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1. Does your sidewalk look like this and need to be replaced?

The City of Dearborn Heights has started the 2023 Sidewalk Replacement Program.

Residents can have their sidewalk slabs replaced at a much lower cost through the City Sidewalk Contractor, Villanova Construction Company, rather than finding their own contractor.

The cost to the Resident is $375 per regular sidewalk slab, and/or $550 per driveway sidewalk slab, plus a flat $75 administration fee which covers the cost of the permit.

To fill out an application, please visit the Building Department during normal business hours: Monday - Thursday, 8 am to 5 pm.

For more information, please contact the Building Department by phone at 313-791-3470 or Email Building Department.

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1. What Businesses are subject to licensing or registration?

According to Section 8.2 of the Dearborn Heights Code of Ordinances, “In general. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in or conduct a business¸trade or other activity, or operate a vehicle requiring a city business license unless such business, trade, activity, or vehicle shall have been licensed according to the provisions of this chapter."

2. My business is licensed by the State, do I still need to be licensed by the City of Dearborn Heights?

Yes, if you are licensed by the State of Michigan, you are still required to register your business with the City of Dearborn Heights.

3. What do I need to license my business in the City?

In order for a business license to be issued, water and personal property tax bills must be current with the City. In addition, you must have a valid Certificate of Occupancy for the building in which you are operating the business.  Depending on the particular business you operate, there are several different requirements such as proof of insurance, background checks, and vehicle information. Please check with the Clerk’s office regarding these requirements.

There are four different types of licenses issued, a business license/registration, a tree contractor, a street license vendor, and a solicitation license.

• View a copy of the business license application (PDF)
• View a copy of the business registration application (PDF)
• View a copy of the street vendor license application (PDF)
• View a copy of the solicitation license application (PDF)
• View a copy of the tree contractor license application (PDF)
• View a copy of the junk vendor license application (PDF)
• View a copy of the landscaper license application (PDF)
• View a copy of the ice cream truck license application (PDF)
• View a copy of the auto/truck for hire license application (PDF)
• View the Code of Ordinance regarding business licensing
• View the Code of Ordinance regarding business registration

4. What is the fee for registration/licensing of business?

The fees differ according to the type of business operated. It is best to call the Clerk’s office if you have specific questions regarding fees.

5. Is this a one time license/registration and fee?

No, it is renewable every year. Approximately two months prior to the expiration date you will be sent a renewal notice. There is a 25 percent penalty, in addition to the license fee, if the renewal is more than seven days past the due date.

6. I am planning on having a garage sale, what type of license is required?

At this time garage sales are not required to be licensed.  No such sale shall exceed 3 consecutive days and there shall be no more than 2 sales within any 1 calendar year.

No signs advertising a sale regulated by Section 25-100 of the code of ordinances shall be placed on public property, utility poles, or private property without the express consent of the owner. Within 24 hours after the conclusion of the sale, all signs shall be removed.

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1. I am not a registered voter, how do I register?

You can register to vote in person at the Clerk’s Office, located at 6045 Fenton, or by visiting any branch of the Secretary of State’s office. You may also register by mail by completing and sending a registration form to our office. You may also register online from the Michigan Voter Information website.

The requirements to register includes all of the following:

• a U.S. citizen
• at least 18 years old by Election Day
• a resident of Michigan and a resident of the city or township where you are applying to register to vote for at least 30 days before election day
• not serving a sentence in jail or prison

2. What if I am in the military or live overseas?

There is a special website to assist military and overseas civilian voters in participating in elections.  If you are in the military or an overseas civilian eligible to vote in Michigan, information on this process is available at the Federal Voting Assistance Program website.

3. When do I need to register if I want to vote in an upcoming election?

New legislation now allows a voter to register in person, by mail, or online up to 15 days prior to an election and be eligible to vote in that upcoming election. Voters may also register in person with their local Clerk’s office within 14 days of an election, including Election Day, and be eligible to vote on election day, provided that they show proof of residency in addition to proof of identity (or an ID that proves both). Acceptable proofs of residency are documents that include the applicant’s name and current address, and include a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, and other government documents. This proof may be in electronic form. 

Please Note: The changes in registration procedures and requirements do not waive the thirty-day requirement of living in the city/township for which one is registering to vote.

4. Now that I am registered, where do I vote? Can I view a Sample Ballot?

After registering to vote you will be sent a Voter Identification Card which will provide you with the name and address of your polling location. Your Voter Identification Card will also indicate your Precinct number, School District, U.S. Congressional District, State Senate District, State Representative District, and your County Commission District. You may also determine if you are registered to vote and where you vote by clicking on the link below. This site will also provide you with a sample ballot when ballots are available for the next upcoming election.

