Landscaping Rules in Dearborn, MI (2026)
4 verified landscaping rules for Dearborn, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Dearborn Street Tree Clearance Standards
Some RestrictionsDearborn Zoning Ordinance § 5.02(B)(3)
Encroachment into the public rights-of-way. Landscaping shall not become a safety hazard by obscuring the visibility and accessibility of drivers, bicyclists or pedestrians. New landscaping adjacent to roads and rights-of-way shall comply with the following minimum clearance requirements: (a) Trees shall comply with the following minimum lateral clearance requirements, as measured from the cent...
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.
Dearborn Tree Removal Permit Requirement
Some RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 12-1104
The removal or relocation of any tree with a DBH of 12 inches or greater on any property without first obtaining a tree removal permit shall be prohibited. A property owner may remove a tree located on their property subject to all applicable requirements of this article, including but not limited to the permit requirement of this section. (b) Fee. A non-refundable fee of $125.00 shall be ...
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.
Dearborn Lawn Grass Height Limit
Some RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 11-158
Every owner or occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall be responsible for maintaining the exterior of the building. Such maintenance shall include, but is not limited to: (1) Maintaining lawn so as to prevent tall grass, vegetation and weeds in the front yard, side yard, rear yard, adjacent rights-of-way and easements. Six inches or more in length shall constitute a violation of this arti...
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.
Dearborn Mandatory Yard Waste Composting
Some RestrictionsDearborn Code of Ordinances § 16-7(b)
Mandatory composting. All persons who are owners, lessees, or occupants of any site of generation shall separate yard waste from solid waste and place the yard waste for pickup on the scheduled collection day. This provision shall become effective 30 days after notice to persons who are owners, lessees or occupants of any site of generation of the city's contractor assuming such pickup responsi...
Looking for Wayne County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Dearborn city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Wayne County →