Moving to Farmington Hills, MI?

Animal noise in Farmington Hills is enforced through two parallel authorities: the general Sec. 17-101 noise standard (with residential 60/55/50 dB(A) Table A caps) and Code Chapter 6 (Animals), Article III (Dogs and Other Animals), which addresses dog-control nuisance. The Sec. 17-101(g)(7) exemption for 'the unamplified human voice' does not extend to dog barking, so persistent barking that exceeds the Table A caps - or that constitutes an intermittent / pure-tone unreasonable sound under Sec. 17-101(e) - is enforceable. Oakland County Animal Control / the Farmington Hills Police Department handle complaints.

Industrial-source noise in Farmington Hills is governed by Sec. 17-101(c) Table A using a tiered receiving-property cap: 70 dB(A) anytime where the industrial source is in IRO / LI-1 districts AND all adjacent properties are industrial / business; reduced to 60 dB(A) anytime where any adjacent property is residential. There is no nighttime reduction on the industrial source-class line, but the residential-receiving 50 dB(A) night cap remains the practical adjacent-property test. Sec. 17-101(g)(8) exempts public-works projects. Major Farmington Hills industrial / office-research concentrations include the Twelve Mile / Haggerty / I-275 corridor and the Northwestern Highway / Orchard Lake Road business / office spine.

Farmington Hills regulates noise under Code of Ordinances Chapter 17 (Nuisances), Article VII (Pests and Sanitation), Section 17-101 (Noise), adopted by Ord. No. C-10-2004 (8-23-04). Unlike many Michigan cities that rely on a pure reasonableness standard, Farmington Hills codifies a numeric A-weighted decibel table tied to clock-time and zoning district. In residential districts (RA, RP, RC, SP, MH) the maximum permitted sound level at an adjacent property is 60 dB(A) from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., 55 dB(A) from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and 50 dB(A) from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. - giving the city a de facto residential quiet period of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. backed by an enforceable 50 dB(A) cap. MCL 750.167 (disorderly persons) provides the statewide unreasonable-noise backstop.

Outdoor music in Farmington Hills is regulated under Sec. 17-101 (Noise) plus the Sec. 17-101(f) special-exception path. The city does not maintain an entertainment-district overlay - all outdoor amplification must stay under Table A caps at the adjacent property line unless a Zoning Board of Appeals special exception is granted. City-sponsored events at Heritage Park (Founders Festival), the Farmington Hills Cultural Arts amphitheater, and the Costick Activities Center operate through special-event permits with conditioned amplification limits. Sec. 17-101(g)(5) exempts outdoor school and playground activities.

Section 17-101(g)(1) exempts construction activity from the Table A dB(A) maximums, cross-referencing Section 18-164 (Buildings and Building Regulations) for the operative construction-hour limits. The result is that construction noise during permitted hours is not measured against the residential 60/55/50 dB(A) table - construction operates under the building-code window rather than the Chapter 17 numeric cap. Construction outside the permitted Sec. 18-164 window loses the exemption and is enforceable under the Table A receiving-property dB(A) caps.

Farmington Hills does not publish a leaf-blower-specific ordinance and does not ban gas-powered blowers. Leaf blower and lawn-equipment use is governed by Sec. 17-101(g)(4), which exempts 'lawn care and yard maintenance' from the Table A dB(A) caps - but only when the activity occurs between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Lawn equipment operated before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. loses the exemption and is enforceable against the residential 60/55/50 dB(A) Table A caps, which effectively bars commercial-grade gas blowers at those hours in residential areas.

Amplified music in Farmington Hills is regulated under the general Sec. 17-101 noise framework. Sound from amplification systems, bands, DJs, and outdoor PA systems must stay under the Table A dB(A) caps at the adjacent property line: 60 dB(A) (7a-7p), 55 dB(A) (7p-10p), 50 dB(A) (10p-7a) in residential districts; 65 dB(A) day and 50 dB(A) night in business / office districts. Sec. 17-101(g)(7) exempts only the 'unamplified human voice' - amplified speech and amplified music are NOT exempt. Special exception under Sec. 17-101(f) is available from the Zoning Board of Appeals for one-off events.

Aircraft-in-flight noise is preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration under the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990 (49 U.S.C. 47521 et seq.). Farmington Hills lies approximately 25 miles northwest of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW / KDTW) and is regularly overflown by DTW arrivals and departures. Bishop International (FNT) and Oakland County International Airport (PTK / KPTK) in Waterford Township also contribute regional GA and corporate-jet overflight. Sec. 17-101 does not regulate aircraft, and Sec. 17-101(g) practices defer to the federal framework. The DTW Noise Compatibility Program (FAA Part 150) is the public complaint and mitigation channel.

