City of dearborn inspection application

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE and DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT

OCCUPANCY PROGRAMS DIVISION

Residential Sales Program

Pursuant to City of Dearborn ordinances, homes for sale must be inspected to ensure compliance with minimum housing standards.

No home may be sold unless the purchaser receives a Certificate of Occupancy or signs a Residential Compliance Agreement, indicating that all cited violations will be corrected and all required repairs will be made within six months.

Property owners, legal representatives, or listing real estate agents must submit a completed application form requesting an inspection.

Click here for a

Inspections are performed Monday-Friday, from 9 am to 4 pm. Expedited inspections may be available during non-working hours for an additional fee.
Utilities must be turned on so that a complete inspection can be performed. If an inspector cannot complete an inspection, another inspection must be scheduled and a $50 fee will be charged.
To cancel/re-schedule an inspection, call (313) 943-2120 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
There is a $50 fee for cancelling a scheduled inspection, unless more than one business day notice is provided.
A $50 fee will be charged if an inspector cannot gain entry for a scheduled inspection.

Inspections take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
Inspectors do not access roofs, crawl spaces or knee walls unless it is necessary to investigate a potential hazard or violation.
Waterproofing tests are not conducted on roofs or basement walls.
Chimney flues are not inspected.
A thorough inspection of the public sidewalk is not performed. If you notice any irregularity in the public sidewalk at any time, please report it to the Engineering Division at (313) 943-2145.
Home inspections are not a warranty or guarantee of the condition of the property. The City of Dearborn is not responsible for items not inspected. We encourage private home inspections.

Click here for

A copy of the inspection report is available after 5 pm the day of the inspection.

Click here to

The inspection report will indicate if a permit is required. Homeowners may obtain most permits; however, it is recommended that permits be obtained by licensed contractors.
Permit application forms are available online. For permit information, call (313) 943-2442.

A re-inspection is required to ensure that all noted violations have been corrected and all repairs have been made.
There is no charge for a re-inspection; however, a $50 fee will be charged if work is not complete and another inspection is required.
Additional items may be noted during the re-inspection if they are health and/or safety related.

Certificate of Occupancy

A Certificate of Occupancy will be issued after a re-inspection has been performed and all noted violations have been corrected, required repairs have been made and all fees have been paid.
Certificates of Occupancy are prepared in the purchaser’s name.
To request a Certificate of Occupancy, call (313) 943-2120 or email the purchaser’s name to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Certificates of Occupancy will be issued up to six months after the approval date. After this period, a new inspection is required.

Provisions are made for instances where snow, ice, or cold weather may prevent the completion of exterior repairs.

Can a Home be Sold “AS IS”? / Residential Compliance Agreement

Yes, provided that the following conditions are met:

Property has been inspected by City of Dearborn.
A Residential Compliance Agreement is signed by the proposed property owner, indicating that all cited violations will be corrected and all required repairs will be made within six (6) months of the date of the agreement. This agreement is used for closing purposes and does not allow occupancy of the premises.
A non-refundable $295 fee is paid.
Extensions of time to correct outstanding violations may be allowed for good cause, for a fee of $50 for each 30-day extension.

Conditional Occupancy may be allowed when all health and safety items have been corrected and exterior property maintenance items have been addressed, or when required repairs cannot be made due to weather-related conditions.

Refunds may be processed if a paid inspection has not been performed, or if a proposed buyer is requesting a paid Compliance Agreement be rescinded.

Click here for