Sterling Heights, MI Filming & Production: Street Closures (2026)
Key Facts
- Street closure rule
- § 12-166(A), city authorization required
- Parking rule
- § 12-166(B), no unpermitted parking
- Neighbor approval
- 70% of adjacent units, 48 hrs prior
- Sign posting
- 24 hrs prior, § 12-166(C)
- Wet-down roadway
- professional lane closure required, § 12-166(E)
- State/county roads
- MDOT or Macomb Road Commission permit
Summary
Sterling Heights bars anyone from closing a city street or alley for filming, or parking vehicles and equipment on one, without city authorization under Code of Ordinances § 12-166(A)-(B). A street or alley closure additionally requires signed approval from at least 70% of the adjacent dwelling units and businesses, submitted to the Film Office 48 hours before the closure.
(A) No person shall close any city street or alley, unless first authorized by the city.
(B) No person shall park a vehicle or place equipment associated with filming on any street or alley, except where parking is lawfully permitted.
(C) The permittee shall post "No Parking" signs, as required by the Film Office, at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled start time of the filming.
(D) Before a street or alley closure can occur, the permittee shall submit to the Film Office, at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled start time of the filming activity, signatures of approval from one adult resident of at least 70% of the dwelling units and businesses adjacent to or serviced by the street or alley proposed to be closed.
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
Section 12-166 sets several rules for filming that affects city streets and alleys. Subsection (A) prohibits closing any city street or alley for filming unless the closure is first authorized by the city, and subsection (B) prohibits parking a vehicle or placing filming equipment on a street or alley except where parking is already lawfully permitted. Before a street or alley closure can happen, subsection (D) requires the permittee to submit to the Film Office, at least 48 hours before the scheduled start of filming, signatures of approval from one adult resident of at least 70% of the dwelling units and businesses adjacent to or serviced by the street or alley to be closed.
Subsection (C) requires the permittee to post 'No Parking' signs, as specified by the Film Office, at least 24 hours before filming starts, wherever parking restrictions will apply. If the production wets down the roadway for a shot, subsection (E) requires hiring a professional lane closure company to install and hold the closure until the roadway dries to the city's satisfaction, with 'Wet Pavement' signs posted at both ends of the wet section before the set can be struck. Any proposed detour plan or street parking arrangement must also be submitted for review and approval by the City Engineer, and filming on a state or county roadway additionally requires permits from the Michigan Department of Transportation or the Macomb County Road Commission under § 12-160(E). weekday filming window.
Violations & Fines
Closing a street or alley without authorization, or parking or staging equipment on one without a permit, violates § 12-166 and is punishable under Chapter 1 of the city code per § 12-167(E). It can also support revocation of the entire film permit under § 12-167(A) for failing to comply with a permit term or condition, mailed to the permittee by certified mail with appeal rights and a one-year bar on new permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a film crew close a Sterling Heights street on its own authority?
How much neighbor support is needed to close a street for filming?
Can a production park its equipment trucks on a residential street?
What if the shoot needs to wet down the road for a scene?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sterling Heights
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Street Closures in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Macomb County handle street closures.