Landscaping Rules in Dearborn, MI

If you live in Dearborn or are thinking about moving there, landscaping rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Dearborn has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of landscaping rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Composting

Dearborn requires every owner, lessee or occupant to separate yard waste, leaves, grass clippings, organic debris, from regular trash and set it out for pickup on the scheduled collection day under the city's mandatory composting rule.

Key details: Who must comply: Every owner, lessee, occupant. What's separated: Yard waste from trash. Yard waste means: Leaves, grass, organic debris. Container: 32-gallon bin or paper bag. Effective trigger: 30 days after city notice.

Section 16-7 itself carries no separate fine; DPW's collection rules under § 16-4 govern enforcement, and a cart mixing yard waste with trash can be left uncollected as noncompliant.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Property owners in Dearborn must obtain a $125 tree removal permit from the Department of Economic Development before removing or relocating any tree 12 inches DBH or greater, subject to district-specific review standards and a 21-day appeal window.

Key details: Permit fee: $125 non-refundable. DBH threshold: 12 inches or greater. Review agency: Dept. of Economic Development. Appeal window: 21 days after denial. Stump removal: 6 inches below grade, 90 days.

Removing a tree 12+ inches DBH without a permit is a civil infraction: $250 fine plus costs, $500 for a repeat within 6 months, and a misdemeanor (up to 93 days jail) on a third violation within 12 months.

Tree Trimming

Dearborn's zoning ordinance sets exact clearance heights for trees and shrubs near roads: 14 feet over roadways, 7 feet over sidewalks, and 10 feet over bike paths, plus 5-foot lateral setbacks from the road, sidewalk, and fire hydrants. Sec. 5.02(B)(3) requires owners to keep landscaping trimmed so it never obstructs the right-of-way or blocks sightlines.

Key details: Roadway vertical clearance: 14 feet minimum. Sidewalk vertical clearance: 7 feet minimum. Bike path vertical clearance: 10 feet minimum. Tree lateral setback: 5 feet from road, hydrant, sidewalk. Root-damage setback: 15 feet from roadways, sewers, utilities.

Zoning violations, including landscaping that overgrows the Sec. 5.02(B)(3) clearance limits, are misdemeanors under Sec. 32.09: a fine up to $500.00, imprisonment up to 90 days, or both, with each day the encroachment continues counted as a separate offense. The city attorney can also go to circuit court for an injunction or abatement order, and property owners, architects, contractors, and agents who maintain the violation can each be charged separately.

Weed Ordinances

Dearborn homeowners and occupants must keep lawns under six inches. City Code § 11-158 makes tall grass, vegetation, and weeds in any yard or adjacent easement a code violation under the Minimum Housing Standards.

Key details: Max grass height: 6 inches. Applies to: Front, side, rear yard. Also covers: Adjacent rights-of-way, easements. Responsible party: Owner or occupant.

A code violation under § 11-158; the city's housing inspectors issue notices requiring the owner or occupant to cut grass, vegetation, or weeds back below six inches, with citations for noncompliance.

The Bottom Line

Dearborn's landscaping rules 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 Dearborn is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Dearborn can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.