Building / Change-of-Use Permit — City of Detroit (BSEED)
Detroit restaurant build-outs require BSEED permits — including a Change of Use permit and a building permit via Plan Review — before construction.
What it is. The building permit(s) for restaurant construction, tenant build-out, or renovation, plus a Change of Use permit if the building's use is changing to a restaurant, issued by Detroit BSEED. Determine whether a Change of Use permit is required before opening.
Who issues it. City of Detroit — BSEED (Plan Review / Development Resource Center) (City layer).
When you need it. Before construction or establishing a new use.
How to apply. Consult the Development Resource Center; apply for the Change of Use and building permits through Accela/eLAPs; obtain trade sub-permits; pass inspections.
Fees. Per the BSEED fee schedule — see source (⟢ VERIFY).
What SpoonSeal tracks. The document(s) you upload for this requirement, with automatic renewal/expiration tracking (Current, Due Soon, Expired). Where the city publishes health-inspection results (e.g., NYC and Chicago), SpoonSeal syncs them automatically; elsewhere they can be added manually.
References
- City of Detroit — Quick Start Guide: Business Renovation — https://detroitmi.gov/departments/buildings-safety-engineering-and-environmental-department-bseed/bseed-divisions/development-resource-center/quick-start-guide-business-renovation — Official source last checked: 2026-07-02
Stay ahead of this requirement
SpoonSeal stores your documents, tracks expirations, and reminds you before anything lapses — so you are always inspection-ready.
Get started free →This guide is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with the official agency linked above.