Detroit Blight Ticket Tutorial: How to Check If a Property Has Hidden Fines Before You Buy

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Buying real estate in Detroit can be an incredible opportunity—but it also requires serious due diligence, because many buyers have no idea they can unknowingly inherit existing Detroit blight tickets from previous owners. Even worse, not every title company checks for these fines, so you may think you’re protected when you’re not.

In this tutorial, I walk you step-by-step through how to look up Detroit blight tickets online, what the results mean, and how to protect yourself from thousands of dollars in unexpected fines.

Title Companies Don’t Always Check for Blight Tickets

Many buyers assume the title company will uncover every financial risk attached to a property. Unfortunately, that’s not always true in Detroit. Some title companies include blight fines in their searches, but others don’t—meaning a buyer may close on a property completely unaware of outstanding city tickets.

That’s why this should always be part of your Detroit real estate due diligence checklist, whether you’re a local buyer, landlord, or out-of-state investor.

They Aren’t Always Liens… But That Can Change

As of now (and I am not a lawyer), Detroit blight tickets are typically not liens automatically attached to the property. However, policies change. Leadership changes. Detroit has a new mayor, and with new leadership can come new enforcement rules.

What isn’t a lien today could very realistically become a lien tomorrow. If that happens, the fines don’t magically disappear—they follow whoever owns the property.

This is why proactive checking is so important.

Already Bought a House With Blight Tickets? You Still Have Options

If you purchased a property and later discovered existing blight violations, you may still have possibilities.

In some cases, owners have successfully contacted the Detroit inspector who issued the ticket, explained that the violation occurred before they owned the home, and were able to get fines reduced or even removed. Results vary, and relationships with the city can matter—but it’s worth trying.

The key lesson: don’t ignore blight tickets. They don’t go away, and they can grow.

Why Listen to Me?

I’m Monique Burns, a Detroit real estate broker specializing in investment properties. I’ve worked with local buyers, landlords, and especially out-of-state investors who want to invest in Detroit the right way. My goal is always to help people make smart, informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

I’ve seen too many buyers blindsided by fines they didn’t know existed—and that’s why I’m passionate about educating investors on how Detroit really works.

Just How Common Are Detroit Blight Violations?

They’re more common than most people realize. Detroit enforces:

  • trash violations

  • rental registration violations

  • certificate of compliance violations

  • lead clearance failures

  • and more

These can range from $250 to several thousand dollars, and if ignored, they can double or go to collections.

Detroit Blight Ticket Lookup Tutorial

In the video, I walk through the Detroit Blight Violation Lookup website and show real examples from properties currently for sale so you can see exactly what different situations look like:

✔️ a property with a paid ticket ($1,500 for a trash violation)
✔️ a property where tickets went to collections due to lack of Certificate of Compliance
✔️ a property cited for failure to obtain lead clearance
✔️ a rental property fined for not being properly registered
✔️ and finally—a clean property with no violations

Being able to recognize what you’re seeing is half the battle.

What Happens If You Ignore Detroit Blight Tickets?

Fines can double. Collections can kick in. And if policy changes, unpaid tickets could eventually follow the property as liens. None of these are situations you want to inherit as a new owner.

This is why checking ahead matters.

What a Clean Property Report Looks Like

I also show an example of a Detroit property with no blight tickets—so when you see a clean screen, you’ll feel confident you’re not walking into a financial trap.

Final Thoughts

Detroit is full of opportunity—but only for buyers who do smart due diligence. Checking for blight tickets is one of those essential steps that most people don’t know about until it’s too late.

If you’re buying a Detroit house or investment property, take the few minutes to look up blight violations before closing. It could save you thousands of dollars and a massive headache later.

This video is part of my Detroit Due Diligence Series, where I teach buyers everything they need to know before purchasing here. If you want to learn more, watch the full tutorial and my other blight-related videos linked below the video.

For more blight ticket information:

Blight Court Waive the Ticket: https://youtu.be/XiGiW1VnrfY?si=6r15wYI64wbOG5U-

Avoid Blight Tickets:  https://youtu.be/r-si2HSDbgY?si=fY33n-lJdgKY6v2l

What to Expect in Blight Court: https://youtu.be/q2Nszjtbvzg?si=DrxxdOBcyi_Sk_4P

Blight Court Karen Storytime: https://youtu.be/sjhNeZlvC2g