Structured cabling and low-voltage installation in Detroit
Cablify installs network cabling, fiber, security cameras, access control and Wi-Fi across Metro Detroit, from Downtown, Midtown and Corktown to Dearborn, Southfield, Troy, Warren and Auburn Hills.
- Gordie Howe International Bridge
- Open to traffic since July 27, 2026
- Truck freight with Canada, 2025
- $94.2 billion, first among U.S. ports
- Office vacancy, Q3 2026
- 19%
- Industrial vacancy, Q3 2026
- 3.8%
Michigan licenses by trade, not by voltage
The Skilled Trades Regulation Act covers electrical contracting and fire alarm work, with exemptions that depend on the system and the installer.
| Work | What Michigan law says |
|---|---|
| Electrical contracting | An electrical contractor license, with a master electrician as the applicant or a full-time employee. |
| Telecommunications equipment and related systems | Exempt from electrical licensing when the installer is primarily engaged in the telecommunications and related information systems industry. The exemption does not cover fire alarm systems. |
| Security alarm systems in a building | Exempt from electrical licensing. |
| Fire alarm wiring | A fire alarm specialty license or an electrical license. Specialty technicians need NICET Level II certification, and a fire alarm contractor needs at least one full-time technician. |
Permits in Detroit and the suburbs
Inside the city, the Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED) issues and inspects electrical permits. Permits issued from April 2024 on are held to the 2023 National Electrical Code, which Michigan adopted statewide on March 12, 2024.
Detroit also registers electrical, fire alarm and sign contractors, who must hold a Michigan license. The suburbs run their own building departments, and their fire alarm rules differ.
Detroit Fire Marshal
Reviews fire alarm plans and witnesses acceptance tests. Every business needs an annual fire permit.
Dearborn
Fire alarm contractors must be state licensed and registered with the city, and drawings must be signed and sealed by a NICET Level III designer or a professional engineer.
Novi
Plan review is required for every fire alarm permit.
Troy
Enforces the 2021 International Fire Code.
Headquarters moved back downtown
Detroit’s two biggest automakers have rebuilt their home bases since 2024, and each move leaves floors behind to rewire.
General Motors
GM moved its headquarters to Hudson’s Detroit on Woodward Avenue in January 2026, taking the top four floors of the office building.
Ford and Michigan Central
Ford reopened Michigan Central Station in June 2024 as the centerpiece of a 30-acre technology district in Corktown.
The suburbs
AT&T moved into 158,000 square feet within Southfield in the third quarter of 2026, according to Savills.
Every move leaves a building behind. CBRE put Detroit office vacancy at 19% in the third quarter of 2026. When a tenant moves out, the abandoned cable has to come out before the next tenant’s network goes in.
Freight at the border
Detroit handled $94.2 billion of truck freight with Canada in 2025, more than any other U.S. port, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data. The Gordie Howe International Bridge opened to traffic on July 27, 2026, adding a second bridge crossing to Windsor.
Warehouses near the crossings stay full. Cushman & Wakefield put Metro Detroit industrial vacancy at 3.8% in the third quarter of 2026.
- Gate, yard and dock cameras with clear plate and trailer views
- Wi-Fi designed around racking and scanner traffic
- Fiber between guard shacks, offices and the warehouse floor
- Badge readers on offices, IT rooms and secure cages
Data centers arrive in Michigan
Michigan’s sales and use tax exemption for data centers took effect in April 2025. It requires at least $250 million in investment and 30 new jobs, and the state will issue new certifications through 2029.
The largest project so far is in Saline Township, near Ann Arbor, where OpenAI, Oracle and Related Digital announced a campus of three 550,000 square foot buildings on 250 acres, with more than a gigawatt of capacity.
Ice is the bigger winter risk
The February 22, 2023 ice storm coated the region south of I-69 in a quarter to half an inch of ice and left close to 500,000 customers without power. Detroit’s official record low is -21°F, set on January 21, 1984.
- Battery backup on access control and recorders for multi-day outages
- Camera housings with heaters and covers that shed ice
- Outdoor connections sealed against freeze and thaw
Across Metro Detroit
From the riverfront to the I-75 corridor.
Downtown and Midtown
GM’s new headquarters at Hudson’s Detroit, office towers, hospitals and Wayne State University.
Corktown
Michigan Central Station and the technology district around it.
Dearborn
Ford’s home base, plus offices, labs and city facilities.
Southfield and Troy
The suburban office markets along I-696 and I-75.
Warren
Stellantis plans nearly $100 million at Warren Truck, with more than 900 jobs and production from 2028.
Auburn Hills and Orion
GM plans to build gas-powered full-size SUVs and pickups at Orion Assembly from 2027, part of a $4 billion investment in three U.S. plants.
Common questions
Does Michigan require an electrical license for network cabling?
Michigan’s electrical licensing law exempts telecommunications equipment and related systems when the installer is primarily engaged in the telecommunications and related information systems industry, and it exempts security alarm systems. Fire alarm wiring always needs a fire alarm specialty or electrical license.
Do I need a permit for low-voltage work in Detroit?
BSEED issues and inspects electrical permits in the city. The state’s permit exemptions do not list telecom or security work, so we confirm the permit with BSEED or the local building department for each job.
Who reviews fire alarm plans in Detroit?
The Detroit Fire Marshal Division reviews fire alarm plans and witnesses acceptance tests. Suburbs such as Dearborn and Novi run their own reviews.
Which cities do you cover?
Our Detroit market covers Detroit, Dearborn, Livonia, Southfield, Troy, Warren, Sterling Heights, Novi, Auburn Hills and Ann Arbor.
Request a quote in Detroit
Send the address, building type and what you need installed. For a move, include both the old and the new address.