Fire Regulations in Farmington Hills, MI (2026)
8 verified fire regulations for Farmington Hills, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Fire Pit Rules
The Farmington Hills Fire Prevention Ordinance at Chapter 12 (Fire Prevention and Protection), Sec. 12-14, allows for small recreational fires at single-family homes only. The fire must be contained in an approved semi-enclosed device (manufactured outdoor fire pit, chiminea, or commercially produced wood-burning unit) using only seasoned firewood. The fire must be constantly attended, extinguishing equipment (garden hose, bucket of water, or portable fire extinguisher) must be immediately available, and a safe distance must be maintained from structures. When finished, the fire must be completely extinguished and the cooled coals stored in a metal container kept outside the home. Recreational fires at multi-family dwellings (apartments, condominiums, townhouses) are not permitted. No yard waste, refuse, leaves, or construction materials may be burned at any time. The Farmington Hills Fire Department (Fire Prevention Division 248-871-2820) enforces Chapter 12 under the 2015 Michigan Building Code (which adopts the 2015 IFC with state amendments via the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, MCL 125.1502).
Farmington Hills Fire Pit Rules: Sec. 12-14 Allows Small Recreational Fires in Approved Semi-Enclosed Devices at Single-Family Homes
Some RestrictionsFireworks
Farmington Hills regulates consumer fireworks under Chapter 12 of the Code of Ordinances within the strict limits set by the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act (MCL 28.451 et seq.) as amended by 2018 PA 635 (which replaced the more permissive 2011 PA 256 holiday window with the current narrower list). MCL 28.457 prohibits local fireworks ordinances from restricting discharge on the following days after 11 a.m.: December 31 (until 1 a.m. Jan 1); the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Memorial Day (until 11:45 p.m.); June 29 through July 4 (until 11:45 p.m. each day); July 5 if it falls on a Friday or Saturday (until 11:45 p.m.); and the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Labor Day (until 11:45 p.m.). On all other days, Farmington Hills prohibits discharge of consumer fireworks. The local ordinance also prohibits discharge of fireworks on public property (parks, roadways, schools, sidewalks), requires written permission of the property owner to discharge on private property not owned by the user, makes it illegal to discharge while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances (MCL 28.457(4)), and bans sale to anyone under age 18 (MCL 28.452a). The mandatory civil fine for a local-ordinance violation is $1,000.00 per violation under MCL 28.457(3), with 50% remitted to local law enforcement.
Farmington Hills Fireworks: Restricted to MCL 28.457 Statutory Holidays (After 11 a.m.; New Year's, Memorial Day Wknd, June 29-July 4, Labor Day Wknd)
Heavy RestrictionsBrush Clearance
Burning brush, leaves, grass clippings, and yard waste is prohibited in Farmington Hills under Chapter 12, Sec. 12-14 of the Code of Ordinances. The Farmington Hills Fire Department directs residents to bag yard waste in approved yard-waste bags or place it in cans marked with a yard-waste sticker for regular curbside pickup on the regular collection day, rather than burning. The prohibition applies regardless of device - residents who burn yard waste in portable fireplaces, burn pits, ceramic chimineas, or any other appliance are still in violation; no device legalizes yard-waste burning in Farmington Hills. The Michigan Department of Forestry (DNR) issues open-burning permits under Act 119 of 1925 (codified as Part 515 of NREPA, MCL 324.51501 et seq.) only in unincorporated/forested areas, and these permits are not valid inside Farmington Hills city limits. Overgrown weeds, grass, and noxious vegetation are addressed under the city's property maintenance and nuisance provisions (Chapter 17 Nuisances) administered by Code Enforcement.
Farmington Hills Brush Clearance: Burning Brush/Yard Waste Prohibited Under Sec. 12-14 - Curbside Yard-Waste Pickup Required
Some RestrictionsOutdoor Burning
Outdoor open burning is broadly prohibited inside Farmington Hills under Chapter 12, Sec. 12-14 of the Code of Ordinances. The only outdoor fires allowed are small recreational fires at single-family homes contained in an approved semi-enclosed device (manufactured outdoor fire pit, chiminea, ceramic outdoor fireplace) burning only seasoned firewood, constantly attended, with extinguishing equipment immediately available, located a safe distance from structures, and with cooled coals stored in a metal container kept outside the home. All other outdoor burning - including yard-waste burning, brush burning, trash burning, construction debris burning, ground fires, bonfires, and burning in unapproved devices - requires explicit written permit/approval from the Farmington Hills Fire Department Fire Prevention Division (248-871-2820). Recreational fires at multi-family dwellings are prohibited. The Michigan DNR burn permits issued under Part 515 of NREPA (Act 451 of 1994, codifying Act 119 of 1925) are not valid inside Farmington Hills city limits - the city is a Home Rule jurisdiction that has opted to regulate burning more strictly than the state baseline. Michigan operates under the 2015 Michigan Building Code (MCL 125.1502 / Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act), which adopts the 2015 IFC with state amendments.
