How to Get a Detroit ID: Requirements, Cost, and Renewal

To get a Detroit ID, bring documents worth at least 300 identity points plus one document proving a current Detroit address to either the Detroit Health Department at 100 Mack Avenue or the Patton Recreation Center at 2301 Woodmere Street, pay the $10 fee (free for children 11 and under), and have your photo taken on the spot. The card is issued to any Detroit resident regardless of immigration status, housing situation, or criminal history, and it is valid for two years.¹

Who Qualifies

Any Detroit resident can apply. The city’s ordinance defines a resident as someone who can provide proof of identity and Detroit address through the program’s document requirements, with no citizenship or immigration-status condition attached.²

There is no minimum age. Children of any age can get a card, but anyone under 18 needs a parent or legal guardian present at the appointment.³

A criminal record will not stop you. Several criminal-justice documents actually earn identity points: a criminal record check with a photo is worth 200 points, an Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) record is worth 200, and a Michigan Department of Corrections prisoner ID card is worth 75.⁴

Identity Documents and the 300-Point Rule

You need documents totaling at least 300 identity points, and at least one of them must carry both a photograph and your date of birth. Each document counts once.²

A single top-tier document clears the threshold:

U.S. or foreign passport — 300 points
U.S. or foreign driver’s license — 300 points

Without one of those, combine mid-tier documents:

U.S. or foreign birth certificate (original or certified copy) — 200 points
Social Security card — 200 points
Criminal record check with photo — 200 points
OTIS record — 200 points

A birth certificate plus a Social Security card reaches 400 points, well past the minimum.¹ Lower-point items like a Michigan prisoner ID card (75 points) or a criminal complaint with proof of service (100 points) can fill gaps.⁴

Proof of Detroit Residency

Residency is separate from the point total. You need one document showing your name and current Detroit address, dated within the previous 60 days. Any of the following works:¹

Utility bill or credit card statement
Current lease or rental agreement
Bank or financial institution statement
Pay stub, W-2, or earnings statement showing employer name and address
Federal, state, or city government document or letter
Mortgage or property tax statement
Insurance policy (life, health, auto, or home)
Michigan vehicle title or registration
Letter from a Michigan school, college, or university
Letter from a hospital or medical facility

Make sure the name and address match across every document you bring. Mismatches can cause delays or a denial.

If You Are Experiencing Homelessness

You can prove residency with a letter from a recognized service provider, social services agency, domestic violence shelter, or homeless shelter located in Detroit, confirming services or residency in the previous 60 days.¹ The city uses a specific template called the Chronically Homeless Certification Letter, printed on the agency’s official letterhead. If a caseworker cannot come to your appointment with you, a separate Homeless Third-Party Certification Letter is required instead.⁵ The $10 fee may be waived entirely for applicants experiencing homelessness.³

Where To Apply and What It Costs

Two enrollment sites process applications in person:

Detroit Health Department, 100 Mack Avenue
Patton Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere Street

Both accept walk-ins Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can also schedule an appointment by calling 313-774-5388.³

Staff will review your documents, confirm the 300-point threshold, verify your residency document, and take your photograph. The fees:

Adults 12 and older: $10
Children 11 and under: free
Seniors 62 and older: $10
Renewals: $10

Anyone under 18 must have a legal guardian present whether or not a fee applies.¹

What the Card Does and Does Not Do

The Detroit ID is for local use. It gets you into city buildings including public schools and libraries, provides a recognized credential when dealing with the Detroit Police Department and utilities like DTE and DWSD, opens a checking or savings account at One Detroit Credit Union, and qualifies you for discounts at participating businesses.¹

It is not a substitute for a Michigan driver’s license or state ID. You cannot use it to drive, to board a flight, or for any purpose that requires state or federal identification. Air travel still requires a REAL ID-compliant state ID or a passport.¹

The ordinance establishing the program states that identifying information supplied by applicants should be kept confidential, though the city will comply with disclosure required by law, including Michigan Freedom of Information Act requests, subpoenas, and court orders.²⁶

Renewing the Card

Each Detroit ID is good for two years from the date of issue.¹ Renewal costs $10 and requires another in-person visit so staff can update your information and take a new photo. Start before your current card expires to avoid a gap.

1
City of Detroit. Detroit ID Brochure
2
City of Detroit. Municipal ID Ordinance
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City of Detroit. Detroit ID Card Program is Back
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City of Detroit. Detroit ID Application Check List
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City of Detroit. Homelessness Service Providers
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City of Detroit. Privacy