Whether your concrete project needs a permit in Metro Detroit depends on what you're pouring and which city you're in — there's no single answer that covers every community. Here's the general framework, and how we take the guesswork off your plate.
One important note up front: this is general guidance, not legal advice. Every municipality sets its own rules, and they change — so the real answer for your project comes from your city (or from us, when we come out).
The key distinction: public right-of-way vs. private property
Most permitting questions come down to whether the work touches the public right-of-way — the strip of land near the road that the city or county controls — or stays entirely on your private property.
Work in the right-of-way (usually permitted)
- Driveway approach — the section where your driveway connects to the street. Because it sits in public space and has to meet specific standards, this typically requires a permit, often from the city or the county road authority (Wayne, Oakland or Macomb).
- Public sidewalk — the walk that runs along the street. Replacing or pouring this usually requires a permit and has to meet set specs.
Private flatwork (it varies)
- Your driveway (the part on your property), patios and porch caps — requirements vary a lot by city. Some communities require a permit for new or replacement flatwork; others don't, and many treat a like-for-like replacement differently from expanding the footprint.
Why it varies so much
Each Metro Detroit community — Livonia, Canton, Dearborn, Novi and the rest — writes its own ordinances. Some are strict and require permits and inspections for most flatwork; others are light-touch, especially for replacing concrete in the same spot. That's exactly why a blanket "yes" or "no" online answer isn't trustworthy.
Permit requirements by Metro Detroit city
Here's what we see day to day in the communities we work in most, cross-checked against each city's published process. Rules change, so treat this as a starting point and confirm for your address — or let us do it.
| City | Private driveway / patio / porch | Approach & public sidewalk | Official info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dearborn | Permit required | Permit required | dearborn.gov |
| Dearborn Heights | Permit required | Permit required | dearbornheightsmi.gov |
| Canton | Permit required | Permit required | cantonmi.gov |
| Redford | Permit required | Permit required | redfordtwp.gov |
| Livonia | Not typically | Permit required | livonia.gov |
| Troy | Not typically | Permit required | troymi.gov |
"Not typically" means a like-for-like private driveway or patio replacement; new or expanded work, and anything in the public right-of-way, can still require a permit. Either way, we confirm the requirement and pull the permit for you as part of the job.
How we handle it for you
As part of your free estimate, we tell you exactly what your city requires for your specific project and handle or guide the permitting — so you're not the one figuring out city hall. It's part of the simple step-by-step process we walk every customer through.
Don't skip a required permit
Unpermitted work in the right-of-way can mean fines or, worst case, being ordered to tear it out and redo it. It can also resurface during a home sale or inspection. A permit is cheap insurance compared to that — and when it's required, it's not optional. The good news: it's our job to know, not yours.
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