Is this Detroit rental registered and certified?
Detroit requires two separate things to rent a property legally: a rental registration, and a current Certificate of Compliance. They are not the same, and most properties have only the first. Citywide, about 28% of registered rentals hold a current certificate — 11,550 of 41,861.
Rental compliance lookup
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Why this matters, by who you are
| If you are | What this tells you |
|---|---|
| A tenant | Whether your landlord has done what the City requires. An uncertified rental has not passed inspection. |
| Buying an occupied rental | Whether you are inheriting a compliance problem. Roughly seven in ten registered Detroit rentals do not hold a current certificate, and it becomes yours at closing. |
| An investor | What you have to do before you can legally collect rent — register, then pass inspection and obtain the certificate. |
| Selling a rental | A gap surfaces during the transaction. Better to find it now than three days before closing. |
What the two requirements actually involve
Rental registration is a form filed with BSEED, and it is free. It is required for any non-owner-occupied residential property in Detroit — one rented house needs it just as a 40-unit building does. Registration alone does not make a rental legal, which is the gap most owners land in: citywide only about 28% of registered rentals hold a current certificate.
A Certificate of Compliance requires passing inspection, and once issued it is valid three years for residential property. Detroit rewrote the ordinance in October 2024, simplifying the process, so guidance published before then may describe steps that no longer apply. Properties built before 1978 also carry lead inspection and clearance obligations under the same ordinance — the year is the federal threshold for lead-based paint.
Both facts matter at a closing. An unregistered or uncertified rental is not merely paperwork behind: in Detroit a landlord without a current Certificate of Compliance cannot lawfully collect rent, and cannot use the courts to evict. If you are buying tenanted property, that is the difference between acquiring an income stream and acquiring a dispute. Confirm the status above before the inspection contingency expires, not after.
| Requirement | Cost | Valid for | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Rental Registration | $0 | Until ownership changes | Every non-owner-occupied residential property |
| Certificate of Compliance | Inspection fees apply | 3 years | Residential rentals, after passing inspection |
| Lead inspection & clearance | Varies by inspector | Per ordinance | Properties built before 1978 |
Citywide there are 41,861 registered rentals and only 11,550 current certificates — about 28%. The ordinance was rewritten in October 2024; BSEED is reachable at (313) 628-2451.
Requirements above are from the City of Detroit BSEED rental pages; BSEED can be reached at (313) 628-2451. Verify current requirements with the City before acting — ordinance detail changes, and this page is informational, not legal advice.
Related: compliance rates by neighborhood · Detroit buyer programs · land contracts · certificate of occupancy by city. Source: City of Detroit Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department, via the City's open data portal. This page is informational and is not legal advice.