Your City of Detroit Government, Explained

City government affects daily life in ways many people never see, from neighborhood investment and public safety to parks, roads, housing, transit, development, and city services. But local government can also feel complicated, confusing, or difficult to navigate.

This section was created to help explain how Detroit government works in plain language.

Here, you can learn:

• How decisions are made  
• What the mayor and City Council do  
• How laws and budgets work  
• How development projects are approved  
• How residents can participate in government  
• How infrastructure and city services function  
• What the city controls — and what it does not  

Whether you are a lifelong Detroiter, a new resident, student, business owner, journalist, or simply someone looking to better understand your city, this section is designed to make local government more accessible, transparent, and easier to understand. 

• How City of Detroit Government Works
• How Detroit Budgets and Laws Work
• How Decisions Get Made
• Infrastructure, Transit and other Detroit City Services, Explained
• Understanding Development, Planning and Housing
• Detroit Government: Myth vs. Fact
• How Residents Can Participate in Detroit Government