Agencies, Bureaus & Commissions

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is composed of the following agencies, bureaus and commissions that promote business growth and job creation through streamlined, simple, fair, and efficient regulation, and at the same time protect the health and safety of Michigan's citizens.

Bureau specific Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau
The Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau performs the public facing duties of helping to grow business activity in Michigan through the Corporations Division, and by protecting the health, welfare, and safety of Michigan citizens through regulatory and licensing functions of the Securities, Licensing, and Enforcement divisions.

Corporations Division
The Corporations Division is charged with promoting economic growth by facilitating the formation and development of business entities in Michigan while ensuring compliance with reporting and registration requirements.

Securities Division
The Securities administers the Michigan Uniform Securities Act and the Living Care Disclosure Act, regulating securities offering, broker-dealers, securities agents, investment advisers, investment adviser representatives and living care facilities. The division is committed to educating and protecting Michigan investors and consumers while fostering efficient capital formation in Michigan.

Licensing Division
The Licensing along with assistance of advisory boards and commissions appointed by the governor, reviews applications, issues licenses, processes renewals, administers continuing education and maintains licensing records for more than 330,000 individuals or businesses regulated by the Bureau.

Enforcement Division
The Enforcement Division is responsible for the regulation, investigation and prosecution of consumer complaints filed against licensees for various code and rule violations, as well as fraudulent business practices. In addition, it is responsible for Final Order compliance monitoring. The Enforcement Division, in conjunction with the advisory boards and commissions, are charged with the responsibility for taking appropriate criminal, civil or administrative sanctions necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Michigan.

Regulatory Compliance Division
The Regulaotry Compliance Division is responsible for responding to FOIA requests, drafting formal complaints, stipulations, and final orders, scheduling and holding settlement conferences, and houses the cemetery commissioner.   

Also, within the Bureau's administration are Testing & Education Services, the Audit Section, and centralized bureau functions such as IT, budget, finance, and imaging.

Communications, Office of
Ensures that key information is communicated to both the internal and external customers of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Media & Public Relations, Division of 
The Division of Media & Public Relations responds to inquiries from the news media, issues news releases about important developments in programs and services, and provides public information and news of internal departmental events and policies.

Media Technology, Division of
The Division of Media Technology provides graphic art, publication and forms design services; enhanced audio-visual support, public service announcements (PSAs) and video production.

Construction Codes, Bureau of
The Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC) is responsible for the administration of the Construction Code Act, the Building Officials Registration Act, electrical, mechanical and plumbing licensing laws, as well as the boiler, elevator, and manufactured housing programs. The bureau also ensures an orderly and consistent review of subdivision plats and administers the statewide program of monumenting and remonumenting the original US government public land survey property. The State Boundary Commission within the bureau is responsible for adjudicating many types of municpal boundary adjustments.

Employment Relations, Bureau of
The Bureau of Employment Relations (BER) is responsible for resolving labor disputes between public and private sector employers and employees. The bureau works to ensure that the labor relations processes function well, thereby creating and promoting a positive labor climate in which businesses can thrive and grow, and employees prosper.

Fire Services, Bureau of
The Bureau of Fire Safety serves the training needs of Michigan firefighters; reviews plans and inspects state-regulated facilities for fire and life safety.

Aboveground and Underground Storage Tank Program 
This program is responsible for protecting the public health, environment and natural resources of Michigan from releases and fire safety hazards associated with storage tanks.

627 Tank Truck Program
Rule 627 Tank Truck Test Program: Act 451 of 1994, Part 55 requires that all delivery vessels perform a pressure/vacuum test annually. The administration of Rule 336.1627, delivery vessels, specifically the acceptance and verification of documentation requirements described in US EPA Method 27 is performed by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Health Care Services, Bureau of
The Bureau of Health Care Services regulates health professionals in Michigan who are licensed or registered. This bureau also deals with licensing of health care and long-term care facilities and related issues in Michigan. 

Health Facilities Division 
The Health Facilities Division oversees a number of state and federal licensing and certification programs for health care providers in Michigan. Hospitals, psychiatric facilities, hospice care facilities, freestanding surgical outpatient facilities (FSOF), rehabilitation facilities, and portable x-ray machines are also licensed by the Health Facilities Division. In addition, this division certifies ambulatory surgical centers (ASC), dialysis centers, and home-health centers.

Health Professions Division 
The Health Professions Division in conjunction with state licensing boards, regulates over 400,000 health professionals in Michigan who are licensed, registered, or certified under Articles 7 and 15 of the Michigan Public Health Code and pharmacy related facilities. The Health Professions Division also oversees the Michigan Medical Marihuana Program, the Michigan Automated Prescription System (MAPS) Program, and the Health Professional Recovery Program.

