Farmington Hills's Property Maintenance: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles property maintenance a little differently. In Farmington Hills, Michigan, there are 5 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.

Snow & Sidewalk Clearing

Farmington Hills is unusual among Michigan cities in that the City does not plow or salt residential sidewalks and does not impose a citywide ordinance requiring residents to shovel adjoining sidewalks within a set number of hours after snowfall. The City's stated policy is that 'Given the frequency of thaws in Southeastern Michigan, pedestrians can safely use sidewalks throughout most of the winter.' However, under Code Sec. 26-82 (Maintenance), 'No person shall permit any sidewalk which adjoins property owned by such person to fall into a state of disrepair or to be unsafe,' which the City may enforce against persistently unsafe sidewalk conditions including ice that creates a hazard.

Key details: City Sidewalk Plowing: City does not plow or salt sidewalks. Hours-After-Snow Rule: No citywide strict ordinance (unusual for MI). General Duty (Code Sec. 26-82): Owner must not permit adjoining sidewalk to be unsafe / disrepair. Snow into Roadway: Prohibited (MCL 257.677a). Street Plowing Contact: Public Works 248-871-2850.

No citywide hours-based snow-shoveling ordinance to violate. Persistent unsafe sidewalk conditions may be cited under Code Sec. 26-82 (Maintenance). Shoveling snow into the public roadway is prohibited by state law (MCL 257.677a). Slip-and-fall premises-liability exposure is governed by Michigan common law (Kandil-Elsayed v. F & E Oil, Inc., Mich. 2023).

The rules around snow & sidewalk clearing in Farmington Hills lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Garage Sale Rules

Farmington Hills does not require a Special Event Permit or City business license for a residential garage / yard sale at a private residence. The City Clerk's Permits/Licenses page expressly states that 'A special event permit is not required for garage/yard sales at private residences.' Garage-sale signs on the host's own residential property are allowed without a City sign permit under Chapter 34 (Zoning) — off-premise / right-of-way signs are not. HOAs in many Farmington Hills subdivisions impose private CC&R rules on garage sales that the City does not enforce.

Key details: Special Event Permit: Not required for residential garage/yard sales (City Clerk). Frequency Cap: No specific Code cap; recurring/commercial scale = home occupation. Home Occupation Trigger: Code Sec. 34-4.15 (Home Occupations). Yard Sign on Own Property: Allowed without City sign permit (Ch. 34). Off-Premise / ROW Signs: Subject to removal by City or MDOT.

Recurring or commercial-scale 'garage sales' without home-occupation approval may be cited under Chapter 34 zoning. Off-premise or right-of-way signs may be removed by City staff or MDOT. Garage-sale parking that blocks fire lanes / hydrants or creates traffic hazards is a Chapter 19 / Chapter 26 violation. HOA violations are private civil matters.

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

Vacant Lot Maintenance

Under Farmington Hills Code Sections 17-26 through 17-31, every property owner — vacant or occupied — must keep weeds, grass, and other noxious vegetation under control. The City's Notice to Cut Grass and Weeds is issued each spring; the Zoning and Code Enforcement Division (248-871-2540) may cut the growth and charge the cost back to the owner, with a civil fine of up to $500. The rental-inspection standard in Chapter 7 Sec. 7-350 separately cites 'weeds and grass in excess of 8 inches' as a violation. State authority sits in MCL 247.61 (county noxious-weed authority) and the Michigan Noxious Weed Act, Act 359 of 1941 (MCL 247.61 et seq.).

Key details: Code Sections: Code Sec. 17-26 through 17-31 (Noxious Vegetation). Rental Threshold: Weeds & grass >8 inches (Sec. 7-350). Vacant + Occupied: Both subject to the same Sec. 17-26 to 17-31 rule. Abatement: City may cut and bill owner. Civil Fine: Up to $500.

Notice of Violation directing the owner to cut within a stated time; if owner fails to comply, the City may cut the growth and charge the cost back to the property as a lien. Civil fine of up to $500 under Sec. 17-26 through 17-31. Chapter 7 Sec. 7-354 sets penalties for inspected rental properties.

Property Blight

Farmington Hills enforces property blight under Chapter 17 of the Code of Ordinances, Sections 17-51 through 17-77, administered by the Planning Department's Zoning and Code Enforcement Division (248-871-2540). The City also enforces the 2015 International Property Maintenance Code through Chapter 7 (Buildings and Building Regulations), Article VIII, applied to single-family rental dwellings under Ordinance C-7-2014 and Sec. 7-350. Listed violations include accumulation of rubbish or garbage, disrepair of sidewalks and driveways, weeds and grass in excess of 8 inches, nuisance insect / rodent infestation, and inoperative or unlicensed vehicles.

Key details: Blight Sections: Code Ch. 17, Sec. 17-51 through 17-77. Property Maintenance (Rentals): Ch. 7 Art. VIII; Ord. C-7-2014; 2015 IPMC adopted by reference. Rental Inspection Trigger Items: Sec. 7-350 (rubbish, stagnant water, sidewalk disrepair, weeds >8", pests, junk vehicles). Noxious Vegetation: Sec. 17-26 to 17-31; up to $500 civil fine; City may cut and bill owner. Sidewalk Owner Liability: Sec. 26-82 — owner must not permit adjoining sidewalk to fall into disrepair.

Notice of Violation followed by correction deadline; City may abate noxious vegetation and charge cost back to the property under Sec. 17-26 through 17-31 with civil fines up to $500. Chapter 7 Sec. 7-354 sets the violation and penalty for rental-property property-maintenance violations. Chapter 17 blight violations carry civil infraction penalties under the City's general penalty schedule (Sec. 1-15). Repeated or willful violations may be charged as municipal civil infractions in the 47th District Court.

Trash Bin Storage

Residential garbage and recycling in Farmington Hills is collected weekly by Priority Waste under contract with the City. Carts may be placed at the curb no earlier than 6:00 PM the day before collection and must be removed within 12 hours after collection. Pickup runs 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Acceptable containers are 95-gallon Priority Waste carts, 10-35 gallon metal/plastic cans (under 60 lbs), or 10-30 gallon plastic bags (under 40 lbs). Cardboard boxes are not acceptable containers. Contact the Division of Public Works at 248-871-2850 for missed pickups, damaged carts, or bulk-item collection.

Key details: Hauler: Priority Waste (City contract). Collection Frequency: Weekly (varies by address; see City trash-day map). Earliest Curb Placement: 6:00 PM the day before collection. Latest Removal After Pickup: 12 hours. Collection Window: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM.

Carts left at the curb more than 12 hours after collection, carts in poor repair, or accumulations of rubbish in or around the cart can be cited under Chapter 17 (Nuisances) or Chapter 7 Sec. 7-350 (rental properties). Civil infractions follow the City's general penalty schedule (Sec. 1-15). For service-related issues (missed pickup, damaged cart, bulk items) contact Priority Waste or the Division of Public Works at 248-871-2850 first.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Farmington Hills gives residents more room on property maintenance. 2 of the 5 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

This guide is based on Farmington Hills's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.