How much does a Detroit, MI fence permit cost?

We have Detroit, MI's fence ordinance on file but not a permit fee, so we do not publish an amount for it. Ask the building department what a fence permit costs before you apply.

What does a fence plot plan need to show?

Your property outline, location of the proposed fence, total linear feet, height, material, distance from any street/sidewalk, and (in most cities) the location of your house. Fence Plotter generates this automatically from a satellite image and your fence drawing.

Can I draw my plot plan myself?

Yes — most building departments accept owner-drawn plot plans as long as they're clear, dimensioned, and to scale. Fence Plotter produces a permit-ready plot plan + elevation sketch in two minutes.

Detroit, MI fence permit site plan

Plan your fence on a satellite map of your Detroit, MI property and get a permit-ready PDF in 2 minutes. Free, no sign-up.

If Detroit's form asks for a site plan and this page says plot plan, they are the same drawing for a fence application: a to-scale overhead view of your lot with the property lines, the existing structures and the proposed fence dimensioned on it. A surveyed site plan is the one genuinely different document, and only a licensed surveyor can seal one. What a fence permit site plan has to show.

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What you'll get for Detroit, MI

✓ Satellite site plan — top-down map of your property with the fence drawn on it, every side dimensioned.
✓ Fence elevation — side view showing height, panel count, and gates.
○ Real lot lines — pending. We use county GIS for this; your county isn't wired up yet so you trace from the satellite image manually.
○ Filled Detroit, MI permit form — pending. Until then you get the universal plot plan + a checklist of what to handwrite on the city's form.
✓ Detroit, MI ordinance check — height limits, setbacks, and neighbor-consent rules specific to Detroit, MI.

Detroit, MI fence rules

Max height (rear yard): 6'

In residential districts, opaque fences may not exceed 3' in the front yard; the 4' front-yard limit applies only to transparent fences such as chain link, picket, or ornamental metal.
On corner lots, no opaque fence, wall, or hedge over 3' is allowed in the clear vision triangle formed by extending the two curb lines 45' from their point of intersection.
Barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fencing are prohibited in residential districts, as are discarded or recycled materials such as tires and motor vehicle doors.
Fence posts and supporting rails must face inward, with the finished face toward adjoining lots and the street.
Fences may be located within any required setback.

Do you need a permit? Detroit does not state one citywide. The enacted screening and fencing text amendment sets the fence standards at Section 50-14-381 and states no filing requirement, and no Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department page states one either. A property in a local historic district is a separate question the Historic District Commission answers. That is the city being silent rather than the city saying none is needed, so confirm with BSEED before you build. (what we read)

Source: https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/2025-06/Screening%20Text%20Amendment_Approved%202-26-25.pdf

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FAQ

Do I need a permit to build a fence in Detroit, MI?: Detroit does not state one citywide. The enacted screening and fencing text amendment sets the fence standards at Section 50-14-381 and states no filing requirement, and no Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department page states one either. A property in a local historic district is a separate question the Historic District Commission answers. That is the city being silent rather than the city saying none is needed, so confirm with BSEED before you build.
How tall can my fence be in Detroit, MI?: Up to 6' in the rear yard.
How much does a Detroit, MI fence permit cost?: We have Detroit, MI's fence ordinance on file but not a permit fee, so we do not publish an amount for it. Ask the building department what a fence permit costs before you apply.
What does a fence plot plan need to show?: Your property outline, location of the proposed fence, total linear feet, height, material, distance from any street/sidewalk, and (in most cities) the location of your house. Fence Plotter generates this automatically from a satellite image and your fence drawing.
Can I draw my plot plan myself?: Yes — most building departments accept owner-drawn plot plans as long as they're clear, dimensioned, and to scale. Fence Plotter produces a permit-ready plot plan + elevation sketch in two minutes.

Not sure what Detroit means by “site plan”? See the nine things a plan reviewer checks — the same list whatever city you are applying in.

Do I need a survey?·Free template — which kind?·Do I need a permit?·Why permits get rejected

Fence Plotter is informational only. Always confirm specific requirements with the Detroit, MI building department before submitting.

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Plan a fence in Detroit →

Detroit, MI fence permit site plan

What you'll get for Detroit, MI

Detroit, MI fence rules

FAQ

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