The City Clerk’s Office is responsible for the registration and licensing of many trades and businesses.
Contractors must be certified by the State of Michigan and registered with the City of Dearborn in order to obtain work permits within the city.
If you have further questions regarding contractor and/or business registration,
call (313) 943-2015 or (313) 943-2010.
Liability Insurance
Some licenses require a certificate of liability insurance naming the City of Dearborn as the certificate holder. See example below. The following is a partial list of licenses that require general liability insurance:
Residential building contractor - Commercial building contractor
- Building Sub-contractors
- Residential concrete contractors
- Drain layer
- Fire repair
- Mechanical excavating & grading
- Sign erector
- Tent erector
- Tree removal
- Vendor vehicle (Food Truck)
iChat Background Check
Other licenses require a background check which is then submitted to the Dearborn Police Dept. for approval. Applicants needing a criminal history search can go to www.michigan.gov/ichat. There is a fee for this service which can be paid online. The following is a partial list of licenses that require a background check:
- Tobacco
- Smoking Lounge
- Solicitor/Vendor
- Valet parking
- Manager (lodgings, athletic clubs*, coffee houses)
- Secondhand dealer
Who Should Apply for a Food Truck License?
If you operate a mobile food service establishment from a vehicle or trailer that returns to commissary for servicing and maintenance at least once every 24 hours
OR an STFU which is a temporary food establishment licensed to operate throughout the state without the 14-day limits or a mobile food unit is not required to return to a commissary, then you will apply for a
Food Truck License in the City of Dearborn. Both mobile and STFU operations require a license from a local health department in the State of Michigan. These types of food operations require inspections through the local health department as well as fire inspections through the Dearborn Fire Dept. or neighboring Wayne County community fire departments. Find out more about your food service at
https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/licensing/food/service.
Who Should Apply for a Street Vendor License?
If you are selling merchandise, food or beverage* or taking payment for the future delivery of goods from a stand, table, or from your person, then you are considered a Street Vendor. Street vendors can sell on private property with permission from the property owner, or they can participate in events on public property with the permission of City Council. No vendor can sell on public property without prior approval from City Council.
* Food and beverage vendors must have a 14-day temporary event license from the county health department to sell products. The vendor's stand must be inspected and approved by the local health department before operating . Vendors selling prepackaged food under the Michigan's Cottage Foods Law PA113 are exempt from this requirement. 
