5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Wayne County, Michigan.
Verified from official government sources
Michigan has no statewide ADU mandate, so rules vary by Wayne County city. Detroit permits ADUs in most residential zones, while many suburbs restrict or prohibit them outright.
Wayne County itself does not regulate residential sheds in the dozens of incorporated cities and townships that make up nearly all of the county. Shed setbacks, lot coverage, and zoning permits are set by each municipality (Detroit, Dearborn, Livonia, Westland, etc.). Statewide, the Michigan Residential Code (administered under Public Act 230 of 1972) generally exempts one-story detached accessory structures under 200 square feet from a building permit, but a local zoning permit is almost always still required.
Garage conversions to habitable space in Wayne County require building permits and often conflict with parking minimums. Most cities require replacement off-street parking before approval.
Carports in Wayne County generally require building permits and must meet setback, lot coverage, and attachment rules. Fabric and portable carports are restricted or prohibited in most Detroit-area municipalities.
Michigan has not adopted IRC Appendix Q (Tiny Houses) statewide, and Wayne County does not set general zoning. Whether a tiny home is legal on a Wayne County lot depends entirely on the host city or township's zoning ordinance, which in most Detroit-metro municipalities sets a minimum dwelling-unit size that exceeds typical tiny-house dimensions. The Michigan Residential Code (PA 230 of 1972) still applies for site-built dwellings; HUD-Code manufactured homes are regulated separately by the Michigan Manufactured Housing Commission.
4 cities in Wayne County have their own accessory structures rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Wayne County Ordinance Hub →