Environmental Rules in Southfield, MI (2026)
4 verified environmental rules for Southfield, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
In the City of Southfield, new development or redevelopment that meets the thresholds in the city's Stormwater Standards needs an Engineering Department permit before construction starts, plus EGLE-approved best-management-practice controls built on site. The owner then signs a perpetual maintenance agreement, and the city can enter the property to inspect or fix the stormwater controls if the owner does not.
Southfield Stormwater Management Permit
Some RestrictionsSouthfield City Code §§ 2.216, 2.222
The city adopts the requirements set out in the Southfield Stormwater Standards. The standards lays out consistent city-wide best management practices (BMPs) to regulate stormwater quantity and quality discharge as approved by EGLE. The owner of a new development meeting the thresholds set out in the Southfield Stormwater Standards shall, at their own expense, apply for and obtain a permit from...
Erosion Control
In the City of Southfield, a soil erosion and sedimentation control permit from the engineering department is required before any earth change that disturbs one acre or more, or that sits within 500 feet of state waters or a storm drain inlet, regardless of disturbed acreage.
Erosion and sediment control permit, Southfield
Some RestrictionsSouthfield City Code § 5.509; § 5.526
A landowner or designated agent who contracts for, allows, or engages in an earth change in this city shall obtain a soil erosion and sedimentation control permit in the landowner's name from the engineering department, unless exempted in section 5.510 of this chapter, before commencing an earth change which:1.Disturbs one (1) or more acres of land; or2.Is located within five hundred (500) feet...
Flood Zones
The City of Southfield regulates land along the Rouge River's branches, Pebble Creek, and Evans and Carpenter drains through a floodplain control district set by City Code § 5.49. The city adopted FEMA's 2006 Flood Insurance Rate Maps by reference, split the floodplain into a Regulatory Floodplain District and a Floodplain Fringe District, and limits the Regulatory Floodplain to low-damage uses like farming, parks, and rights-of-way rather than buildings.
Southfield Floodplain Development Controls
Significant RestrictionsSouthfield City Code § 5.49(1), (6)(a)
(1)Purpose. ... It is the purpose of the floodplain controls to apply special regulations to the use of land in those areas of the city which are subject to predictable flooding at frequent intervals ... The floodplains, as herein defined, are not intended for human habitation, the development of permanent structures, or any use which causes a change in the natural functional drainage grade of ...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In Southfield's Floodplain Fringe District, City Code § 5.49(6)(b)(1) requires new construction or substantial improvements to set the lowest floor, including any basement, at least three feet above the floodplain elevation. The city engineer records the actual elevation of the lowest habitable floor on every new or substantially improved structure, in relation to mean sea level, whether or not it has a basement.
Southfield's 3-Foot Floodplain Freeboard Rule
Some RestrictionsSouthfield City Code § 5.49(6)(b)(1), (6)(b)(9)
1.For new construction or substantial improvement, the elevation of the lowest floor designed or intended for human habitation and/or employment (including basement) shall be at least three (3) feet (0.915 meters) above the elevation of the floodplain. ... 9.The city engineer shall obtain and record the actual elevation (in relation to mean sea level) of the lowest habitable floor (including ba...
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