Starting a business in Detroit means working through zoning, plan review, water and sewer, health, and occupancy approvals, each with its own office, forms, and order of operations. For many first-time founders, the hardest part isn’t filling out the forms. It’s knowing who to contact, where to submit, and what has to happen first.

Detroit Permit Navigator turns an address and a project type into a plain-language, step-by-step path: the approvals required, the documents each one needs, and the right people to call. It also helps users prepare for their pre-plan meeting with the city. It is guidance, not filing, and it points people to the city’s Development Resource Center and local business liaisons rather than replacing them.