A Resident's Guide to Ann Arbor's Local Ordinances

Ann Arbor is a mid-sized city in Washtenaw County, Michigan, with about 124000 residents. Like most cities its size, it has a set of local rules that may differ significantly from neighboring municipalities. Here is an overview of 85 ordinances across 25 categories that affect daily life in Ann Arbor.

Special Events & Permits

Parade Permits: Ann Arbor requires a City Administrator permit before organizing any parade of 25+ people or vehicles, or any street/sidewalk competitive event..

Also covered: Sidewalk Dining & Cafés (moderate), Street Fair Rules (restrictive), Park Event Permits (restrictive). See the full special events & permits guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Trash & Recycling

Illegal Dumping: Ann Arbor prohibits storing or leaving solid waste or containers anywhere but permitted locations, including the public right-of-way, under City Code Chapter 26: with escalating fines for repeat violations..

Also covered: Mandatory Organics Recycling (restrictive), Collection Schedule (moderate), Bin Placement Rules (moderate). See the full trash & recycling guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules

Encroachment Permits: Ann Arbor requires a revocable City Administrator permit before anyone occupies part of a public street or sidewalk with objects, structures or vendor equipment, judged against a detailed list of interference and safety conditions..

Also covered: Obstruction Rules (moderate), Sidewalk Repair (moderate). See the full sidewalk & pedestrian rules guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Rental Inspections

Inspection Programs: Ann Arbor inspects rental housing on an area basis, sweeping every regulated building in a neighborhood at once, rather than waiting only on tenant complaints, under Chapter 105..

Also covered: Tenant Complaint Process (moderate). See the full rental inspections guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Public Conduct

Public Urination: Ann Arbor's disorderly conduct code bans urinating or defecating on any public street, sidewalk, or building floor open to the public: a misdemeanor carrying up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine..

Also covered: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (restrictive), Loitering Rules (moderate), Loud Party Ordinance (moderate). See the full public conduct guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Building Safety

Lead Paint: Ann Arbor's Housing Code flatly bans lead paint in dwellings and cites peeling interior paint in food-prep or living areas, or 15%-plus peeling exterior paint, as a code violation..

Also covered: Building Permits (moderate), Carbon Monoxide Detectors (moderate), Plumbing Permits (moderate). See the full building safety guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Short-Term Rentals

Repeat Violator Strikes: Ann Arbor can suspend or revoke a short-term rental license after a single violation, false statement, or nuisance finding: there's no fixed strike count before enforcement starts..

Also covered: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (moderate), Extended Home Share (moderate), Host Presence Rule (moderate). See the full short-term rentals guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Animal Ordinances

Pet Store Rules: Ann Arbor bars pet stores from selling or transferring dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, long-lived birds, or large reptiles: stores may only host shelter and rescue adoptions, under the city's Chapter 92 Humane Pet Acquisition ordinance..

Also covered: Beekeeping (moderate), Dog Leash Laws (moderate), Cat Rules (moderate). See the full animal ordinances guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Landscaping Rules

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees: Ann Arbor gives its City Administrator sole authority over trees and shrubs in street rights-of-way, lawn extensions, and other city land, and bars anyone from planting, removing, or injuring them without written permission..

Also covered: Tree Trimming (moderate), Weed Ordinances (moderate), Rainwater Harvesting (permissive). See the full landscaping rules guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Parking Rules

Abandoned Vehicles: Ann Arbor lets the City Administrator tag a vehicle that appears abandoned on public or private property; if it's not moved within 48 hours it's deemed abandoned and can be taken into custody..

Also covered: Snow Removal Parking Rules (moderate), Preferential Parking Districts (moderate), Loading Zones (moderate). See the full parking rules guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Mobility & Curb Rules

Bike Lane Rules: Ann Arbor bars driving or parking a vehicle on a bicycle path or bicycle lane except in narrow exceptions like turning across it, and bans crossing a barrier-protected bike lane entirely except by personal mobility vehicle..

