Farmington Hills Sec. 34-5.12 does not mandate which direction the finished (smooth) side of a fence must face - the finished side may face either the owner's yard or the neighbor's yard. Property line location is the owner's responsibility, and the city does not adjudicate private boundary or cost-sharing disputes, which are civil matters under Michigan law.
Unlike many Michigan municipalities (including the City of Farmington just to the south, which requires the smooth side to face outward), Farmington Hills' Sec. 34-5.12 contains no finished-side requirement. The Zoning Division and the city's permit packet leave finished-side orientation to the owner. Property owners are responsible for locating their own property lines; the city does not survey. A fence permit does not authorize encroachment onto a neighbor's parcel - if a fence is later found to cross the property line, the owner who built it must move or remove it at their own expense. Michigan has no general statewide 'good neighbor' boundary fence statute applicable to platted residential property; cost-sharing for shared fences is a private contractual or civil matter. HOA and subdivision covenants may impose stricter finished-side, height, material, or style rules than Sec. 34-5.12 - the Fence Permit Process page recommends obtaining HOA approval before filing.
Encroaching fences must be removed or relocated by the offending owner at their expense; the city does not mediate boundary disputes. HOA violations are enforced by the association, not the city. Failing to obtain a zoning permit before construction triggers municipal enforcement under Chapter 34.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Farmington Hills, MI
Farmington Hills does not prohibit artificial turf on residential, commercial, or institutional property. Michigan has no statewide artificial-turf or non-fu...
Farmington Hills, MI
Farmington Hills does not mandate native plants in private landscapes, but actively encourages native and Michigan-adapted species through the City's Reduce ...
Farmington Hills, MI
Farmington Hills does not designate dedicated food-truck vending zones. Food trucks may operate from private property with the owner's written consent (subje...
Farmington Hills, MI
Operating a food truck in Farmington Hills requires (1) a Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Mobile Food Establishment or Speci...
Farmington Hills, MI
Federal and Michigan state law preempt almost all local drone regulation in Farmington Hills. Under the Michigan Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act (Act 436 of 20...
Farmington Hills, MI
Farmington Hills does not require a Special Event Permit or City business license for a residential garage / yard sale at a private residence. The City Clerk...
See how Farmington Hills's neighbor fence rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.