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Property Maintenance in Southfield, MI (2026)

3 verified property maintenance rules for Southfield, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Property Blight

Southfield's nuisance chapter treats a fire-, decay- or otherwise damaged building, and any excavation left open for 30 days or more, as a public nuisance the moment it endangers public safety. The city can prosecute the condition as a civil infraction and go to court to have it abated.

Southfield Damaged Building Nuisance Rule

Some Restrictions

Southfield City Code §§ 9.1, 9.3(7)

Whatever injures or endangers the safety, health, comfort or repose of the public; offends public decency, interferes with, obstructs or renders dangerous any street, highway, navigable lake or stream; or in any way renders the public insecure in life or property is hereby declared to be a public nuisance. Public nuisances shall include, but not be limited to, whatever is forbidden by any provi...

Vacant Lot Maintenance

In the City of Southfield, weeds of any kind growing over 12 inches tall count as noxious weeds that landowners must destroy before they go to seed. If an owner refuses, the Department of Public Service can enter the land, cut the weeds, and place a lien on the property for the cost.

Southfield Noxious Weeds Ordinance

Some Restrictions

Southfield City Code § 9.41

Noxious weeds shall include Canada thistle (circium arvense), dodders (any species of Cuscata), mustards (charlock, black mustard and Indian mustard, species of Brassica or Sinapis), wild carrot (Daucus carota), bindweed (convolvulos arvensis), perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis), hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana), ragweed (ambrosia elatior l.) and poison ivy (rhus toxicodendron), poison suma...

Snow & Sidewalk Clearing

Southfield City Code § 4.75 requires the occupant, or the owner if the lot sits vacant, of property next to any street to keep the abutting sidewalk cleared of snow, ice and filth. Under § 4.76, anyone who lets snow or ice sit uncleared for twenty-four straight hours or more is guilty of a violation, and the director may have it cleared and bill the cost to the occupant or owner.

Southfield Sidewalk Snow Clearing Deadline

Some Restrictions

Southfield City Code §§ 4.75, 4.76

Sec. 4.75. - Sidewalks to be cleared. The occupant of every lot or premises adjoining any street, or the owner of such lot or premises if same are not occupied, shall clear and keep cleared all sidewalks adjoining such lot or premises from snow, ice, filth and other obstructions. ... ... Sec. 4.76. - Failure to clear. If any occupant or owner shall neglect or fail to clear ice, snow, filth or o...

Looking for Oakland County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Southfield city rules.

Property Maintenance in Oakland County