Sterling Heights's Building Safety: The Rules That Matter
Every city handles building safety a little differently. In Sterling Heights, Michigan, there are 6 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.
Building Permits
Decorative decks in Sterling Heights may project up to 15 feet into the required rear yard if they clear easements, meet side-yard setbacks, and sit at least 10 feet from any detached accessory building, on top of the standard permits.
Key details: Deck rear-yard projection: up to 15 ft. Accessory-building clearance: 10 ft minimum. Porch/patio projection (§28.10.B): up to 10-15 ft. Permits required: building + zoning compliance.
A deck or patio that exceeds the permitted projection or setback violates the zoning ordinance; § 33.00.B treats each day of noncompliance as a separate offense, punishable by up to $500, 90 days imprisonment, or both.
Plumbing Permits
The Michigan Plumbing Code governs plumbing work in Sterling Heights under City Code § 11-58, enforced by the city's Building Official as the state-designated agency. Homeowners also face recurring Property Maintenance Code duties, like triennial backflow preventer testing, under § 11-87.
Key details: Governing section: City Code § 11-58. Adopted code: Michigan Plumbing Code (state-promulgated). Enforcing agency: City Building Official or designee. Backflow test cycle: Every 3 years, PMC § 302.14. Violation type: Municipal civil infraction, § 11-8.
Under § 11-8, knowingly violating the Michigan Plumbing Code or any of its enforcement rules, doing work outside the terms of an issued permit, disobeying a lawful order from the enforcing agency or a board of appeals, filing a false inspection statement, or refusing an inspector lawful entry is a municipal civil infraction, with a civil fine set under § 1-26 of the City Code plus any costs, damages, and expenses the Michigan Construction Code Act authorizes. Both the Building Official's enforcing agency and the Sterling Heights Police Department may issue the citations.
Green Building Code
Sterling Heights doesn't mandate green construction citywide, but within Corridor Improvement Authority Development Areas the Plan Review Committee encourages builders to follow LEED Green Building Rating System principles during site plan review.
Key details: Applies to: Corridor Improvement Authority Development Areas only. Standard referenced: LEED Green Building Rating System. Reviewing body: Plan Review Committee (site plan review). Mandate status: Encouraged, not required citywide. Governing section: Zoning Ordinance Section 22.04(C).
No fines apply: this is a design-review encouragement, not a mandate. Outside Development Areas, or for projects that skip LEED principles, the city imposes no green-building penalty or code violation.
Sterling Heights is more permissive than most cities when it comes to green building code. That said, there are still limits.
Building Inspections
Sterling Heights requires multifamily balconies, decks, and similar structures more than 10 years old to be inspected and re-certified by a licensed structural engineer every five years under the city's Property Maintenance Code.
Key details: Trigger age: Building over 10 years old. Re-inspection cycle: Every 5 years. Inspector required: Licensed structural engineer. First report deadline: September 1, 2020. Scope: Floor joists, flooring, guardrails.
Required repairs must go through the city's permitting process on a timeline the Building Official sets by severity; balconies in significant distress can be ordered barricaded until repairs are complete.
Childcare Center Rules
Child and adult day care centers need Planning Commission special-approval in Sterling Heights, with a minimum 15,000 sq ft parcel and a fenced outdoor play area.
Key details: Approval type: Planning Commission special approval. Minimum parcel size: 15,000 square feet. Outdoor play space: 5,000 sq ft, 6-ft fence. Max lot coverage: 30% of structures.
Operating a day care center without Planning Commission special-approval, or violating an approved site's conditions, is a zoning violation enforceable through the City's zoning ordinance enforcement and site-plan compliance process.
Electrical Permits
The Michigan Electrical Code governs all wiring work in Sterling Heights under City Code § 11-34, enforced by the city's Building Official as the state-designated enforcing agency. Knowing violations of the code or a permit's terms are municipal civil infractions under § 11-8, fined per the § 1-26 schedule.
Key details: Governing section: City Code § 11-34. Adopted code: Michigan Electrical Code (state-promulgated). Enforcing agency: City Building Official or designee. Violation type: Municipal civil infraction, § 11-8. Fine authority: City Code § 1-26 schedule.
Under § 11-8, a person, corporation, officer, or government official who knowingly violates the Michigan Electrical Code or any enforcement rule, builds outside the terms of an issued permit, disobeys a lawful order from the enforcing agency or a board of appeals, files a false or misleading inspection statement, refuses an inspector lawful entry, or knowingly conceals a violation is responsible for a municipal civil infraction and a civil fine under § 1-26 of the City Code, plus costs, damages, and expenses authorized by the Michigan Construction Code Act. The Building Official's enforcing agency and the Sterling Heights Police Department may both issue citations.
The Bottom Line
Sterling Heights's building safety rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Sterling Heights is broadly strict or permissive.
All of the above reflects Sterling Heights's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.