Wayne County, MI Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)

Wayne County, Michigan does not impose a countywide defensible-space brush clearance mandate like those in western wildfire-prone states. Instead, the 43 municipalities within the county each enforce nuisance and blight ordinances that require property owners to maintain their yards, remove dead trees and limbs, and prevent overgrowth that harbors pests or creates fire hazards. Detroit's Department of Neighborhoods and BSEED actively cite overgrown lots, especially on vacant parcels. Open burning of leaves, brush, and yard waste is generally prohibited within city limits throughout Wayne County, including Detroit, Dearborn, Livonia, Westland, and Taylor, due to air quality concerns. Michigan DNR burn permits apply to unincorporated areas only, and Wayne County has virtually no unincorporated land. Yard waste must be composted, mulched, or placed curbside for municipal pickup in paper bags or open cans. Emerald ash borer infestation has required removal of thousands of dead ash trees across Wayne County since the pest was first identified in 2002, and dead ash trees still standing may be cited as hazards.