Sterling Heights, MI Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Interior lot height
- 3 to 6 feet above grade
- Corner sight-obscuring
- May project 10 feet into front yard
- Front yard
- Fences barred from extending in
- Governing section
- § 19-8, Fence Ordinance
Summary
Interior-lot fences in Sterling Heights must stand three to six feet above grade and stay out of the front yard; corner lots get extra rules for sight-obscuring fences near the street.
A fence, including one of sight-obscuring design, may be erected upon any side or rear lot line and along the front yard setback line, provided the fence is not less than three feet nor more than six feet above grade level at any location, and provided further that adequate access for firefighting is provided. Fences are not permitted to extend into the front yard.
(B) Corner lots. The following regulations as to height and placement of fences shall apply on corner lots.
(1) Sight-obscuring fences. Except as provided in this section, a sight-obscuring fence of not less than three feet nor more than six feet above grade level in any location may be erected upon any side or rear lot line, provided that such fence does not encroach into the required front yard. In addition, a sight-obscuring fence of such size may project not more than ten feet into the required front yard which would be a side yard if it were an interior lot. Adequate access for firefighting must be provided.
(2) Non-sight-obscuring fences. Except as provided in subparagraph (3), non-sight-obscuring fences of not less than three feet nor more than six feet above grade level in any location may be erected upon any side or rear lot line and along any front building line, provided the fence does not encroach into the required front yard, and provided further that adequate access for firefighting is provided. Non-sight-obscuring fences of not less than three
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-46: Local legislation current through Ord. 509, passed 5-19-26).
Full Breakdown
Under Code of Ordinances § 19-8(A), an interior-lot fence, including a sight-obscuring one, may run along any side or rear lot line and along the front-yard setback line, but must be at least three feet and no more than six feet above grade, with access preserved for firefighting; fences may not extend into the front yard itself. Corner lots follow § 19-8(B): sight-obscuring fences three to six feet tall may sit on any side or rear lot line and project up to ten feet into the required front yard that would be a side yard on an interior lot, while non-sight-obscuring fences follow similar height bands with a lower four-foot cap in that same strip.
Violations & Fines
Building a fence taller than six feet, shorter than the three-foot minimum where it applies, or extending it into a required front yard beyond what § 19-8 allows is a violation subject to § 1-9 penalties and removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a fence be on an interior lot?
Are corner-lot fence rules different?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sterling Heights
How Sterling Heights compares: Cities That Allow the Tallest Residential Fences·Compare Sterling Heights to another location·View the Michigan fence regulations overview
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Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Macomb County handle height limits.