Long Term Care Division 
The Long Term Care Division is responsible for assuring that residents in Michigan's 440 nursing homes receive the highest quality of care and quality of life in accordance with all state and federal requirements. Survey and certification activities assure that vulnerable nursing home residents are protected from abuse, neglect, misappropriation of personal property, and inadequate or inappropriate care and services. The Long Term Care Division includes the Complaint and Allegations Section, responsible for receiving and responding to consumer complaints and facility reported incidents. Administrative functions related to data management, staff and provider training, and enforcement are located within the Long Term Care Division. Additionally, the Nurse Aide Registry Program and the Long Term Care Workforce Background Check Program are overseen within the Long Term Care Division as well.

Human Resources, Office of
The Office of Human Resources follows the guiding principles of collaboration, inclusion, integrity, and measurable outcomes to guide the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs in its mission to help Michigan reinvent its regulatory system so that Michigan continues to grow as a competitive state for business attraction.

Michigan Administrative Hearing System
Centralizes state government functions related to conducting administrative hearings including the following:

Michigan Compensation Appellate Commission 
As an appellate level quasi-judicial body, the Commission is the final administrative step of the unemployment compensation and worker's compensation cases.

Michigan Tax Tribunal 
The Michigan Tax Tribunal is a tax court with original and exclusive jurisdiction over property tax issues. Like other courts, the Tax Tribunal conducts hearings and renders written decisions based on the evidence submitted.

Qualifications Advisory Committee

Workers' Compensation Board of Magistrates 
Prompt and fair adjudication of injured workers' contested cases and adjudication of any other disputes that arise under the Workers' Disability Compensation Act.

Michigan Liquor Control Commission
Regulates the availability of alcoholic beverages for consumption while protecting the consumer and general public through regulation of the related industries.


Michigan Occupational Safety & Health Administration (MIOSHA)
Protects Michigan workers by promoting workplace safety and health through outreach training services, fair enforcement, and cooperative agreements.

          Radiation Safety Section 
          Responsible for all nonfederal, nontribal radiation machine and facility regulation in Michigan.

Wage & Hour Program 
Administers the laws that protect the wages and fringe benefits of Michigan's workers.

Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC)
Administers policies and regulations including rate setting, to ensure that energy, communications, and transportation services are provided in an efficient, reliable, and safe manner to adequately meet the needs of Michigan residents.

METRO Authority (Metropolitan Extension Telecommunications Rights-of-Way Oversight Act) 
Assess/collect fees from telecommunication providers to distribute to municipalities, promotes economic development, new technology and new jobs.

Policy & Legislative Affairs, Office of
Follows legislation affecting the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and its bureaus and serves as liaison between the Governor's Office of Regulatory Reinvention and bureaus on rule making issues.

Regulatory Reinvention, Office of
The primary goal of the Office of Regulatory Reinvention is to work with the various departments and agencies of state government to amend unnecessary or overly restrictive rules. This will lead to a regulatory environment that is simple, fair, efficient, transparent and conducive to business growth and job creation.

Services for Blind Persons, Bureau of
The Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP) helps more than 4,500 blind and visually impaired individuals annually to achieve employment and independence, and helps employers to find and retain qualified workers. MBSBP serves people of all ages.

Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) 
The Library provides a free talking book and Braille service to all Michigan residents who are unable to use standard print materials because of a temporary or permanent visual impairment or physical disability. The Library serves approximately 12,000 persons and circulates over 200,000 items annually. The Library of Congress National Library Service, pursuant to P.L. 85-522, administers the talking book program.

Unemployment Insurance Agency
The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) helps jobless workers and their families by providing a temporary income while the workers are unemployed and seeking new employment. Unemployment insurance helps employers by keeping a skilled work force on hand until jobs become available. It also aids the economy as unemployment insurance benefits are "high velocity" dollars that are used quickly to purchase local goods and services.

Utility Consumer Participation Board
The five-member Board provides grants to qualified applicants that represent the interests of Michigan's residential energy (gas, electric, and other fuel) utility customers at residential energy proceedings before the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Workers' Compensation Agency
Administers the Workers' Disability Compensation Act, which provides wage replacement, medical, and vocational rehabilitation benefits to men and women who suffer work-related injuries and disabilities. The Agency also assures compliance with the mandatory insurance provisions of the act to protect injured workers and to protect Michigan employers from unfair competition by those who are not in compliance.