• Visit the Michigan Voter Information website.

5. What do I need to vote at the polls?

When you go to the polls to cast a ballot, you will be asked to produce voter identification. The following types of valid photo IDs are acceptable:

• Michigan Driver’s or State issued ID card
• Driver’s license or ID card issued from another state
• Federal or state government-issued photo ID
• U.S. Passport
• Military ID with photo
• Student ID card with photo from a high school or accredited institution of higher learning
• Tribal identification card with photo

If you do not have a photo ID or do not bring it with you to the polls, you may still vote by signing an affidavit stating you are not in possession of photo identification.

6. Can I vote absentee rather than at the polls?

Absolutely! The proposal passed in the election in November of 2018 has removed all qualifications for absentee voting. The State of Michigan election law provides for no reason absentee voting, therefore any qualified elector may request and receive an absentee ballot.

Please note that requesting a new AV ballot regardless of the reason must be done in writing. Even in a case when the ballot is not delivered by the post office, a request for a replacement ballot cannot be done verbally, it must be done in writing.

7. How can I obtain an absentee ballot application?

You may obtain an absentee ballot application from the City Clerk's Office or access an application online at the Michigan Voter Information website.

Residents who wish to obtain an absentee ballot in person must show a photo I.D.

Photo ID Requirement As a result of legislation enacted in 2012 (PA 523 of 2012), voters who obtain an absent voter ballot in person is also required to comply with the picture identification requirement. If a voter is not in possession of a picture ID, they may sign the same Affidavit of Voter not in Possession of Picture Identification form that is used in the polls on Election Day. AV ballots from voters that obtain a ballot in person and do not provide picture identification and sign the affidavit form must be processed as a challenged ballot on Election Day.

• Dearborn Heights is comprised of 27 distinct polling locations. For a list of polling locations, view the Precinct Locations 2022 (PDF).
• For a map of the Dearborn Heights precincts please view the 2022 Precinct Map (PDF).
• If you are interested in becoming an Election Inspector, please view the Poll Worker Flyer (PDF) for information and the Election Worker Application (PDF) for an application.

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1. What is meant by “taxable value uncapping”?

Except for additions and losses to a property, annual increases in the property’s taxable value are limited to 5% or the inflation rate, whichever is less for continuous owners. In the year following a statutory transfer of ownership, that limitation is eliminated and the property’s taxable value is set at 50% of the property’s true cash value (i.e., the state-equalized value). This is what is meant by “taxable value uncapping”. See Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL) 211.27a(3).

Note: A property’s true cash value is usually not the same as its sale price for a variety of reasons. An assessor must determine the true cash value of a property that has sold in the same manner that the assessor determines the true cash values of properties that have not sold. Therefore, an assessor may not automatically set an assessed value or a taxable value at half of a property’s selling price. See State Tax Commission Bulletin No. 19 of 1997 and State Tax Commission Memorandum dated October 25, 2005, that describes the illegal and unconstitutional practice of “following sales.”

2. How do I know if I “uncapped”?

3. What does this mean for you?

In the calendar year after you purchase your property, your taxes will no longer be based on the previous owner’s capped taxable value. The taxable value in your second calendar year of ownership will only increase by the rate of inflation or 5%, whichever is less unless additions or losses to the property occur because it is now capped.

Your taxable value may now be different than your neighbors. Their taxable value may have been capped many years before yours, so it would have no correlation with the current market and is not comparable. The Assessed Value is the factor to be used when comparing properties for current value in the market.

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1. How do I pay my city water bill?

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2. How do I get a new trash can lid?

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3. How do I apply for a job with the City?

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4. My trash didn't get picked up, what should I do now?

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5. How do I get a garage sale permit?

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6. How can I see the agenda for an upcoming City Council or Board meeting?

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1. Where do I call to find out prisoner or bond information?

Contact the jail facility at 313-277-7393.

2. What is the visitation policy of the Dearborn Heights Police Department?

Visitation of a prisoner is limited to the prisoner's attorney. 

3. Can I retrieve property from persons being housed in Dearborn Heights Jail Facility?

The property of a prisoner may be retrieved only with the express permission of the prisoner.

4. Can I drop off food for a prisoner?

No outside food is allowed to be given to a prisoner unless the police desk supervisor determines that there is a bona fide medical or religious necessity for the outside food.

5. Can I drop off prescription medicine for a prisoner?

Prescription medicine can only be dropped off for a prisoner if it is in its original prescription bottle containing the prisoner's name on it.

6. I have questions about a letter I received about the incarceration charge. What number do I call?

The phone number is 313-277-7389

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1. How are jurors selected in Dearborn Heights?