Farmington Hills is one of the comparatively few Michigan cities with a codified dB(A) limit table. Sec. 17-101(c) Table A sets numeric caps at the adjacent property line by zoning district and time of day, measured with an ANSI-spec A-weighted sound level meter calibrated before and after the reading. Residential receiving (RA, RP, RC, SP, MH): 60 dB(A) 7a-7p, 55 dB(A) 7p-10p, 50 dB(A) 10p-7a. Business / office (OS, B, ES, P): 65 dB(A) 7a-7p, 50 dB(A) 7p-7a. Industrial (IRO, LI-1): 70 dB(A) anytime industrial-to-industrial, 60 dB(A) anytime industrial-to-residential.

Short-term rentals in Farmington Hills collect a single state-level lodging tax: the 6% Michigan Use Tax under MCL 205.92, applied to rooms or lodging furnished by hotels, motels, and other accommodations including vacation rentals for stays under 30 continuous days, remitted to the Michigan Department of Treasury. Oakland County does NOT impose a county-level accommodations or excise tax (unlike Washtenaw, Kent, and several Upper Peninsula counties), and Farmington Hills does not levy a separate municipal occupancy tax. The combined effective lodging tax burden on a Farmington Hills STR stay is therefore 6%. Operators also pay city-level fees that are not lodging taxes per se: a rental registration fee at initial registration and renewal, and a property maintenance inspection fee tied to the Certificate of Compliance (3-year term, reinspection required for renewal). Airbnb and VRBO generally collect and remit the 6% Michigan Use Tax on platform-booked stays under tax-collection agreements with the Michigan Department of Treasury; off-platform direct bookings remain the operator's responsibility.

In September 2023, the Farmington Hills City Council adopted Zoning Text Amendment 3, 2023 amending Chapter 34 (Zoning) - and related provisions in Chapter 9 (Community Development, Housing Code) - to prohibit non-owner-occupied short-term rentals in residential zoning districts. The amendment revised the definition of 'Motel' in Chapter 34, Article 2, Section 2.2 to capture commercial transient rental of residential dwellings as a motel use not permitted in residential districts. Owner-occupied STRs (host lives at the property as a permanent residence) remain allowed in residential districts, but must register through the Building Division as a rental dwelling, pass a property maintenance inspection, and obtain a Certificate of Compliance (valid up to 3 years; renewable on reinspection). Existing non-owner-occupied STRs that were properly registered before the September 2023 effective date received a 5-year amortization (sunset) window after which they must convert to owner-occupied or cease operation. The ordinance is permitted under MCL 125.3204 (Michigan Zoning Enabling Act) and Heydon v. Charter Twp. of Brighton (2014), which allow facially neutral local STR regulation. The proposed Short-Term Rental Regulation Act (HB 4722 of 2021) that would have preempted such bans never passed the Michigan Senate.

Farmington Hills does not codify an annual night cap on short-term rental operation (no 90-, 120-, or 180-night limit). Instead, the September 2023 ordinance restricts STR activity to owner-occupied dwellings where the host uses the property as a permanent primary residence, which functions as an implicit activity limit because the owner cannot simultaneously reside at the property and rent the entire dwelling year-round in absentia. The owner-occupied operator may host paying guests up to the full calendar year provided the host is also legitimately residing at the property; the home cannot be left vacant of the host while paying guests occupy it as a de facto whole-house rental. Pre-September-2023 registered non-owner-occupied STRs may operate without a night cap during the 5-year amortization window (through approximately September 2028), after which they must convert to owner-occupied or cease. HB 4722 of 2021, which would have constrained local night caps, never passed the Michigan Senate.

Farmington Hills does not codify short-term-rental-specific quiet hours separate from its general noise framework. STR guests and operators are subject to Chapter 17 (Nuisances) and the general noise provisions of the Farmington Hills Code, which prohibit loud, disturbing, or unnecessary noises that disturb the peace and quiet of any neighborhood or any reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities. Enforcement is principally complaint-driven through the Farmington Hills Police Department (non-emergency 248-871-2610). The owner-occupied STR operator is personally on-site under the September 2023 ordinance framework, so noise complaints are directly traceable to the responsible host. Repeat verified noise or nuisance violations are tracked against the property's Certificate of Compliance under Chapter 9 (Housing Code) and can result in non-renewal or revocation of the certificate, effectively shutting down the STR. Prudent operators post 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. quiet hours in their house rules consistent with customary Michigan suburban norms.

