Pools, Campgrounds & Beaches

Public Swimming pools or campgrounds are required to have a license from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. To pay your annual inspection fee for a public swimming pool or campground, or to apply for a temporary campground permit.

Public Swimming Pool Inspections

Swimming pools and spas can be the source of diseases and injuries, like Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and E.coli, as well as slips, falls, and accidental entrapment. Cryptosporidium is the most common cause of recreational water illness (RWI). RWIs are caused by germs spread by swallowing, breathing in mists of, or having contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, hot tubs, water play areas, and interactive fountains (also lakes, or rivers). In addition to gastrointestinal illness, RWIs can cause skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic and wound infections. For health and safety reasons, the proper construction, maintenance, and operation of public swimming pools and spas is of significant public health importance.


There are over 110 public pools and spas (seasonal and year-round) in the City of Detroit, including those located in apartment complexes, hotels, motels, parks, schools, health clubs, and other recreational establishments. All these pools are inspected annually by Detroit Health Department to identify violations of Michigan's Public Swimming Pool Rules, review water sample data and monthly operation reports, and provide written notification of necessary corrections.  
For more information on safety while using a swimming pool or hot tub click here. 
 

Annual Indoor Pool Inspection Fee

PLEASE NOTE: This fee is separate from your State of Michigan License Renewal Fee.

The Environmental Safety Division now accepts credit card / ACH payments through our new online payment system. Please make all inspection payments online using the link below:
https://cod.divdatkiosknetwork.com/EnvironmentalHealth; or

  • MAIL - Send copy of invoice with checks payable to City of Detroit to the address below.
  • IN-PERSON - Environmental Health office is located at:

          Detroit Health Department
          100 Mack Ave. Room 311
           Detroit, MI 48201

Swimming Pool Fees
Indoor pool $875 for the first pool, additional pools $415 each
Outdoor pools $415 each

 

Campgrounds

 

The Detroit Health Department inspects permanent public campgrounds annually for compliance with Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) Campgrounds Law (Part 125 of 1978, PA 368, as amended). 
Temporary campground permits are required when anyone is having a temporary camping event, where five or more temporary living units (tents, campers, RVs, etc.) are in one area overnight.  To obtain a temporary campground license in Detroit, please contact the Detroit Health Department:

Detroit Health Department
Environmental Safety
100 Mack Ave. Room 311
Detroit, MI 48201
313-876-4715

 

Temporary Campground Fees
State fee: 5-25 sites $94, 26-50 sites $126, 51-75 sites $158, 76-100 sites $190
+ City of Detroit inspection fee $250

 

For more information on permanent and temporary campgrounds in Michigan, please click the EGLE site. 

Public Bathing Beaches Monitoring 

During the summer months, bacteriological water samples are collected at natural bathing beaches to monitor for bacteria levels at least weekly. To protect swimmers, the beach must close when high levels of coliform bacteria are found.  These results are posted on the Michigan Beachguard Site.