The City of Detroit requires contractors performing certain construction and maintenance work on buildings and lands within its borders to be licensed and registered. In addition, such license registration requires renewal annually.  The requirements to apply for the license, and to renew the license, is described within this website. For additional information, contact the Construction Division of the City of Detroit’s Buildings Safety Engineering and Environmental Department at (313) 224-3202, or by email at [email protected].

Building License Information 

      Applications for Renewal or Registration of Contractor License.

      Document to apply for renewal or registration can be found at the following webpage: 

      https://detroitmi.gov/forms/buildings-license-registration-or-renewal. See specific trades for additional requirements

Trade Examinations for Licensing
The building's division offers examinations to qualify contractors for licenses for the following trades. These licenses are required to perform work in the City of Detroit. Examinations are conducted for the following:

• Awning Erector

• Boiler/Refrigeration Licenses

• Electrical Apprentice, Journeyman & Master // Fire Alarm Apprentice, Contractor, Technician // Sign Specialist & Sign Specialist Contractor

• Elevator Operator, Journeyman & Contractor licenses

• Sign Erector

• Steeplejack

• Welder

• Window Washer

• Wrecking - Demolition

      Applicants for examination must call the Buildings Division to set an appointment to take any examination referenced above. Testing material is based on the following codes or standards:

Awning/Canopy Erector

• Detroit Zoning Code of the Detroit City Code

• Michigan Building Code

Sign Erector/Steeplejack/Window Washer

• Detroit Zoning Code, Chapter 4, Detroit City Code

• Michigan Industrial Occupational Safety and Health

• Michigan Building Code

Boiler/Refrigeration License Information

• To schedule an exam, please visit Room 404 of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center.

• Application forms will be obtained from this department. Completed applications and letters of documentation or other documentary evidence shall be submitted by the applicant to the examination office for evaluation and scheduling of examination dates. Notarized letters from company officials on company stationery. Photocopies will be accepted for scheduling purposes only. 

• Originals must be presented, for verification on the date of the appointment. Failure to do so will or any discrepancies will void the application and cancel the examination. Documentary material will be retained with the application and will not be returned.  

• A Written/Oral Examination date will be provided/scheduled at the time of submitting the application. 

• Written exam scores are provided to the examinee within a week by phone, mail or email.
  If Pass: The notification sent to the examinee will provide the Written Exam score and scheduled Date and time of the Oral Exam.
  If Fail: The applicant can retake the Written Exam after 90 Days.

• After passing the Oral the Applicant must pay applicable license fees.

• To retake a failed Exam: a completed application form and documentary evidence of a failed exam shall be submitted by the applicant to the examination office for evaluation and scheduling of examination dates.

A re-exam date will be provided/scheduled at the time of submitting the application.

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Suite 408 

Trade Licensing & Testing:  Refrigeration/Boiler (313) 224-3184

License Examiner Email: [email protected]

General Customer Services: (313) 224-3202

Class A, B & C Wrecking License Application

Class A, B & C Wrecking License application

Wrecking License Application

2025 Notice of Board of Wrecking Contractors Examiners Meetings.

Wrecking Examiners - Meetings

Electrical Testing and Licensing

Information about the BSEED Electrical Team testing and licensing can be found on the following websites:

Electrical Apprentice Checklist

Electrical Contractor Checklist Form

Electrical Journeyman Checklist

Fire Alarm Apprentice Checklist

Fire Alarm Contractor Checklist

Fire Alarm Technician Checklist

Master Electrician Checklist

Sign Specialist Checklist

Sign Specialist Contractor Checklist

Elevator Testing and Licensing:

The Elevator Inspection Team of the Construction Division of Buildings, Safety, Engineering, and Environmental is responsible for, but not limited to the examination and licensing of elevator journeypersons and contractors, inspections of elevators, escalators, and dumbwaiters, wheelchair devices, complaint investigations, and reporting of elevator accidents. The team also approves the registration of elevator licenses and handles elevator code questions.

As of October 1st, 2019, the Elevator Division has introduced the new 2019 City of Detroit Elevator Code - Article IX, which in accordance with Section 3(k) of the Michigan Home Rule City Act, being MCL 117.3(k) has officially adopted, with Exceptions/Additions, the following Code Requirements (see Page 2).

Information related to elevator licensing and inspection can be found on the following websites:

Elevator Operator Checklist - Currently this required Board of Appeals hearing-application

Elevator Journeyman Checklist

Elevator Contractor Checklist

Buildings Safety Engineering and Environmental Fee Schedule