Farmington Hills does not impose a separate short-term-rental-specific parking ratio because the September 2023 ordinance restricts STR activity to owner-occupied residential dwellings whose parking is already governed by the existing Chapter 34 (Zoning) Article 5 off-street parking standards for residential uses (typically 2 spaces per single-family dwelling, plus driveway capacity). STR guests use the same off-street capacity as long-term residents; the owner-occupied requirement means the operator's own vehicles share that capacity. Parking inadequacy can be cited at the Certificate of Compliance reinspection if the off-street facilities have been removed or are inoperable. On-street guest parking is subject to the Farmington Hills Code (Chapter 22 - Traffic and Motor Vehicles) and Michigan motor vehicle law: no blocking driveways, fire hydrants, intersections, or crosswalks, no parking against traffic, no overnight on-street parking on posted streets, and compliance with any neighborhood-specific time-limit or permit-zone restrictions. HOA covenants in Farmington Hills subdivisions (Independence Commons, Ramblewood, Independence Village) often impose stricter parking rules including bans on guest commercial vehicles and overnight on-street parking.

Farmington Hills does not codify a single short-term-rental-specific occupancy formula (like 'two per bedroom plus two') separate from the general housing code framework. Maximum occupancy at a registered owner-occupied STR is governed by Chapter 9 (Community Development) Article II (Housing Code) standards and by the Michigan Building Code as adopted by the city: minimum sleeping-room sizes, code-conforming egress from each bedroom (door to exterior or egress window meeting Michigan Residential Code size and sill-height requirements), smoke alarms in each bedroom and on each floor, and CO detectors near sleeping areas in dwellings with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages (MCL 125.1504c). The property maintenance inspection at initial registration and at each 3-year Certificate of Compliance renewal verifies these standards. Operators must size guest capacity to rooms actually designed and built as bedrooms with code-conforming egress; marketing dens, basements without egress, or lofts as sleeping space can result in inspection failure and certificate non-renewal.

Public summaries of the Farmington Hills September 2023 STR ordinance reference liability insurance as a requirement but do not publish a specific minimum coverage amount in the Municode text accessible to the public; operators should confirm the current insurance condition directly with the Building Division (248-871-2450) before listing. Regardless of the codified minimum, the standard Michigan homeowner's HO-3 policy contains a business-pursuits exclusion that voids coverage for paid short-term rental activity, leaving operators personally liable for guest injuries, property damage, and third-party claims unless they add a short-term-rental endorsement or carry a dedicated commercial STR policy. Platform host-protection programs (Airbnb AirCover, VRBO Liability Insurance) provide up to $1M but are supplemental and exclude off-platform direct bookings. Michigan no-fault auto law does not extend to STR liability. Common industry minimum coverage in the Detroit metro market is $1M-$2M general liability.

Under the September 2023 ordinance, every lawful Farmington Hills short-term rental (limited to owner-occupied dwellings, plus pre-September-2023 grandfathered non-owner-occupied operations through the 5-year amortization sunset) must be registered with the Building Division under Chapter 9 (Community Development), Article II (Housing Code), and must hold a current Certificate of Compliance. Registration requires a completed application, proof of ownership, proof of owner-occupied permanent residence (for new registrations after September 2023), driver's license/state ID for owner and authorized agent, registration fees, and a passing property maintenance inspection. The Certificate is valid up to 3 years and must be renewed through reinspection. Designation of a local contact is required if the owner will be away from the property during any rental period. Operating an STR without a current Certificate of Compliance is a Chapter 9 violation enforceable by civil infraction citations and ultimately cease-and-desist with injunctive relief.

Farmington Hills' September 2023 ordinance effectively requires host presence for all newly initiated STRs through the owner-occupied / primary-residence requirement. Lawful new STRs after September 2023 must be in dwellings the owner uses as their permanent primary residence, verified at registration and at each 3-year Certificate of Compliance renewal. While the ordinance does not require the host to be physically present at every moment of every rental, the host must genuinely reside at the property and cannot consistently leave the dwelling vacant of the host while paying guests occupy it as a de facto whole-house rental. The framework permits hosted home-share operation (rented bedrooms or ADUs while the host occupies the rest of the dwelling) and short hosted absences (host vacation during which guests occupy the dwelling), but is incompatible with the absentee-investor whole-house operating model. Pre-September-2023 grandfathered non-owner-occupied STRs operate without a host-presence requirement through the 5-year amortization sunset (approx. September 2028).

