Farmington Hills, MI Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Erosion control authority over Farmington Hills runs through Part 91 of NREPA, MCL 324.9101 to 324.9123, which imposes a mandatory permit for any 'earth change' that disturbs one (1) or more acres of land OR that takes place within 500 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of a lake or stream (including drains and wetlands as classified by EGLE). Oakland County is a Part 91 'Authorized Public Agency' under MCL 324.9105, so the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner administers Part 91 SESC permits for Farmington Hills, including plan review, fee collection, performance bonds, and field inspections. The City's Engineering Division (Department of Public Services) reviews smaller residential earth changes that fall below the Part 91 trigger but that still must control erosion under the Farmington Hills Engineering Design Standards. Standard erosion controls required on every site regardless of size include silt fence at the down-gradient perimeter, inlet protection at every catch basin and drain, a stabilized vehicle tracking pad at site egress, stockpile stabilization with seeding or tarping, and prompt restoration of any disturbed area. Sites of one (1) acre or more must also obtain coverage under the EGLE NPDES Construction Storm Water Permit (Permit by Rule under R 323.2190 for many projects, or individual permits for high-risk sites) and maintain a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) on site. Farmington Hills' location entirely within the Rouge River watershed and the 500-foot proximity rule mean that essentially every project near a Rouge tributary, drain, or detention basin triggers Part 91 — sediment delivered to Rouge tributaries adds directly to the watershed E. coli and biota TMDLs administered through the Alliance of Rouge Communities. Apply through the Oakland County WRC at (248) 858-0958. Residential SESC questions through the Farmington Hills Building Division at (248) 871-2450 or Engineering at (248) 871-2560.