responsibility and correction responsibility into the contractor’s written scope.
Keep the final record
Store applications, drawings, issued permits, inspection results, approved changes, warranties, manuals, receipts, and final approvals with the home. Recheck official sources if the scope or schedule changes.
Official source first