Noise Ordinances

Leaf Blower Rules: Ann Arbor bans gas-powered leaf blowers citywide every summer, June 1 to September 30, and phases them out completely starting January 1, 2028 under Chapter 75 of the city code..

Also covered: Aircraft Noise (permissive), Quiet Hours (moderate), Vehicle Noise (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Rental Property Rules

Rental Registration: Every owner of a rental dwelling or rooming unit in Ann Arbor must register with the Building Department before leasing it, listing their name, date of birth, both addresses, and the unit count..

Also covered: Repairs & Habitability (moderate). See the full rental property rules guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Property Maintenance

Property Blight: Ann Arbor declares any building meeting its dangerous-building criteria a public nuisance that the owner must repair, rehabilitate, or demolish under Chapter 101's abatement procedure..

Also covered: Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (moderate), Vacant Lot Maintenance (moderate). See the full property maintenance guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Soliciting & Door-to-Door

Solicitor Permits: Ann Arbor requires anyone soliciting or peddling door-to-door to obtain a city license first, per Chapter 79, with applications filed at least 72 hours before a license can issue..

Also covered: No-Knock Registry (moderate). See the full soliciting & door-to-door guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Noise from Specific Sources

Bar & Nightclub Noise: Ann Arbor bars and nightclubs cannot run amplified sound audible beyond the property line between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and daytime commercial noise is capped at 71 dB(A) under the city's noise ordinance..

Also covered: HVAC & Mechanical Noise (moderate), Delivery Truck Noise (moderate), Low-Frequency Bass Limits (moderate). See the full noise from specific sources guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors

Sidewalk & Mobile Vending: Ann Arbor requires a revocable permit from the City Administrator to occupy street or sidewalk space for selling goods, with fees running $1 per square foot annually or 5 cents daily..

Fire Regulations

Smoke Detectors: Ann Arbor's Housing Code bars renting out any dwelling unit lacking smoke or fire detectors and, in most one- and two-family homes, carbon monoxide detectors, with mandatory testing at every tenant change..

Also covered: Fire Pits & Backyard Fires (moderate), Outdoor Burning (restrictive), Fireworks (moderate). See the full fire regulations guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Public Health Rules

Rodent Control: Ann Arbor's Housing Code requires landlords treating an infested rental for pests to notify residents three calendar days in advance and disclose the chemicals used..

Curfew Laws

Park Curfew: Every city park in Ann Arbor closes at midnight and reopens at 6 a.m. under Chapter 39 of the City Code, unless City Council sets different posted hours for a specific park..

Environmental Rules

Vehicle Idling Restrictions: Ann Arbor bans commercial vehicles from idling at all while unoccupied and caps idling at 5 minutes per 60-minute period when occupied, under the citywide Idling Reduction Ordinance..

HOA Rules

CC&R Enforcement: Ann Arbor's chicken-keeping permit is void wherever it conflicts with private restrictions: deed restrictions, condo master deeds, HOA bylaws, and covenants override a city bird permit, and the city leaves enforcement of those private rules to the private parties..

Business Licensing & Operations

Towing Companies: Ann Arbor requires that any non-consent tow of a trespassing vehicle from private property be done only by a towing business under city contract, after the property owner signs a city-approved authorization form..

Also covered: Tobacco Retail License (moderate). See the full business licensing & operations guide for Ann Arbor for details.

Garage & Yard Sales

Frequency, Duration & Permits: Ann Arbor doesn't license yard sales, but its outdoor-storage nuisance law only excuses furniture set out for one if it's displayed 8 a.m.-6 p.m., watched, signed for sale, and out no more than 2 days in any 6-month stretch..

Code Violation Reporting

Common Violations: Ann Arbor's Building Official must publish a checklist of commonly recurring housing code violations so tenants, buyers, and landlords can inspect a property against the same standards city inspectors use..

What to Do With This Information

Think of this as a map of the regulatory landscape in Ann Arbor. For any rule that directly affects a decision you are making, click through to the full ordinance page for penalty details and exceptions, and confirm with the city if the stakes are high.