Parking Rules in Farmington Hills, MI: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Farmington Hills or are thinking about moving there, parking rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Farmington Hills has 11 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of parking rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Curb Color Rules

Curb markings on Farmington Hills public streets are installed and maintained only by the City of Farmington Hills Department of Public Services under federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) standards as adopted through Chapter 30 (Traffic and Motor Vehicles) of the City Code. Private property owners may not paint, alter, or add markings to a public curb. Underlying Michigan Vehicle Code distance setbacks under MCL 257.674 apply at all times whether or not the curb is painted: no stopping, standing, or parking within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, in an intersection, on a sidewalk, on a crosswalk, in front of a driveway, or within thirty feet of a flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic-control signal at the side of a roadway.

Key details: Marking Authority: City DPS / Traffic Ops only. Hydrant Setback: 15 feet (MCL 257.674). Crosswalk Setback: 20 feet at intersection. Signal/Stop Sign Setback: 30 feet. Resident Curb Paint: Not permitted.

Painting, repainting, or altering a public curb in Farmington Hills without City authorization is unauthorized work in the public right-of-way and may require restoration to City standards at the property owner's expense plus civil penalties. Parking within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, in an intersection, on a sidewalk, on a crosswalk, in front of a public or private driveway, within thirty feet of a flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic-control signal at the side of a roadway, or at any place where official signs prohibit stopping violates Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674 as enforced through Farmington Hills Code Chapter 30.

RV & Boat Parking

Farmington Hills regulates recreational vehicle (RV), boat, trailer, and recreational equipment parking primarily through its Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 34) and through Chapter 30 (Traffic and Motor Vehicles) for on-street parking. The City's Common Zoning Ordinances index lists Section 34-4.14 as the governing accessory-use provision for commercial vehicles on residential lots, with parallel recreational-equipment standards in the residential-district accessory use provisions. On the on-street side, Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674-682 governs stopping, standing, and parking on Farmington Hills public streets, and MCL 257.252a authorizes removal of an abandoned vehicle that has remained on public property for forty-eight hours or more.

Key details: Primary Authority: Zoning Ordinance Chapter 34. State Parking Rules: MCL 257.674. Abandoned-Vehicle Window: 48 hours (MCL 257.252a). Hydrant Setback: 15 feet (MCL 257.674). Zoning Division: (248) 871-2520.

Storing an RV, boat, boat trailer, or other recreational equipment in the front yard of a Farmington Hills residential property beyond short loading/unloading windows violates the residential-district accessory use provisions of the City's Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 34) and is enforceable by the Zoning Division. Parking an RV, boat, or trailer on a Farmington Hills public street within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, on a sidewalk, in front of a public or private driveway, in an intersection, or within thirty feet of a stop sign or traffic-control signal violates Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674. Leaving an RV, boat, or trailer on Farmington Hills public property for forty-eight hours or more allows the vehicle to be taken into custody as an abandoned vehicle under MCL 257.252a. Subdivisions with recorded HOA covenants enforce additional RV/boat restrictions privately.

Driveway Rules

Driveway approaches and curb cuts in the Farmington Hills public right-of-way require a permit from the City of Farmington Hills Department of Public Services / Engineering Division. On-lot driveway and front-yard parking standards live in the Farmington Hills Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 34) and are enforced by the Planning and Community Development Department, Zoning Division. Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674 prohibits parking in front of a public or private driveway, on a sidewalk, in an intersection, within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, on a crosswalk, or within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, and these statewide setbacks are enforced on Farmington Hills streets by the Farmington Hills Police Department.

Key details: Curb Cut Permit: Required (DPS / Engineering). On-Lot Standards: Zoning Ordinance Chapter 34. Sidewalk/Driveway Blocking: Prohibited (MCL 257.674). Hydrant Setback: 15 feet (MCL 257.674). Zoning Division: (248) 871-2520.