The September 2023 Farmington Hills ordinance imposes an explicit primary-residence requirement on all newly initiated short-term rentals: the host must use the dwelling as their permanent primary residence, with no exceptions for second homes, vacation homes, investment properties, or LLC-held properties intended for absentee operation. Primary residence is verified at initial registration through Michigan driver's license at the property address, two or more utility bills in the host's name at the address, voter registration, and vehicle registration; and is re-verified at each 3-year Certificate of Compliance renewal through reinspection and updated documentation. Pre-September-2023 registered non-owner-occupied STRs receive a 5-year amortization (through approximately September 2028), after which they too must convert to primary-residence operation or cease. The ordinance is permitted under MCL 125.3204 and Heydon v. Charter Twp. of Brighton (2014); HB 4722 of 2021 (which would have preempted primary-residence requirements) never passed the Michigan Senate.

Farmington Hills regulates consumer fireworks under Chapter 12 of the Code of Ordinances within the strict limits set by the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act (MCL 28.451 et seq.) as amended by 2018 PA 635 (which replaced the more permissive 2011 PA 256 holiday window with the current narrower list). MCL 28.457 prohibits local fireworks ordinances from restricting discharge on the following days after 11 a.m.: December 31 (until 1 a.m. Jan 1); the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Memorial Day (until 11:45 p.m.); June 29 through July 4 (until 11:45 p.m. each day); July 5 if it falls on a Friday or Saturday (until 11:45 p.m.); and the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding Labor Day (until 11:45 p.m.). On all other days, Farmington Hills prohibits discharge of consumer fireworks. The local ordinance also prohibits discharge of fireworks on public property (parks, roadways, schools, sidewalks), requires written permission of the property owner to discharge on private property not owned by the user, makes it illegal to discharge while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances (MCL 28.457(4)), and bans sale to anyone under age 18 (MCL 28.452a). The mandatory civil fine for a local-ordinance violation is $1,000.00 per violation under MCL 28.457(3), with 50% remitted to local law enforcement.

Outdoor open burning is broadly prohibited inside Farmington Hills under Chapter 12, Sec. 12-14 of the Code of Ordinances. The only outdoor fires allowed are small recreational fires at single-family homes contained in an approved semi-enclosed device (manufactured outdoor fire pit, chiminea, ceramic outdoor fireplace) burning only seasoned firewood, constantly attended, with extinguishing equipment immediately available, located a safe distance from structures, and with cooled coals stored in a metal container kept outside the home. All other outdoor burning - including yard-waste burning, brush burning, trash burning, construction debris burning, ground fires, bonfires, and burning in unapproved devices - requires explicit written permit/approval from the Farmington Hills Fire Department Fire Prevention Division (248-871-2820). Recreational fires at multi-family dwellings are prohibited. The Michigan DNR burn permits issued under Part 515 of NREPA (Act 451 of 1994, codifying Act 119 of 1925) are not valid inside Farmington Hills city limits - the city is a Home Rule jurisdiction that has opted to regulate burning more strictly than the state baseline. Michigan operates under the 2015 Michigan Building Code (MCL 125.1502 / Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act), which adopts the 2015 IFC with state amendments.

Farmington Hills sits in the suburban core of southeast Michigan (western Oakland County, immediately west of Detroit) and is not within any federally designated Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zone or state-mapped very-high fire-hazard severity area. Michigan does not maintain a state WUI map analogous to California's CAL FIRE FHSZ system; SE Michigan's developed, lake-effect-tempered climate produces low statistical wildfire risk relative to the Michigan Upper Peninsula or northern Lower Peninsula. The Farmington Hills Fire Department enforces Chapter 12 (Fire Prevention and Protection) of the Code of Ordinances under the 2015 Michigan Building Code (2015 IBC + state amendments) adopted via MCL 125.1502 (Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act). Michigan's primary wildfire-management tools are: (1) the Michigan DNR Forest Resources Division burn-permit program under Part 515 of NREPA (Act 451 of 1994, codifying Act 119 of 1925), which governs open burning in DNR jurisdiction areas, and (2) statewide or regional DNR burn-permit suspensions during periods of elevated fire-danger ratings. Inside Farmington Hills, the city's blanket Sec. 12-14 prohibition on open burning (with the narrow recreational-fire exception) provides the primary fire-prevention control - DNR permit status does not apply.

