Business Licensing and Permitting

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Read this first.

As you plan to open your business, staff from across city government will work together to make sure your business is safe, secure, and meets a series of legal requirements we all have to follow. You can expect that you'll:​ 

  • begin gathering a number of documents before applying online. This could take a few days.  ​
  • use an external site called Accela/eLAPs to apply for things like licenses and permits and return to it to check for approvals.

 

 

What’s the Process Like?

This page is a short summary of what you’ll do to get a license for your business. 

  If you prefer more details, you can download our Open for Business Guide.

Establish your business

Before applying for a license, you'll need to complete a few steps like:​ ​ 

  • officially registering your business with the state and applying for tax IDs​
  • checking zoning requirements 

This step involves working with local, state, and federal governments to get all the documents you’ll need for the rest of the process. Some actions may require filling out and mailing paper forms.

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See if you need a license and gather your documents

Not all businesses need a license. In this step you'll​: ​ 

  • Review the city's categories of businesses to find yours​
  • Gather the necessary documents required for your license.  

  Opening a marijuana business? Visit the city's Office of Cannabis Affairs for specific instructions.

What type of business are you starting?

 

Nightclub - Cabaret sections

Details

There are 3 types of Cabarets: 

  • Cabaret A: open to the public, has 3 or more live entertainers at a time, and allows dancing (like on a dance floor).
  • Cabaret B: a private club.
  • Cabaret C: open to the public, has up to 2 entertainers, but does not allow dancing.
 Required Clearances Required Documents
  • Building permit
  • State of Michigan Liquor License Activity Document ID
  • Proof of ownership
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Identification of applicant
 Fees and Renewals
  • Cabaret A: $268
  • Cabaret B: $99
  • Cabaret C: $161 

 

Vendor sections

Details

There are 4 types of vendors: 

  • Foot vendor: sells goods they carry with them while walking
  • Itinerant vendor: temporary selling of goods for 120 days or less
  • Stationary vendor: selling goods from a stand or pushcart
  • Street vendor: selling goods from a vehicle
 Required Clearances

None, unless the vendor is serving food.

Stationary vendors can apply here.

All other can visit the Detroit Health Department

 Required Documents
  • ID
  • Passport-sized photo
  • Approved location (Stationary vendor only)
  • Identification of applicant
 Fees and Renewals

Foot Vendor 

  • Vendor-Foot Button: $123.00/vendor
  • Vendor-Foot Button Veteran: $0.00/vendor (fee waived) 

Itinerant Vendor 

  • Vendor-Temporary Itinerant Location: $178.00/day 

Stationary Vendor 

  • Vendor - Stationary Edible: $123.00/plate
  • Vendor - Stationary Non-Edible: $123.00/plate
  • Vendor - Stationary Veteran: $0.00/vendor (fee waived)
  • Vendor - Stationary Helper: $25.00/helper 

Street Vendor 

  • Vendor - Street Non-Edible: $178.00/plate
  • Vendor - Street Edible: $178.00/plate
  • Vendor - Street Veteran: $0.00/vendor (fee waived)
  • Vendor - Street Helper: $25.00/helper 

All vendors will have to renew their licenses every year on May 31st.

 

Lodging sections

Details

There are 5 types of lodging: 

  • Hotel: lodging that doesn't sell alcohol
  • Hotel Class B: lodging that does sell alcohol
  • Public lodging: lodging that houses 5 or more guests in the same room
  • Rooming house: lodging that the owner lives in; between 2-10 rooms
  • Shelter: residential facility for victims of domestic violence
 Required Clearances

All types of lodging require the following clearances:

 Required Documents
  • Building permit ID
  • Proof of ownership
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Identification of applicant

Hotel Class B licenses only require a State of Michigan Liquor License Activity Document

 Fees and Renewals

Hotel 

  • Hotel 1-50 Rooms: $345.00
  • Hotel 51-100 Rooms: $389.00
  • Hotel 101-200 Rooms: $518.00
  • Hotel 201-300 Rooms: $690.00
  • Hotel 301-500 Rooms: $863.00
  • Hotel 501 Rooms and Up: $1,035.00 

Hotel Class B 

  • Hotel 1-50 Rooms: $345.00
  • Hotel 51-100 Rooms: $389.00
  • Hotel 101-200 Rooms: $518.00
  • Hotel 201-300 Rooms: $690.00
  • Hotel 301-500 Rooms: $863.00
  • Hotel 501 Rooms and Up: $1,035.00 