Parking across a public sidewalk, blocking a private driveway, or parking on the curb apron in Farmington Hills is a parking violation enforceable under Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674. Constructing or widening a driveway approach or curb cut in the City of Farmington Hills right-of-way without a permit from the Department of Public Services / Engineering Division is a separate violation that may require restoration to City standards plus civil penalties. On-lot driveway surfacing, dimensional, and front-yard parking standards that violate the Farmington Hills Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 34) are enforceable by the Zoning Division at (248) 871-2520.

Street Parking Limits

On-street parking in Farmington Hills is governed by Chapter 30 (Traffic and Motor Vehicles) of the City Code, with Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674-682 supplying the underlying distance setbacks and prohibited-place rules. MCL 257.674 prohibits stopping, standing, or parking within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, in any intersection, on a sidewalk, in front of a public or private driveway, or within thirty feet of a flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic-control signal at the side of a roadway. Posted local signs control where time limits, no-parking zones, or permit requirements apply. Enforcement is by the Farmington Hills Police Department.

Key details: Primary Code: Farmington Hills Code Ch. 30. State Rule: MCL 257.674-682. Hydrant Setback: 15 feet. Crosswalk Setback: 20 feet at intersection. Signal/Stop Sign Setback: 30 feet.

Stopping, standing, or parking on a Farmington Hills street within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, in any intersection, on a sidewalk, on a crosswalk, in front of a public or private driveway, within thirty feet of a flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic-control signal at the side of a roadway, or at any place where official signs prohibit stopping violates Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674 as enforced through Farmington Hills Code Chapter 30. Exceeding a posted time limit, parking in a posted no-parking zone, or otherwise violating local signed restrictions is a separate Chapter 30 parking infraction enforced by the Farmington Hills Police Department.

Overnight Parking

Farmington Hills does not advertise a single citywide overnight on-street parking ban for properly registered passenger vehicles, but the practical constraint is Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.252a, which treats a vehicle that has remained on public property for forty-eight hours or more as an abandoned vehicle subject to being taken into custody. The City also expects vehicles not to park on the street or over the sidewalk during or after a snowfall so that plows and emergency vehicles can pass. MCL 257.674 distance setbacks - fifteen feet from a fire hydrant, twenty feet from a crosswalk at an intersection, no parking in intersections, on sidewalks, or in front of driveways - apply at all hours.

Key details: Citywide Overnight Ban: No single flat ban. Abandoned-Vehicle Window: 48 hours (MCL 257.252a). Snow Operations Guidance: Don't park on street during snowfall. State Setbacks: Apply 24/7 (MCL 257.674). Police Non-Emergency: (248) 871-2600.

Leaving a vehicle on Farmington Hills public property for forty-eight hours or more allows the vehicle to be taken into custody as an abandoned vehicle under MCL 257.252a, with the Farmington Hills Police Traffic Safety Section coordinating the impoundment and Secretary of State notification. Parking overnight within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, in an intersection, on a sidewalk, in front of a driveway, within thirty feet of a stop sign or traffic-control signal at the side of a roadway, or in any place where official signs prohibit stopping violates Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674. Parking that obstructs snow-plowing or emergency-vehicle access during or after a snowfall may result in towing under the City's snow operations.

Abandoned Vehicles

Abandoned vehicles in Farmington Hills are handled under Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.252a, which treats a vehicle that has remained on public property for a period of not less than forty-eight hours as an abandoned vehicle subject to being taken into custody by a police agency. Within twenty-four hours after the vehicle is taken into custody, law enforcement must enter the vehicle as abandoned into the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) and notify the Secretary of State, which then notifies the registered owner. The Farmington Hills Police Department Traffic Safety Section assists private property owners with the removal of abandoned vehicles left on their property; the vehicles are removed only at the request of the property owner.

Key details: State Statute: MCL 257.252a. Abandonment Window: 48 hours on public property. LEIN Entry / SOS Notice: Within 24 hours of custody. Owner Hearing Window: 20 days. FH Police Non-Emergency: (248) 871-2600.

