The 10 Best Detroit, MI General Contractors

You must hire a residential builder licensed by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs for any residential construction work in Detroit that costs $600 total, labor, materials and any other item combined.

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory regulates the licensing of residential builders. Residential Builder applicants must complete 60 hours of approved pre-licensure education courses. Courses covers business management, costs, design and building science, contracts, liability and risk management, marketing and sales, the Michigan Residential Code and MIOSHA Construction Safety Standards. Applicants must be of good moral character, pass an exam on trade knowledge and business and law, and pay a licensing application fee of $195. Licenses must be renewed every 3 years. Contractors are required to take continuing education courses upon license renewal.

To operate in Detroit, state licensed contractors must also register with the City. Furthermore, the City issues the following licenses, which are required to perform certain work in the city: awning erector, sign erector, steeplejack, welder, window washer and wrecking-demolition. To become licensed in these trades by the city, one must sit for an exam on build codes, safety standards and/or zoning code.

Licensed contractors are required to hold property liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. Before any work begins on your property, attain copies of the both insurance certificates for your records.

A building permit is required in Detroit for all new construction and most alterations to existing buildings. This includes installing or building doorways and windows, home additions, changing a building’s roofline and to establish or change the building use. Any construction work that involves the structural elements of a building, including installing skylights or adjusting a load-bearing wall, will require a permit. If you are unsure if your project requires a permit, contact the Detroit Building, Safety Engineering, and Environment Department at 313.224.0167.

The Detroit Building, Safety Engineering, and Environment Department - Permit Review Division handles the permit process and is responsible for ensuring project compliance with applicable codes and ordinances. At the outset of your project, you and your contractor should determine who is responsible for taking out the necessary permits. Generally, residential projects in Detroit require the submission of construction plans for review prior to the issuing of a permit. The Permit Review Division routes applications through all agencies that need to issue approval. More details are available on the Detroit Building, Safety Engineering, and Environment Department’s website.

Homeowners who have suffered financial loss due to the incompetent or dishonest work of a contractor in Detroit have limited options for recourse. There is no longer a Homeowner Construction Lien Recovery Fund in Michigan.

The BuildZoom score is based on a number of factors including the contractor's license information, which is gathered from the Michigan Bureau of Professional Licensing; building permit data, gathered from the Detroit Building, Safety Engineering, and Environment Department; and feedback and behavior we have observed in the BuildZoom marketplace and in other, third-party review sites.

We have analyzed every licensed contractor who has worked in Detroit, Michigan. Using this information, we’re able to save you time, money and lessen your risk by providing you with a simple and straight-forward way to gather and receive multiple bids from vetted general contractors in Detroit. Click here to get started by providing us with a few details about your project.