How Farmington Hills Handles Environmental Rules: A Practical Guide

Farmington Hills maintains 106 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with environmental rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Farmington Hills falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Flood Zones

Farmington Hills participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and regulates floodplain development under the local zoning ordinance (Chapter 34) in conjunction with EGLE floodplain review under Part 31 of NREPA, MCL 324.3101 et seq. (Floodplain Regulatory Authority MCL 324.3104 / 324.30301). Mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) follow the Rouge River and its tributaries through the City — including the Main Branch, Middle Rouge, Upper Rouge, Tarabusi Creek, and Minnow Pond Drain corridors. Use Oakland County's Property Gateway floodplain GIS or the FEMA Map Service Center to identify your flood zone, and contact the Farmington Hills Building Division at (248) 871-2450 before any floodplain work.

Key details: NFIP Participation: Yes — community floodplain management ordinance. State Authority: NREPA Part 31 + MCL 324.30301 (Part 301). EGLE Rules: R 323.1311 to R 323.1317 (Floodplain Permits). Base Flood: 1% annual chance (100-year) per effective FIRM. Substantial Improvement: 50% of pre-improvement market value (44 CFR 59.1).

Building, filling, grading, or substantially improving a structure inside the 100-year FEMA floodplain without the required local permit and (where applicable) EGLE Floodplain Permit violates the Farmington Hills zoning ordinance and is enforceable as a municipal civil infraction under Chapter 1 § 1-15 with civil fines, Stop Work orders, mandatory restoration, and withholding of the certificate of occupancy. EGLE enforcement under Part 31 of NREPA (MCL 324.3115) and the Floodplain Regulatory Authority exposes the violator to civil penalties up to $25,000 per day per violation and injunctive relief. Federal consequences are severe: a non-compliant structure can jeopardize the entire community's NFIP eligibility (FEMA suspension); the specific property can be subject to FEMA Section 1316 denial of flood insurance under 42 U.S.C. 4022; the owner can be disqualified from federal disaster assistance under the Stafford Act; and lenders generally will not close on properties in the SFHA without a compliant elevation certificate.

Compared to other cities, Farmington Hills takes a harder line on flood zones. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Stormwater Management

Farmington Hills is a Phase II Jurisdictional MS4 community in the Rouge River watershed regulated under EGLE NPDES General Permit MIS040000 and is a Primary Member of the Alliance of Rouge Communities (ARC). Local stormwater authority is codified in Chapter 33 (Water and Sewers), Article IX — Stormwater Management of the Farmington Hills Code of Ordinances and administered by the Department of Public Services / Engineering Division at (248) 871-2560. The City has adopted a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) under the MS4 general permit and runs an Illicit Discharge Elimination Plan (IDEP), public education through Project Rouge River at Home, and post-construction stormwater controls.

Key details: Local Code: Ch. 33 Art. IX — Stormwater Management. State Permit: EGLE NPDES MIS040000 (Jurisdictional MS4). State Authority: NREPA Part 31, MCL 324.3101 et seq.. Federal Authority: Clean Water Act 33 U.S.C. 1342 / 40 CFR 122.34. Watershed: Rouge River (Middle, Upper, Main subwatersheds).

Violations of Chapter 33 Article IX of the Farmington Hills Code are enforceable as municipal civil infractions under Chapter 1, Section 1-15 of the Code, with civil fines and injunctive relief in the 47th District Court. Illicit discharges to the MS4 are independently prohibited and can trigger EGLE enforcement under Part 31 of NREPA (MCL 324.3115) with civil penalties up to $25,000 per day per violation and injunctive remedies. Sediment-laden runoff discharging to Rouge River tributaries can also trigger Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner (WRC) Part 91 (Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control) enforcement. Federal Clean Water Act enforcement under 33 U.S.C. 1319 exposes a violator to civil penalties up to $66,712 per day per violation (2024 adjustment) and criminal penalties for knowing violations. Failure to implement the SWMP under MIS040000 can result in EGLE administrative consent orders and additional permit conditions for the City — which would be passed through to non-compliant landowners and contractors as Stop Work orders and certificate-of-occupancy withholding.

