The City Clerk is an elected position. The city clerk's department is responsible for providing various services. Citizens can obtain information and receive assistance for:

• Animal and bike licenses
  



• Licensing for mechanical amusement equipment, billiard rooms, street vendors, solicitors, collision and bump shops, used car dealers, junk yards, pet stores, carnivals and festivals



• Birth and death certificates filed in the City of Westland only



• City charter, code and zoning board of appeals issues (city charters, building code manuals, city precinct/zoning maps can be purchased and the Westland City Charter* can be found online. To view the City Charter, please click here. Then, click on the "Part I Charter" folder within the table of contents on the left side of the page.



• Issues bicycle licenses
  



• Processing of applications for persons appearing before the zoning board of appeals



• Issues relating to city council and contact with its members



• Permanent records, documents and ordinances of the city, please note that the Municipal Code of Ordinances* can be found online



• Precinct locations, voter registration and federal, state and local elections.
  
• Issues relating to the fire and police civil service commission
  
  
• City Council Policies and Procedures



• Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests
  *Opens new window
  
  

Garage/yard sale permit fees are as follows:

Indivdual homes, group, church or social, civic or charitable organization:

First permit in a calendar year: $12.00
Subsequent permits (up to 4): $ 15.00

Subdivision or condominum complex or association:

First permit in a calendar year: $25.00
Subsequent permits (up to two): $35.00


Assigned permits numbers must be visible on all signage.
Please refer to the sign ordinance, Ordinance 248, Article XV


Please contact the Clerk's Office with any questions at (734) 467-3185

BIRTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATES

Birth and death certificates for certain persons are available in the City Clerk's office.

BIRTH CERTIFICATES:
To obtain a copy of your birth certificate, YOU MUST HAVE BEEN BORN IN THE CITY OF WESTLAND AFTER 1978.  Either the person for whom the birth was registered or that person’s mother or father (as long as they are listed on the birth certificate) may request a copy.  The person requesting a copy must have picture identification under most circumstances.  The certificate will be certified with a City Seal and be on safety paper to verify authenticity.  We must have a request in writing to verify a copy is on file with the City.  The fee is:

                        $18.00 for the first copy
                        $  6.00 for any subsequent copy

DEATH CERTIFICATES:
To obtain a copy of a death certificate, THAT PERSON MUST HAVE DIED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF WESTLAND.  You must know the person's name and the date of death.  The certificate will be certified with a City Seal and on safety paper to verify authenticity.  We must have a request in writing to verify a copy is on file with the City.  The fee is:

                        $18.00 for the first copy
                        $  6.00 for any subsequent copy

Request for Birth - Death Certificates

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS

Freedom of Information requests are filed with the City Clerk’s office.  They are to be used if you are inquiring about any existing public documents from any Department of the City.  The Freedom of Information Act states the public entity is not required to make a compilation, summary, or report of information.  Also, the City may charge a reasonable fee for the research and copying of documents covered in the request.  The research fee is based on the hourly wage plus the cost of fringe benefits for that hour of the lowest paid Clerical employee in the City.  This fee is $45.61 per hour and is charged in fifteen minute increments.  Also, the cost of copying is $1.00 per page. A $5.00 minimum fee is required.

The City has five (5) business days in which to answer a request with the ability to extend the deadline another ten (10) business days if needed.

Public Information City of Westland

ANIMAL LICENSES

There are many reasons to license your pet in the City of Westland.  One of which is that it is a City Ordinance which states you can only have three pets.  Perhaps the most important reason is that if your pet gets lost, the license number around their neck is a means to identify them.  We get many phone calls from considerate residents who have found an animal and inquire as to the owner (based on their license tag).  We never give out the owner’s information but we do call the owner and let them know someone has found their pet.  We have been able to reunite many families with their beloved pets.

You may purchase your pet’s license at the City Clerk's office.  The only requirement is that your pet must have a rabies certificate from a veterinarian’s office showing the batch number of the serum used and for how many years the vaccination is valid.  The fees are as follows:

Before March 1st:                       

Animal able to reproduce             $18.00

Animal not able to reproduce       $10.00

Late fee – after March 1              $5.00 added to above prices

Replacement tag                         $5.00

Pets must be licensed by the time they are four months old.  If you are a new resident or if you acquire a new pet and it is after the March 1st deadline, the late fee will be waived.  If you meet the previously stated two exceptions and if it is after August 31, the licensing fee will be cut in half to adjust for the partial calendar year and there will be no late fee.

Your pet must be licensed every year. 

If you own a dog that has ever attacked, bitten or other wise harmed another animal or human being in an unprovoked manner or has been determined a "dangerous or vicious animal" by a court of law, your dog must be tattooed or micro-chipped. You must show documentation of this from your veterinarian before your animal can be licensed.

Anyone keeping four or more dogs must obtain a kennel license from the City of Westland.  Please inquire at the Clerk's office as to these regulations.

If you have any questions, please call the Office of the City Clerk at 734-467-3185.

BICYCLE LICENSES

 Bicycle licenses are available on a yearly basis in the City Clerk’s office.  The fee is:

                        $1.00 per year for each license

The metal numbered license tag attaches directly to your bicycle and, it will assist police, in the event your bicycle is lost or stolen, in returning it to the rightful owner.  There are many bicycles each year that go for auction because the owner can not be found. 

Make sure your family’s bicycles are protected.

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