The Farmington Hills Fire Prevention Ordinance at Chapter 12 (Fire Prevention and Protection), Sec. 12-14, allows for small recreational fires at single-family homes only. The fire must be contained in an approved semi-enclosed device (manufactured outdoor fire pit, chiminea, or commercially produced wood-burning unit) using only seasoned firewood. The fire must be constantly attended, extinguishing equipment (garden hose, bucket of water, or portable fire extinguisher) must be immediately available, and a safe distance must be maintained from structures. When finished, the fire must be completely extinguished and the cooled coals stored in a metal container kept outside the home. Recreational fires at multi-family dwellings (apartments, condominiums, townhouses) are not permitted. No yard waste, refuse, leaves, or construction materials may be burned at any time. The Farmington Hills Fire Department (Fire Prevention Division 248-871-2820) enforces Chapter 12 under the 2015 Michigan Building Code (which adopts the 2015 IFC with state amendments via the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, MCL 125.1502).

Smoke alarm requirements in Farmington Hills follow Michigan state law: MCL 125.1504a (smoke alarms in residential rental property) and the 2015 Michigan Residential Code (MRC) Section R314 for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses. R314.3 requires smoke alarms in each sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms, and on each additional story including basements and habitable attics (excluding crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics). MCL 125.1504a requires owners of residential rental property constructed before the smoke-alarm requirements of the construction code to install at least one approved smoke alarm in each unit; alarms installed under MCL 125.1504a to satisfy a deficiency must be powered by a 10-year sealed lithium battery (or hardwired). The Farmington Hills Fire Department recommends all alarms be less than 10 years old (replace immediately if no manufacturer date is visible), tested monthly, with batteries replaced when clocks are changed, and ideally upgraded to 10-year sealed lithium-battery models. Firefighters offer free home inspections and may provide replacement alarms through community programs. Michigan operates under the 2015 Michigan Building Code (MCL 125.1502 / Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act); the 2018 and 2021 ICC cycles have not been adopted.

Burning brush, leaves, grass clippings, and yard waste is prohibited in Farmington Hills under Chapter 12, Sec. 12-14 of the Code of Ordinances. The Farmington Hills Fire Department directs residents to bag yard waste in approved yard-waste bags or place it in cans marked with a yard-waste sticker for regular curbside pickup on the regular collection day, rather than burning. The prohibition applies regardless of device - residents who burn yard waste in portable fireplaces, burn pits, ceramic chimineas, or any other appliance are still in violation; no device legalizes yard-waste burning in Farmington Hills. The Michigan Department of Forestry (DNR) issues open-burning permits under Act 119 of 1925 (codified as Part 515 of NREPA, MCL 324.51501 et seq.) only in unincorporated/forested areas, and these permits are not valid inside Farmington Hills city limits. Overgrown weeds, grass, and noxious vegetation are addressed under the city's property maintenance and nuisance provisions (Chapter 17 Nuisances) administered by Code Enforcement.

Propane and LPG appliances and storage in Farmington Hills are governed by the 2015 Michigan Fire Code (adopted under the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act, MCL 125.1502 - same edition as the 2015 IFC with state amendments) and the 2015 Michigan Mechanical/Residential Code (which incorporates NFPA 54 National Fuel Gas Code via 2015 MRC Chapter 24). The Michigan Fire Code Chapter 61 (Liquefied Petroleum Gases) adopts NFPA 58 (LP-Gas Code) by reference for storage, dispensing, transportation, and use of LPG. For single-family residences: portable LPG cylinders 1 lb to 100 lb water capacity may be stored outdoors above ground per NFPA 58; gas-grill propane tanks must be at least 10 feet from any building opening (windows, doors, vents) and ventilation intakes; spare cylinders should be stored upright outdoors, not in a basement or attached garage. Larger residential tanks (commonly 100 to 1,000 gallons used for whole-home heating or pool/spa applications) require permits from the Farmington Hills Building Department under the 2015 Michigan Mechanical Code and must satisfy NFPA 58 setbacks (10 ft minimum from buildings for tanks 125-500 gal; greater setbacks for larger tanks). The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Bureau of Fire Services administers state-level LPG licensing under PA 207 of 1941 (the Michigan Fire Prevention Code). The 2018 and 2021 ICC cycles have NOT been adopted in Michigan - the 2015 code remains in force.