Potential jurors are randomly selected from a computer-generated list of eligible residents provided to the Court by the Wayne County Jury Commission.

2. Who is eligible for jury duty?

Dearborn Heights residents who are over the age of 18, a U.S. citizen and able to communicate in the English language.

3. Who is not eligible to serve as a juror?

Anyone who is not a U.S. citizen.

Anyone who is not a resident of Dearborn Heights.

Anyone who has been convicted of a felony (proof required).  A request to be excused from service is decided by the judge, in the courtroom on the day of jury service; you must still appear.

Anyone who has served as a juror in a court of record during the proceeding 12 months (proof required).

4. Who may request to be postponed or excused?

Persons over 70 years of age may claim exemption from jury service and will be excused upon making the request.

A resident may request postponement or excusal from jury service based upon a medical condition that prohibits serving.  Written documentation from their doctor must be provided, explaining the condition and whether it is temporary or permanent, and why the condition prohibits the jury service.

It is presumed that a naturalized U.S. citizen is able to communicate in English as this is a condition for becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen.  A request to be excused from service for inability to communicate in English is decided by the judge in the courtroom on the day of jury service; you must still appear.

If you are no longer a resident of Dearborn Heights, you may be excused, a valid driver's license with change of address must be produced.

5. What reasons do not work?

Vacations, work  and child care issues are generally unacceptable reasons for not performing  jury service. Reasonable efforts to accommodate residents who have timely and valid family, employment or vacation conflicts will be made by the jury clerk  by re-scheduling them for future service.

6. What happens to those who do not show up?

Potential jurors who fail  to appear when summoned to jury service may be held in contempt of court.

7. Will reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act be made for prospective jurors requiring them?

Yes. A prospective juror requiring such accommodation should contact the jury clerk as soon as possible to discuss the accommodation sought.

8. Are jurors paid?

State courts, like the 20th District Court, pay those called for jury selection and  actual jury service $12.50 for a half-day session and $25.00 for a full day, plus mileage.

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1. What animals are required to be licensed?

All dogs and cats 4 months or older must be licensed.

2. Is there a fee associated with licensing my pet?

Yes. The annual fee is $15. If your animal is spayed/neutered, the fee is reduced to $8. You must provide an up-to-date rabies vaccination certificate when renewing or registering your pet. The following breeds require an annual fee of $25, All Pit Bull or Pit Bull mix along with Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and American Pit Bull Terrier. There is not a discount for the above-mentioned breeds.

All licenses expire on February 28 and there is a $10 late fee for all renewals after that date.

3. What happens if I do not license my pets?

If your dog or cat is not licensed, you risk facing a fine and or other charges.

4. Is there a limit on how many pets I may have?

Yes, the limit is three pets per household.

5. Can I have a pit bull in Dearborn Heights?

Yes, pit bulls are allowed, however, the licensing procedure is slightly different.  You must provide the Clerk’s Office with two photos of your pet, one front view, and one side view. In addition to the certificate of rabies vaccination, you must also have your pet microchipped and provide the Clerk’s Office with the microchip number.

View the Pit Bull and Vicious Animal Ordinance with Requirements (PDF) for the basic responsibilities regarding pit bull breeds and dangerous or vicious animals.

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1. Where are vehicles impounded by the Dearborn Heights Police Department taken?

All vehicles impounded by the Dearborn Heights Police Department are towed to Dalton's Towing located at
27218 Currier
Dearborn Heights
(Currier just east of Inkster Road).

Phone: 313-565-3361.

2. When and where are vehicle auctions held by the Dearborn Heights Police Department?

Generally, police auctions are held monthly at Dalton's Towing facility.

3. How long can a vehicle be parked on a city street before being considered abandoned?

Dearborn Heights city ordinance #32-118 prohibits any vehicle (licensed or not) from being parked, stored, or abandoned on any city street for more than 48 hours without being moved.

4. What is the Trash Day Ordinance?

Dearborn Heights City ordinance Section # 17-35 E1.

Vehicles shall not be parked on the street from 7 am to 7 pm on days that trash is to be picked up. There are signs posted on all streets advising of the no parking on trash days. Violators will be ticketed.

If your trash was not picked up due to someone parking in front of your residence, you may call the Building Department at 313-791-3497 to see about getting it picked up.

Check the Holiday Trash Pick-up Schedule (PDF).

5. What is the City of Dearborn Heights "Snow Emergency" ordinance?

Dearborn Heights city ordinance #32-554 prohibits vehicles from being parked on any city street when there is an accumulation of snow/ice to a depth of three (3) inches or more. The ordinance also prohibits vehicles from being parked on city streets during emergencies as declared by the Mayor of the City of Dearborn Heights.

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1. What to do if you are moving in/out of a Dearborn Heights residence?