Public Lodging 

  • Public Lodging House: $223.00 

Rooming House (11 Rooms or More) 

  • Rooming House 11 Rooms and Over: $223.00 

Shelter 

  • Shelter 1-50 Rooms: $230.00
  • Shelter 51-100 Rooms: $259.00
  • Shelter 101-200 Rooms: $345.00
  • Shelter 201-300 Rooms: $460.00
  • Shelter 301-500 Rooms: $575.00
  • Shelter 501 Rooms and Up: $690.00 

 

Theater, Hall, Stadium, Arena sections

Details

There are 7 types of these venues:

  • Concert
  • Rental Hall
  • Public Dance Hall 2 AM
  • Public Dance Hall 4 AM
  • Sport Stadium
  • Theatre
  • Stage Show
 Required Clearances Required Documents
  • Building permit ID
  • Proof of ownership
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Identification of applicant
 Fees and Renewals

Concert 

  • Concert Hall: $400.00
  • Concert /Play/Opera /Comedy: $178.00
  • Hall Rental: $474.00
  • Restaurant - Minimum in Hall: $100.00 

Public Dance 2AM 

  • Hall Public Dancing 2AM Closing: $561.00 

Public Dance 4AM 

  • Hall Public Dancing 4AM Closing: $605.00 

Sports Stadium 

  • Sports Stadium: $984.00/
  • Motion Picture 1-500 Seats: $223.00
  • Motion Picture 501 - 1000 Seats: $268.00
  • Motion Picture 1001 - 2000 Seats: $312.00
  • Motion Picture 2000 Seats and Up: $389.00 

Stage Show 

  • Theatre - Stage Show: $605.00

Submit application online here.

You’ll have to renew this license every June 30th except Arcades every May 31st.

 

Amusement

Details

There are 6 types of Amusement licenses:

  1. Amusement Park (5 Devices or more)
  2. Arcade
  3. Billiard Room
  4. Circus (Indoor)
  5. Circus (Outdoor)
  6. Rink Skating (Indoor/Outdoor)
 Required Clearances

All types of Amusement licenses require these clearances:

Amusement Parks and Circuses only require:

 Required Documents

All types of Amusement licenses require these documents:

  1. Legal use established/occupancy permit
  2. Proof of Ownership: Lease Contract / Property Deed
  3. Articles of Incorporation
  4. Identification of applicant

Amusement Parks and Circuses only require:

  • Bond/Insurance
 Fees and Renewals
  • Amusement Park (5 Devices or more): $690.00
  • Arcade: $863.00
  • Billard Room: $69.00
  • Billard Table: $25.00
  • Circus (Indoor): $223.00
  • Circus (Outdoor): $400.00
  • Rink Skating Indoor or Outdoor: $412.00

You’ll have to renew this license every June 30th except Arcades every May 31st.

 

Consumer Services

Details

There are 3 types of Consumer services:

  • Bathouse
  • Massage parlor or school
  • Tattoo/body art
 Required Clearances

All of the licenses in this cateogory require these clearances:

 Required Documents

All 3 types of consumer service licenses require these documents:  

  • Building permit
  • ID
  • Proof of ownership
  • Articles of incorporation
 Fees and Renewals
  • Bathhouse: $138.00
  • Massage Parlor: $205.00
  • Massage Parlor and School: $205.00
  • Massage School: $205.00
  • Tattoo Parlor: $178.00

You’ll have to renew this license every June 30th.

 

 

Gas Station

Details

There are 3 types of gas station licenses:

  • Full service
  • Self service
  • Combination full and self service
 Required Clearances

All types of gas stations require the following clearances:

 Required Documents

All 3 types of gas station licenses require these documents:  

  • Building permit
  • ID
  • Proof of ownership
  • Articles of incorporation
 Fees and Renewals
  • Gas Station Full Service $123.00
  • Gas Station Self Service: $178.00
  • Gas Station Full and Self Service: $178.00

You’ll have to renew this license every August 31st.

 

Motor Truck Permit

Details

Motor truck permit

 Required Clearances

No clearances are required

 Required Documents

ID

 Fees and Renewals
  • Motor Truck Permit: $46.00/motor vehicle
  • Motor Truck Permit Additional Units: $46.00/motor vehicle

You’ll have to renew this license every December 31st.