Leaving a vehicle on Farmington Hills public property for forty-eight hours or more makes the vehicle subject to being taken into custody as an abandoned vehicle under Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.252a, with administrative, towing, and storage costs assessed to the registered owner. Failing to retrieve an impounded abandoned vehicle within twenty days of the Secretary of State's notice results in sale of the vehicle at public auction by the towing custodian under MCL 257.252a. Storing an inoperable or unlicensed vehicle on private residential property in Farmington Hills is a separate zoning code-enforcement matter handled by the Zoning Division.

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.

Commercial Vehicle Restrictions

Farmington Hills regulates commercial vehicle parking on residential property through the City Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 34) accessory-use provisions. The City's Common Zoning Ordinances page identifies Section 34-4.14 as the operative provision governing commercial vehicles parked as an accessory to a one-family dwelling. Zoning Board of Appeals practice has applied Section 34-4.14(3) to commercial vehicles parked accessory to a single-family dwelling, with vehicle classification driven by physical characteristics and size under the City's code definitions. On the on-street side, Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674 distance setbacks apply to commercial vehicles citywide.

Key details: Operative Section: Zoning Ord. Sec. 34-4.14. Classification Basis: Physical characteristics and size. Variance Authority: Zoning Board of Appeals. State Distance Rules: MCL 257.674. Zoning Division: (248) 871-2520.

Parking a commercial vehicle as an accessory use to a one-family dwelling in violation of Section 34-4.14 of the Farmington Hills Zoning Ordinance - whether due to size, height, number of vehicles, or location on the lot - is a zoning violation enforceable by the Zoning Division. A property owner who wishes to exceed the Section 34-4.14 limits must apply for a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Parking a commercial vehicle on a Farmington Hills public street within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, in an intersection, on a sidewalk, in front of a driveway, or within thirty feet of a stop sign or traffic-control signal violates Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674.

Oversized Vehicle Parking

Farmington Hills regulates oversized vehicles primarily through zoning. Section 34-4.14 of the City Zoning Ordinance governs commercial vehicles parked as an accessory to a one-family dwelling, with vehicle classification driven by the City code's physical-characteristics-and-size definitions per Zoning Board of Appeals practice. The residential-district accessory use provisions of the Zoning Ordinance regulate RVs, boats, trailers, and other recreational equipment in the side and rear yards, with height-based setback rules for equipment exceeding six feet. On the public right-of-way, Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674 distance setbacks and the MCL 257.252a forty-eight-hour abandoned-vehicle window apply citywide.

Key details: Commercial Vehicles: Zoning Ord. Sec. 34-4.14. Classification Basis: Physical characteristics and size. Recreational Equipment: Side/rear yard required. Height Threshold: 6 ft setback applies. Abandonment Window: 48 hours (MCL 257.252a).

Parking a commercial vehicle as an accessory use to a one-family dwelling in Farmington Hills in violation of Section 34-4.14 of the City Zoning Ordinance - whether due to size, height, number of vehicles, or location on the lot - is a zoning violation enforceable by the Zoning Division. Storing recreational equipment exceeding six feet in height without the required rear/side-yard setbacks, or in the front yard beyond short loading/unloading windows, violates the residential-district accessory use provisions. Leaving an oversized vehicle, RV, or trailer on Farmington Hills public property for forty-eight hours or more allows the vehicle to be taken into custody as an abandoned vehicle under MCL 257.252a. MCL 257.674 distance setbacks apply at all times regardless of vehicle size.

EV Charging

Michigan has not enacted a statewide HOA/condominium 'right to charge' law for electric vehicles, so Farmington Hills residents in subdivisions and condominium associations remain bound by their governing documents on EV charging installations. The City has not adopted a standalone EV ordinance; home Level 2 chargers are permitted as electrical work under the locally adopted code through the City of Farmington Hills Building Division. The State of Michigan provides public EV charging stations in multiple locations within Farmington Hills, and parking a non-EV in a clearly signed EV charging-only space is enforceable through the property's signage and posted rules.