Backyard fires in Farmington Hills are tightly controlled under Chapter 12 (Fire Prevention and Protection), Sec. 12-14 of the Code of Ordinances. The only outdoor fire allowed in a Farmington Hills backyard is a small recreational fire at a single-family home, contained in an approved semi-enclosed device (manufactured outdoor fire pit, chiminea, or ceramic outdoor fireplace), burning only seasoned firewood. The fire must be constantly attended, extinguishing equipment must be immediately available, and a safe distance must be maintained from any structure. Cooled coals must be stored in a metal container kept outside the home. Open ground fires, bonfires, brush piles, and burning in unapproved devices are prohibited - 'regardless of the device, nothing [other than the approved semi-enclosed recreational fire] is permitted.' Recreational fires at multi-family dwellings (apartments, condominiums, townhouses) are not allowed. Yard waste, leaves, refuse, treated/painted wood, and construction debris may never be burned. The Farmington Hills Fire Department Fire Prevention Division (248-871-2820) enforces Sec. 12-14 and may issue tickets or cost-recovery invoices for unauthorized backyard fires.

Curb markings on Farmington Hills public streets are installed and maintained only by the City of Farmington Hills Department of Public Services under federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) standards as adopted through Chapter 30 (Traffic and Motor Vehicles) of the City Code. Private property owners may not paint, alter, or add markings to a public curb. Underlying Michigan Vehicle Code distance setbacks under MCL 257.674 apply at all times whether or not the curb is painted: no stopping, standing, or parking within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, in an intersection, on a sidewalk, on a crosswalk, in front of a driveway, or within thirty feet of a flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic-control signal at the side of a roadway.

Farmington Hills regulates recreational vehicle (RV), boat, trailer, and recreational equipment parking primarily through its Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 34) and through Chapter 30 (Traffic and Motor Vehicles) for on-street parking. The City's Common Zoning Ordinances index lists Section 34-4.14 as the governing accessory-use provision for commercial vehicles on residential lots, with parallel recreational-equipment standards in the residential-district accessory use provisions. On the on-street side, Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674-682 governs stopping, standing, and parking on Farmington Hills public streets, and MCL 257.252a authorizes removal of an abandoned vehicle that has remained on public property for forty-eight hours or more.

Driveway approaches and curb cuts in the Farmington Hills public right-of-way require a permit from the City of Farmington Hills Department of Public Services / Engineering Division. On-lot driveway and front-yard parking standards live in the Farmington Hills Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 34) and are enforced by the Planning and Community Development Department, Zoning Division. Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674 prohibits parking in front of a public or private driveway, on a sidewalk, in an intersection, within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, on a crosswalk, or within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, and these statewide setbacks are enforced on Farmington Hills streets by the Farmington Hills Police Department.

On-street parking in Farmington Hills is governed by Chapter 30 (Traffic and Motor Vehicles) of the City Code, with Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674-682 supplying the underlying distance setbacks and prohibited-place rules. MCL 257.674 prohibits stopping, standing, or parking within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection, in any intersection, on a sidewalk, in front of a public or private driveway, or within thirty feet of a flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic-control signal at the side of a roadway. Posted local signs control where time limits, no-parking zones, or permit requirements apply. Enforcement is by the Farmington Hills Police Department.

Farmington Hills does not advertise a single citywide overnight on-street parking ban for properly registered passenger vehicles, but the practical constraint is Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.252a, which treats a vehicle that has remained on public property for forty-eight hours or more as an abandoned vehicle subject to being taken into custody. The City also expects vehicles not to park on the street or over the sidewalk during or after a snowfall so that plows and emergency vehicles can pass. MCL 257.674 distance setbacks - fifteen feet from a fire hydrant, twenty feet from a crosswalk at an intersection, no parking in intersections, on sidewalks, or in front of driveways - apply at all hours.

Abandoned vehicles in Farmington Hills are handled under Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.252a, which treats a vehicle that has remained on public property for a period of not less than forty-eight hours as an abandoned vehicle subject to being taken into custody by a police agency. Within twenty-four hours after the vehicle is taken into custody, law enforcement must enter the vehicle as abandoned into the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) and notify the Secretary of State, which then notifies the registered owner. The Farmington Hills Police Department Traffic Safety Section assists private property owners with the removal of abandoned vehicles left on their property; the vehicles are removed only at the request of the property owner.

Farmington Hills regulates commercial vehicle parking on residential property through the City Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 34) accessory-use provisions. The City's Common Zoning Ordinances page identifies Section 34-4.14 as the operative provision governing commercial vehicles parked as an accessory to a one-family dwelling. Zoning Board of Appeals practice has applied Section 34-4.14(3) to commercial vehicles parked accessory to a single-family dwelling, with vehicle classification driven by physical characteristics and size under the City's code definitions. On the on-street side, Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674 distance setbacks apply to commercial vehicles citywide.

