Farmington Hills, MI Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

The Farmington Hills Fire Department's official guidance is explicit: 'it is against city ordinance to burn in Farmington Hills, and you can't burn leaves, branches, or any yard debris.' No yard waste, refuse, or construction materials can be burned in the city, and the prohibition applies regardless of device - 'some people think they've found a loophole and burn yard waste in portable fireplaces, burn pits or ceramic chimineas, but regardless of the device, nothing is permitted.' The only outdoor fire allowed in Farmington Hills is the Sec. 12-14 small recreational fire at a single-family home in an approved semi-enclosed device using only seasoned firewood (not yard waste). The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Forest Resources Division administers the state burn-permit program under Part 515 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (Act 451 of 1994), which incorporates the longstanding Act 119 of 1925 framework; these DNR permits are issued only for areas under DNR jurisdiction (state forest land and certain rural/forested counties) and are not valid inside Farmington Hills city limits. Overgrown grass, weeds, and noxious vegetation are addressed under Chapter 17 (Nuisances) and the city's property maintenance provisions, administered by Farmington Hills Code Enforcement under the Department of Special Services. The standard Michigan municipal nuisance abatement procedure provides written notice and an opportunity to cure (typically 7-14 days) before the city may abate the nuisance at the owner's expense and place a lien on the property under MCL 117.4q (Home Rule City Act). Burn permits in Oakland County more generally - even where allowed - are administered by individual townships and the DNR; Farmington Hills (as a Home Rule city) opts out of state permit authority and prohibits open burning citywide.