This is one of the stricter rules in Farmington Hills's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Grading & Drainage

Grading and drainage in Farmington Hills are regulated through the Engineering Design Standards (Department of Public Services / Engineering Division), Chapter 33 Article IX of the Code (Stormwater Management), and the Part 91 Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control program administered by the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner. Post-construction stormwater controls — detention basins, bioretention, sand filters, infiltration trenches — must be sized to match the EGLE NPDES MS4 General Permit MIS040000 requirements and the Alliance of Rouge Communities Rouge River Watershed Management Plan. Drainage that crosses neighbor property lines also implicates the Michigan Drain Code (Act 40 of 1956, MCL 280.1 et seq.) and the Oakland County WRC's jurisdiction over established county drains.

Key details: Governing Documents: FH Engineering Design Standards + Ch. 33 Art. IX. State SESC Authority: NREPA Part 91 (MCL 324.9101 et seq.). MS4 Permit: EGLE NPDES MIS040000. County Drain Authority: Michigan Drain Code, MCL 280.1 et seq.. Runoff Treatment: First 0.5 inch of impervious-area runoff (typical).

Unauthorized grading or drainage alterations are enforceable as municipal civil infractions under Chapter 1 § 1-15 of the Farmington Hills Code, with Stop Work orders, civil fines, mandatory restoration, and withholding of the certificate of occupancy. Discharge or fill that violates an established county drain under the Michigan Drain Code (MCL 280.1 et seq.) is enforceable by the Oakland County WRC with civil and criminal remedies including restoration at the violator's expense. Part 91 SESC violations are misdemeanors under MCL 324.9121 with fines up to $25,000 per day and up to 90 days' imprisonment. Failure to install or maintain post-construction SCMs as approved exposes the operator to EGLE enforcement under Part 31 (MCL 324.3115) with civil penalties up to $25,000 per day, and federal Clean Water Act enforcement under 33 U.S.C. 1319 up to $66,712 per day (2024 adjustment). Concentrated runoff that floods or undermines a neighbor's property can expose the owner to nuisance, trespass, and negligence liability under Michigan common law.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Farmington Hills actively enforces its grading & drainage requirements.

Erosion Control

Soil erosion and sedimentation control (SESC) in Farmington Hills is administered under Part 91 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, MCL 324.9101 et seq., with permit issuance and inspection delegated to the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner (WRC) for projects in Farmington Hills. A Part 91 SESC permit is REQUIRED for any earth change disturbing one (1) or more acres OR any earth change occurring within 500 feet of a lake, stream, wetland, or drain — including the Rouge River and its tributaries. Smaller residential sites are administered by the Farmington Hills Engineering Division. Soil erosion and silt must be controlled and contained on site.

Key details: State Authority: NREPA Part 91, MCL 324.9101 to 324.9123. Permit Trigger: 1 acre OR within 500 ft of water of the state. Permit Issuer: Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner. Residential Submittal: FH Building Division — (248) 871-2450. Engineering Review: FH Engineering — (248) 871-2560.

Earth changes initiated without a required Part 91 SESC permit, or that fail to maintain approved erosion controls, are enforceable by the Oakland County WRC under MCL 324.9119 with civil fines, mandatory restoration, Stop Work orders, and forfeiture of the performance bond. Part 91 violations are also enforceable as misdemeanors under MCL 324.9121 punishable by fines up to $25,000 per day per violation and up to 90 days' imprisonment. Sites of one (1) acre or more operating without NPDES Construction Storm Water Permit coverage face EGLE enforcement under Part 31 of NREPA (MCL 324.3115) with civil penalties up to $25,000 per day. Discharge of sediment to a Rouge River tributary triggers federal Clean Water Act exposure up to $66,712 per day (2024 adjustment) under 33 U.S.C. 1319. Locally, violations of the Farmington Hills Engineering Design Standards and Chapter 33 Article IX stormwater rules are enforceable as municipal civil infractions under Chapter 1 § 1-15 with Stop Work orders and withholding of the certificate of occupancy.

Compared to other cities, Farmington Hills takes a harder line on erosion control. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Farmington Hills is tougher than many cities when it comes to environmental rules. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 4 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Farmington Hills, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Farmington Hills'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.