Landscaping Rules in Rochester Hills, MI (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Rochester Hills, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Owners of property adjacent to a Rochester Hills street must keep trees, shrubs and other vegetation trimmed to set clearance heights: 14 feet over streets, ten feet over pathways and eight feet over sidewalks, plus lateral clearance off the edge, under City Code section 94-35.
Trimming Trees Over Streets & Sidewalks in Rochester Hills
Some RestrictionsRochester Hills Code § 94-35(a)
It shall be the duty of each owner of property adjacent to a street to maintain that property, including the adjacent public right-of-way located between the adjacent property and the inside edge of the pathway or sidewalk, so that trees, shrubs and other vegetation do not obstruct the passage of vehicles, bicycles or pedestrians on streets, pathways and sidewalks. Streets, pathways, and sidewa...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Rochester Hills requires a tree removal permit before anyone removes, transplants, damages or destroys a regulated tree, one measuring six inches or greater in diameter at breast height, on land within the city. The Parks and Natural Resources Department or the Planning and Economic Development Department reviews applications depending on whether a site plan is involved, and unpermitted removal draws a municipal civil infraction fine plus a separate tree-value fee or replacement obligation.
Tree Removal Permit Required in Rochester Hills
Significant RestrictionsRochester Hills Code § 126-326
(a)Regulated tree removal. Subject to the exceptions in section 126-266, a tree removal permit is required for the removal or relocation of any regulated tree.
Weed Ordinances
Rochester Hills limits weeds and plant growth to eight inches on all premises and adjacent rights-of-way under Property Maintenance Code Section 302.4, and bans noxious weeds outright. An owner who ignores a notice of violation can be prosecuted, and the city may send a crew to cut the weeds and bill the owner for the cost.
Weed Height Limit in Rochester Hills
Some RestrictionsRochester Hills Code § 18-532 (Property Maintenance Code § 302.4)
All premises and exterior property, including the adjacent right-of-way shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of eight (8) inches. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. ... Upon failure of the owner or agent having charge of a property to cut and destroy weeds after service of a notice of violation, they shall be subject to prosecution in accordance with Section 109.3 a...
Water Restrictions
Rochester Hills limits automatic lawn and landscape irrigation to the hours between midnight and 5:00 a.m. under City Code Section 102-394. The restriction applies to every customer of the city water system but exempts wells, ponds, commercial agriculture, tree nurseries and golf courses. Manual watering is allowed at any time. A first violation in a calendar year draws a warning; repeat violations carry a civil fine of up to $500.00.
Outdoor Watering Hours in Rochester Hills
Some RestrictionsRochester Hills Code § 102-394
(2)Automatic system hours. Except as permitted in subsection (3), below, outdoor watering by means of an automatic or programmable landscape irrigation system may be done only between the hours of midnight to 5:00 a.m., [State of] Michigan time. ... (5)Violation. The water customer and the owner or occupant of premises where outdoor watering in violation of this section occurs shall be responsi...
Composting
Rochester Hills allows residential compost piles under Property Maintenance Code Section 302.1.2, but caps each pile at four feet by eight feet, or six feet in diameter, and four feet in height. Piles must sit at least five feet from any property line, cannot go in a side yard or drainage easement, and are limited to yard waste, not meat, dairy, oils, cooked food or synthetics.
Backyard Composting Rules in Rochester Hills
Some RestrictionsRochester Hills Code § 18-532 (Property Maintenance Code § 302.1.2)
Compost piles may include a combination of yard and garden waste (such as weeds, bark, grass clippings, stalks and stems, brush or vines), wood ashes, horse manure, coffee grounds, vegetable scraps, citrus rinds and fruit peelings, egg, peanut and nut shells. Compost piles shall not include meats, dairy products, vegetable oils, cooked foods, or plastics, synthetics or other non-biodegradable m...
Looking for Oakland County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rochester Hills city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Oakland County →