Farmington Hills regulates oversized vehicles primarily through zoning. Section 34-4.14 of the City Zoning Ordinance governs commercial vehicles parked as an accessory to a one-family dwelling, with vehicle classification driven by the City code's physical-characteristics-and-size definitions per Zoning Board of Appeals practice. The residential-district accessory use provisions of the Zoning Ordinance regulate RVs, boats, trailers, and other recreational equipment in the side and rear yards, with height-based setback rules for equipment exceeding six feet. On the public right-of-way, Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674 distance setbacks and the MCL 257.252a forty-eight-hour abandoned-vehicle window apply citywide.

Michigan has not enacted a statewide HOA/condominium 'right to charge' law for electric vehicles, so Farmington Hills residents in subdivisions and condominium associations remain bound by their governing documents on EV charging installations. The City has not adopted a standalone EV ordinance; home Level 2 chargers are permitted as electrical work under the locally adopted code through the City of Farmington Hills Building Division. The State of Michigan provides public EV charging stations in multiple locations within Farmington Hills, and parking a non-EV in a clearly signed EV charging-only space is enforceable through the property's signage and posted rules.

Farmington Hills places responsibility for sidewalk snow and ice removal on the abutting property owner or occupant. The City does not plow or salt sidewalks and has adopted a policy of not providing snow and ice control for the City's sidewalk network; residents are expected to clear snow and ice from sidewalks bordering their property as soon as a snowfall has ended. The City asks residents not to park on the street or over the sidewalk during or after a snowfall so that snowplows and emergency vehicles can pass. Local streets are plowed edge to edge and spot de-iced after major roads are cleared; plowing and clean-up operations continue twelve- to fifteen-hour days, seven days per week, until all local streets have been cleared. A snow emergency may be declared during major events, prohibiting all on-street parking.

Loading zones in Farmington Hills are installed and signed by the City Department of Public Services under Chapter 30 (Traffic and Motor Vehicles) of the City Code, following federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) standards. Off-street loading and unloading space requirements for nonresidential development live in the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 34). Loading vehicles must still comply with Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.674 distance setbacks: fifteen feet from a fire hydrant, twenty feet from a crosswalk at an intersection, no stopping on sidewalks, in intersections, on crosswalks, or in front of driveways, and thirty feet from a flashing signal, stop sign, or traffic-control signal at the side of a roadway.

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.

Retaining walls in Farmington Hills are regulated under the Michigan Residential Code (MRC) and Michigan Building Code (MBC), which the city has adopted as required by the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act (MCL 125.1501-1531). Under IRC R404.4 (incorporated by reference into the MRC), retaining walls more than 4 feet (footing to top) or any wall supporting a surcharge require an engineered design and a building permit from the Building Division.

Farmington Hills Sec. 34-5.12 prohibits barbed wire, razor wire, and any electric current or charge in residential fences. Conventional materials such as wood, vinyl, chain link, ornamental metal/aluminum, masonry, and composite are permitted subject to the 8-foot height limit, setback rules, and the 30-inch clear-vision triangle.

Farmington Hills requires a zoning permit for any fence regardless of size under Sec. 34-5.12. Residential fence permits are issued by the Zoning Division at $100. A building permit is not required for a residential fence, but zoning approval is. Commercial fences are processed through the Planning Office.

Beyond height, Sec. 34-5.12 of Farmington Hills' Zoning Chapter requires a zoning permit, compliance with the 30-inch clear-vision triangle, and observance of yard setback rules. Fences must be located on the permit-holder's property, must not contain barbed wire, razor wire, or electric current, and must comply with any HOA covenants in addition to the city code.

Under Farmington Hills Zoning Ordinance Sec. 34-5.12, fences may not exceed eight (8) feet in height and may be located within any yard except the minimum front yard setback or the minimum setback of a yard abutting a street. A 30-inch clear-vision triangle applies at street intersections, measured from the top of curb at street level.

Swimming pool barriers in Farmington Hills must comply with the Michigan Residential Code Appendix G (adopted from the 2015 IRC), which is preempted to the state by the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Act. A minimum 48-inch (4-foot) barrier is required, with openings no greater than 4 inches in diameter, and self-closing/self-latching gates with the latch at least 54 inches above grade. Chapter 28 of the Farmington Hills code (Sec. 28-26 through 28-30) further regulates pools locally.

Farmington Hills Sec. 34-5.12 does not restrict residential fence materials beyond prohibiting barbed wire, razor wire, and electric fencing. Wood, vinyl/PVC, chain link, aluminum/ornamental metal, masonry, and composite are permitted, with finished-side orientation at the owner's choice (the city does not mandate a smooth-side-out rule).

