Detroit, MI Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Detroit City Code § 8-15-102
- Requirement
- Grade lots to stop erosion, ponding
- Exception
- Approved water retention areas, reservoirs
- Enforcement
- BSEED blight violation, Hearings Bureau
- First-offense fine
- $50 to $200 by structure size
Summary
Detroit property owners must grade lots to prevent soil erosion and stop stagnant water from pooling on the ground or inside a building, under the city's property maintenance code enforced by BSEED.
All property shall be graded and maintained to prevent the erosion of soil and to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water thereon, or within any building or structure located thereon, except for the provision and maintenance of approved water retention areas and reservoirs.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Detroit City Code § 8-15-102 requires every property to be graded and maintained so that soil erosion is prevented and stagnant water does not accumulate on the lot or inside any building or structure on it. The only exception covers approved water retention areas and reservoirs. Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department inspectors cite failures as blight violations, decided by the Blight Administrative Hearings Bureau: first-offense civil fines run $50 for a one- or two-family dwelling up to $200 for a building of five or more stories, rising further on repeat offenses.
Violations & Fines
Blight violation cited by BSEED; civil fines run $50 to $200 on a first offense depending on structure size (up to $1,000 for five-plus story buildings), and higher on second and third-plus repeat offenses, per the Sec. 8-15-11 fine schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Detroit's grading and drainage rule require?
What happens if drainage on my property isn't fixed?
Are retention ponds exempt from this rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Detroit
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Erosion Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle erosion control.