 

Motor Vehicle for Hire

Required Clearances Required Documents
  • ID
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Bond/Insurance
  • Vehicle Inspection from the Detroit Police Department
 Fees and Renewals
  • Pedal Cab Rickshaw: $150.00/vehicle
  • Quadricycle: $250.00/vehicle

You’ll have to renew this license every October 31st.

 

Parking lots

Required Clearances

All types require the following clearances:

 Required Documents
  • Building permit
  • Proof of ownership
  • Rate Schedule
  • Staging Permit
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Identification of applicant
 Fees and Renewals
  • Parking Lot 1 -25 Spaces: $250.00
  • Parking Lot 26-50 Spaces: $500.00
  • Parking Lot 51-100 Spaces: $750.00
  • Parking Lot 101-200 Spaces: $1,000.00
  • Parking Lot 201-300 Spaces: $1,250.00
  • Parking Lot 301 Spaces and Up: $1,500.00

You’ll have to renew this license every January 31st.

 

Valet Parking

Required Clearances

All types require the following clearances:

Treasury

 Required Documents
  • Rate Schedule
  • Staging Permit
  • Contract Between Business and Valet company
  • Contract Between Valet company and Parking lot where vehicles are stored
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Identification of applicant
 Fees and Renewals

Valet: $250.00

You’ll have to renew this license every January 31st.

 

Cigarette Retail-Retail

Required Clearances

All types require the following clearances:

 Required Documents
  • Building permit
  • ID
  • Proof of ownership
  • Articles of incorporation
 Fees and Renewals

Cigarette Retail: $55.00

You’ll have to renew this license every August 31st.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tire Store - Second Hand Sales

Required Clearances

All types require the following clearances:

 Required Documents
  • Building permit
  • ID
  • Proof of ownership
  • Articles of incorporation
 Fees and Renewals

Secondhand Tire: $123.00

You’ll have to renew this license every October 31st.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sexually Oriented - Sexually Oriented

Required Clearances

All types require the following clearances:

 Required Documents
  • Building permit
  • State of Michigan Liquor
  • ID
  • Proof of ownership
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Floor Plan
 Fees and Renewals
  • Sexually Oriented Topless: $800.00
  • Sexually Oriented Topless with MLCC: $800.00
  • Sexually Oriented Adult Supply Store: $800.00

You’ll have to renew this license every May 31st.

 

 

 

Carnival - Special Event

Details
  • Parking sub-license to festival/carnival requires city council approved petition and current identification
  • Vendor sub-license to festival/carnival requires city council approved petition and current identification 
 Required Clearances

All types of lodging require the following clearances:

 Required Documents
  • City Council approved petition
  • Building permit (Only required for newly established or change of use)
  • ID
  • Proof of ownership
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Site Diagram
  • Bond Insurance
 Fees and Renewals
  • Carnival Non-Profit City Owned Land: $83.00/event
  • Carnival City Council Approved Dates: $58.00/event
  • Carnival City-Owned Land Friday / Saturday / Sunday / Holiday: $58.00/even

You’ll have to renew this license per event.

 

Riding Devices - Special Event

Details
  • Parking sub-license to festival/carnival requires city council approved petition and current identification
  • Vendor sub-license to festival/carnival requires city council approved petition and current identification
 Required Clearances

All types of lodging require the following clearances:

 Required Documents
  • Building permit (Only required for newly established or change of use)
  • ID
  • Proof of ownership
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Site Diagram
  • Bond Insurance
 Fees and Renewals

Riding Devices: $35.00/device

You’ll have to renew this license per event.

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Create a detailed to-do list

  This is an optional step.

The City of Detroit has an optional online tool designed to help you identify everything you need to start your business. 

This tool: ​ 

  • Finds your business type, according to the City of Detroit
  • Checks your zoning requirements, and if the business is allowed there
  • Outlines possible permits and their costs
  • Outlines the specific license types and their costs
Launch tool

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Apply for your permits and license

You'll use an external site (Accela/eLAPS) to apply or renew.​

Plan to return to this site to all apply for all licenses, inspections, and permits.

Apply online Pay fees View fee schedule

  To troubleshoot Accela, reference our help page.

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Schedule and complete inspections

Once you identify your business type, you’ll work with the city to: ​ 

  • inspect any construction you’ve done
  • complete a health review

For details on completing inspections, see Step 4 of our Open for Business Guide.

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Get ready to open

Before opening, you'll complete a few final steps like:​ ​ 

  • Getting final certificates of occupancy and compliance​
  • Setting a personal reminder to renew your license