Farmington Hills Outdoor Burning: Sec. 12-14 Prohibits All Open Burning Except Sec. 12-14 Approved Semi-Enclosed Recreational Fires
Heavy RestrictionsWildfire Zones
Farmington Hills sits in the suburban core of southeast Michigan (western Oakland County, immediately west of Detroit) and is not within any federally designated Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zone or state-mapped very-high fire-hazard severity area. Michigan does not maintain a state WUI map analogous to California's CAL FIRE FHSZ system; SE Michigan's developed, lake-effect-tempered climate produces low statistical wildfire risk relative to the Michigan Upper Peninsula or northern Lower Peninsula. The Farmington Hills Fire Department enforces Chapter 12 (Fire Prevention and Protection) of the Code of Ordinances under the 2015 Michigan Building Code (2015 IBC + state amendments) adopted via MCL 125.1502 (Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act). Michigan's primary wildfire-management tools are: (1) the Michigan DNR Forest Resources Division burn-permit program under Part 515 of NREPA (Act 451 of 1994, codifying Act 119 of 1925), which governs open burning in DNR jurisdiction areas, and (2) statewide or regional DNR burn-permit suspensions during periods of elevated fire-danger ratings. Inside Farmington Hills, the city's blanket Sec. 12-14 prohibition on open burning (with the narrow recreational-fire exception) provides the primary fire-prevention control - DNR permit status does not apply.
Farmington Hills Wildfire Risk: Suburban SE Michigan - No State WUI Map; DNR Burn Bans Apply
Few RestrictionsSmoke Detectors
Smoke alarm requirements in Farmington Hills follow Michigan state law: MCL 125.1504a (smoke alarms in residential rental property) and the 2015 Michigan Residential Code (MRC) Section R314 for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses. R314.3 requires smoke alarms in each sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms, and on each additional story including basements and habitable attics (excluding crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics). MCL 125.1504a requires owners of residential rental property constructed before the smoke-alarm requirements of the construction code to install at least one approved smoke alarm in each unit; alarms installed under MCL 125.1504a to satisfy a deficiency must be powered by a 10-year sealed lithium battery (or hardwired). The Farmington Hills Fire Department recommends all alarms be less than 10 years old (replace immediately if no manufacturer date is visible), tested monthly, with batteries replaced when clocks are changed, and ideally upgraded to 10-year sealed lithium-battery models. Firefighters offer free home inspections and may provide replacement alarms through community programs. Michigan operates under the 2015 Michigan Building Code (MCL 125.1502 / Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act); the 2018 and 2021 ICC cycles have not been adopted.
Farmington Hills Smoke Detectors: MCL 125.1504a + 2015 MRC R314 (10-Year Sealed in Rentals; Each Bedroom + Sleeping Area + Every Story)
Some RestrictionsBackyard Fires
Backyard fires in Farmington Hills are tightly controlled under Chapter 12 (Fire Prevention and Protection), Sec. 12-14 of the Code of Ordinances. The only outdoor fire allowed in a Farmington Hills backyard is a small recreational fire at a single-family home, contained in an approved semi-enclosed device (manufactured outdoor fire pit, chiminea, or ceramic outdoor fireplace), burning only seasoned firewood. The fire must be constantly attended, extinguishing equipment must be immediately available, and a safe distance must be maintained from any structure. Cooled coals must be stored in a metal container kept outside the home. Open ground fires, bonfires, brush piles, and burning in unapproved devices are prohibited - 'regardless of the device, nothing [other than the approved semi-enclosed recreational fire] is permitted.' Recreational fires at multi-family dwellings (apartments, condominiums, townhouses) are not allowed. Yard waste, leaves, refuse, treated/painted wood, and construction debris may never be burned. The Farmington Hills Fire Department Fire Prevention Division (248-871-2820) enforces Sec. 12-14 and may issue tickets or cost-recovery invoices for unauthorized backyard fires.
Farmington Hills Backyard Fires: Sec. 12-14 Allows Only Semi-Enclosed Recreational Fires at Single-Family Homes - No Ground Fires or Bonfires
Heavy RestrictionsPropane Storage
Propane and LPG appliances and storage in Farmington Hills are governed by the 2015 Michigan Fire Code (adopted under the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, MCL 125.1502 - same edition as the 2015 IFC with state amendments) and the 2015 Michigan Mechanical/Residential Code (which incorporates NFPA 54 National Fuel Gas Code via 2015 MRC Chapter 24). The Michigan Fire Code Chapter 61 (Liquefied Petroleum Gases) adopts NFPA 58 (LP-Gas Code) by reference for storage, dispensing, transportation, and use of LPG. For single-family residences: portable LPG cylinders 1 lb to 100 lb water capacity may be stored outdoors above ground per NFPA 58; gas-grill propane tanks must be at least 10 feet from any building opening (windows, doors, vents) and ventilation intakes; spare cylinders should be stored upright outdoors, not in a basement or attached garage. Larger residential tanks (commonly 100 to 1,000 gallons used for whole-home heating or pool/spa applications) require permits from the Farmington Hills Building Department under the 2015 Michigan Mechanical Code and must satisfy NFPA 58 setbacks (10 ft minimum from buildings for tanks 125-500 gal; greater setbacks for larger tanks). The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Bureau of Fire Services administers state-level LPG licensing under PA 207 of 1941 (the Michigan Fire Prevention Code). The 2018 and 2021 ICC cycles have NOT been adopted in Michigan - the 2015 code remains in force.
Farmington Hills Propane Storage: 2015 Michigan Fire Code Ch. 61 (NFPA 58) + 2015 MRC G2422 for Residential LPG
Some RestrictionsLooking for Oakland County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Farmington Hills city rules.
Fire Regulations in Oakland County →