Typically, a final read is done at this time. If you are purchasing a home or moving in a new tenant, a final read allows the prior occupant to obtain a final bill for all water usage prior to the sale.

To get a final reading: Please contact the Water Billing Department at 313-791-3450 to schedule a final reading. Final reading appointments are done one day each week. The final bills can either be picked up from City Hall, mailed, or faxed per request. If a resident had signed up for automatic payment withdrawal, that will be canceled upon the final bill being processed. Final bill payments will not be taken through automatic withdrawal.

2. Can I have a separate meter installed for my sprinkler system to avoid sewage charges?

Unfortunately, this is not possible due to the fact that the city of Dearborn Heights is charged sewer fees by our supplier, the city of Detroit, for all water units consumed, whether or not they go through the sewer system.

3. Why is my tap water rusty or reddish and what do I do?

When the water in the lines is agitated (for example from a large water main flush, road work, or hydrant use) this can stir up sediment (primarily iron) from the bottom of the water lines. In the course of normal maintenance, the hydrant flushing and water gate exercise can stir up this sediment. If your tap water does appear reddish or rusty in color, it is recommended not to use your water for one hour, and then run the cold water at the lowest point in the house for several minutes. If the water is still not clear, wait for another half hour then run the water for several minutes again. Repeat waiting for a half hour then run water for several minutes until water runs clear. The water is still potable but the discoloration may affect the washing of clothes.

4. Why is my read estimated?

We attempt to read each meter every cycle. Your bill is estimated if we have not obtained a reading. Several factors can contribute to your bills being estimated:

Our readers may not have access to the ARB box due to a locked gate or a vehicle blocking our access. The ARB box needs to remain visible and free from any obstructions such as bushes or fencing.

Sometimes, the wires that attach your ARB box to the meter in your home may come undone. If you see repeated estimates on your water bills, please contact the billing department at 313-791-3450 to schedule a meter repair appointment.

5. My house is empty. Why do I still receive a water bill?

As long as the water is on to the property, the account remains active and a minimum bill will generate. If the property is going to be vacant for an extended period of time, the owner does have the option to schedule an appointment to have the water turned off at this property. The fee to turn off the water is $15; however, you will no longer receive minimum bills once the account is inactive. There would be an additional fee of $15 if and when the water would be turned back on at the property.

6. How many gallons of water are in each unit?

One unit of water equals 748 gallons.

7. What happens if I don't pay my bill?

If a bill is not paid by the due date, a 10% penalty is placed on the last billed amount. For example, you could have a total balance due of $1,000, but your last bill was only $35.18. If this goes unpaid, your penalty would be $3.52.

Each year we review the delinquent water accounts on the 1st of October. Any delinquent amount would need to be paid by the 1st of April otherwise it is in jeopardy of being placed on the taxes for the home or business.

8. How often do I receive a water bill?

Residential customers receive a bill approximately every two months. Commercial properties are billed on a monthly basis.

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1. How do I check out the hotspot?

Patrons must be 18 years of age or older, and be a Dearborn Heights or Dearborn resident with a valid library card and Michigan Driver's License or State I.D.

First-time library card applicants who want to check out a hotspot are required to provide a refundable $30 cash deposit. This deposit is refunded on return of the wireless hotspot and is required only for the first time a hotspot is checked out.

Patrons must acknowledge this policy via their signature on the signup sheet when checking out the device.

Patrons must have a library account that is in good standing with no fines above $15.

The hotspot is checked out with your library card, just like any other item.

2. May I return the hotspot to another library?

No. A mobile hotspot may only be checked out from and returned to the circulation desk at the library from which it was borrowed at either Caroline Kennedy Library or John F. Kennedy, Jr. Library.

3. May I return the hotspot in the book bin?

No. Returning the hotspot in a book bin or to another library will result in a $25 fine. Hotspots must be returned directly to the circulation desk.

4. How long may I keep the hotspot?

The loan period is one week, and patrons will be limited to one checkout per month per household with no renewals. One month is counted from the day after the unit is returned.

5. What happens if the hotspot becomes overdue?

Overdue hotspots will be deactivated within 24 hours of the due date.

A $5 overdue fine will apply each day the device is not returned. Patrons returning a hotspot more than three days late will forfeit the use of our hotspots indefinitely.

6. What if I break or lose the hotspot or any of its associated content?

You are responsible for loss or damage to the mobile hotspot or any of its contents and will be assessed a fee based on the cost to replace the damaged or lost item(s).

7. Does the device have content filtering?

No. Internet content filtering is not provided through the Dearborn Heights Libraries Mobile Hotspot. Parents/Guardians are responsible for monitoring what their children access via the hotspot.