Key details: MI Right-to-Charge Law: None statewide. City EV Ordinance: None standalone. Home Install Permit: FH Building Division. Code Basis: Adopted Michigan Electrical Code. Public Stations Citywide: 50+ ports.

Installing a Level 2 (240V) home EV charger in Farmington Hills without an electrical permit issued through the City Building Division is a code violation that may require after-the-fact permitting plus inspection fees. Parking a non-EV in a clearly signed EV charging-only space on private property is enforceable through the property's posted signage and rules. HOA and condominium restrictions on EV chargers in private subdivisions and associations remain enforceable in the absence of a statewide Michigan 'right to charge' law, so installing a charger without HOA approval in a deed-restricted subdivision can result in private enforcement action by the association.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Farmington Hills gives residents more flexibility on ev charging.

Snow Removal Parking Rules

Farmington Hills places responsibility for sidewalk snow and ice removal on the abutting property owner or occupant. The City does not plow or salt sidewalks and has adopted a policy of not providing snow and ice control for the City's sidewalk network; residents are expected to clear snow and ice from sidewalks bordering their property as soon as a snowfall has ended. The City asks residents not to park on the street or over the sidewalk during or after a snowfall so that snowplows and emergency vehicles can pass. Local streets are plowed edge to edge and spot de-iced after major roads are cleared; plowing and clean-up operations continue twelve- to fifteen-hour days, seven days per week, until all local streets have been cleared. A snow emergency may be declared during major events, prohibiting all on-street parking.

Key details: Sidewalk Clearing: Property owner / occupant. Clearing Trigger: As soon as snowfall ends. City Sidewalk Plowing: None - no City sidewalk service. Snow Emergency: All on-street parking banned. DPS Contact: (248) 871-2850.

Failing to clear snow and ice from the public sidewalk bordering your Farmington Hills property as soon as a snowfall has ended violates City policy and is subject to City code enforcement, particularly where pedestrian safety is impaired. Parking on the street or over the sidewalk during or after a snowfall, where it obstructs snowplowing operations or emergency-vehicle access, may result in citation or towing in addition to the standard Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674 setbacks. Parking on any Farmington Hills street during a declared snow emergency, when all on-street parking is prohibited, is a violation. Shoveling snow from a sidewalk or driveway back into the traveled portion of the roadway creates a hazard and may be addressed by City code enforcement.

Loading Zones

Loading zones in Farmington Hills are installed and signed by the City Department of Public Services under Chapter 30 (Traffic and Motor Vehicles) of the City Code, following federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) standards. Off-street loading and unloading space requirements for nonresidential development live in the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 34). Loading vehicles must still comply with Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674 distance setbacks: fifteen feet from a fire hydrant, twenty feet from a crosswalk at an intersection, no stopping on sidewalks, in intersections, on crosswalks, or in front of driveways, and thirty feet from a flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic-control signal at the side of a roadway.

Key details: On-Street Authority: FH Code Ch. 30. Off-Street Requirement: Zoning Ord. Ch. 34. State Distance Rules: MCL 257.674. Hydrant Setback: 15 feet during loading. Signage Standard: Federal MUTCD.

Parking a non-delivery vehicle in a signed loading zone outside the active loading window or beyond the posted time allowance is a citable parking infraction under Chapter 30 (Traffic and Motor Vehicles) of the City Code. Loading vehicles must still comply with Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674 distance restrictions: no stopping within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, on sidewalks, in intersections, on crosswalks, in front of driveways, or within thirty feet of a flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic-control signal at the side of a roadway. Failing to provide required off-street loading spaces for a nonresidential use that needs them violates the Farmington Hills Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 34), enforceable by the Zoning Division at (248) 871-2520.

The Bottom Line

Farmington Hills's parking 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 Farmington Hills is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Farmington Hills's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.