The City of Dearborn now offers a program to help homeowners rehabilitate, repair, or replace damaged or deteriorating porches and outdoor steps, funded in part by federal grant dollars, through the end of October 2024.

Eligible homeowners can apply to the Front Porch & Step Rehabilitation Program through the online application. If application criteria are met, the City’s Economic Development Department will conduct an onsite evaluation of the condition of the front porch and steps at each property before determining program eligibility. 

Program eligibility

Interested homeowners looking to apply should take note of the following eligibility criteria:

- Property must be an owner-occupied, single-family building within Dearborn. Applicants with a valid Certificate of Occupancy must own and have occupied the home for at least one year.

- If an applicant does not have a valid Certificate of Occupancy for the property, they must be the owner and occupant of the building for at least five years.

- Applicants are up-to-date on their property tax, utilities, water bill, and insurance.

- The property may not have asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), or other materials that are typically handled differently than the normal demolition and replacement process, and should be freely accessible for inspection.

The City’s Economic Development inspection teams will also assess accommodations for homes requiring ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant Barrier-free access on a case-by-case basis.