Farmington Hills Chapter 6 (Animals) does not contain a dedicated beekeeping ordinance, and Chapter 34 (Zoning) does not list 'apiary' or 'beekeeping' as a permitted accessory use in standard residential districts. Practical residential beekeeping in Farmington Hills therefore depends on (1) zoning compatibility verified through the Planning Department (248-871-2500), (2) Chapter 17 (Nuisances) considerations if hives create nuisance conditions for neighbors, and (3) compliance with the Michigan Bees Act (MCL 286.811 - 286.825) which requires every owner of bees or beekeeping equipment in Michigan to register annually with the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD). The Michigan Right to Farm Act does NOT protect new residential apiaries from local zoning. Beekeepers should verify zoning, secure HOA / deed approval, and register with MDARD before installing hives.

Farmington Hills adopted Ordinance C-5-2017 in 2017 prohibiting the feeding of deer within the city. The ordinance is part of the City's deer-management strategy in response to chronic deer overpopulation in this suburban Oakland County community. The local ban layers on top of Michigan's statewide ban on baiting and feeding deer in the Lower Peninsula (Michigan DNR Wildlife Conservation Order, adopted in 2018 in response to chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis), which categorically bans feeding deer anywhere in the Lower Peninsula regardless of municipal action. Songbird and squirrel feeders are not categorically banned but must not become attractants for deer; Chapter 17 (Nuisances) addresses feeders that draw rats, raccoons, or other vermin.

Farmington Hills has NO breed-specific dog ban. Pit bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, and other commonly-restricted breeds are legal in Farmington Hills without breed-specific permits, muzzle, or insurance requirements. Enforcement is conduct-based through Chapter 6 Article III (Dangerous Animals): Sec. 6-55 (potentially dangerous animal requirements - including a mandatory obedience class) and Sec. 6-62 (report of dangerous animal classification). Michigan does NOT have a statewide BSL preemption statute, so breed-specific local rules remain a local-option matter; Farmington Hills has chosen not to adopt one. Private restrictions - HOAs, leases, and homeowners insurers - frequently restrict breeds independently of City Code.

Farmington Hills Chapter 34 (Zoning Ordinance) restricts the keeping of horses, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, and other farm livestock to limited large-lot residential and any remaining agricultural zoning districts - generally parcels of one acre or larger in the city's lowest-density zones. In standard R-1 through R-4 subdivision residential, multi-family, mixed-use, commercial, and industrial districts, livestock keeping is NOT a permitted accessory use and is effectively prohibited. The historic Code accessory-structure setbacks (175 ft from the principal dwelling, 30 ft from neighboring dwellings, 5 ft from property lines) make livestock keeping on a typical 1/4-acre or 1/3-acre subdivision lot physically impossible even if zoning permitted it. Pre-existing operations may be grandfathered as legal nonconforming uses if not expanded. State law (MCL 287.701 et seq. Animal Industry Act) also applies for disease control.

Farmington Hills Chapter 6 Article III (Dangerous Animals) regulates possession of dangerous and exotic animals at the local level, allowing the City to classify any animal (not just dogs) as potentially dangerous (Sec. 6-55) or dangerous (Sec. 6-62) and impose registration, enclosure, and restraint requirements. State law preempts most large exotic mammal ownership: the Michigan Large Carnivore Act (MCL 287.1101 - 287.1123, Act 274 of 2000) BANS new acquisition or possession of lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cougars, panthers, cheetahs, bears, and hybrids of these species in Michigan. Only animals owned before the Act's effective date (Apr 1, 2000) could be grandfathered under strict permit conditions including $250,000 liability insurance. Local field enforcement is Oakland County Animal Control (248-858-1070); state enforcement is MDARD and the DNR.

Farmington Hills is a fully built-out suburban city and does NOT have a permissive backyard-chicken ordinance comparable to Detroit, Ann Arbor, or Ferndale. Chapter 6 (Animals) of the Farmington Hills Code of Ordinances governs domestic and farm animal keeping, and the Chapter 34 Zoning Ordinance restricts agricultural uses including keeping of fowl and livestock to limited large-lot residential and agricultural districts. As a practical matter, on standard R-1/R-2/R-3 residential lots in Farmington Hills, keeping chickens, roosters, ducks, geese, turkeys, peafowl, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, or swine is not a permitted accessory use. Residents must check with the Farmington Hills Planning Department (248-871-2500) and Zoning Division (248-871-2400) before acquiring poultry or livestock. Oakland County Animal Control (248-858-1070) enforces field-level animal welfare and at-large issues. Violations are misdemeanors or municipal civil infractions under Chapter 1, Sec. 1-15 of the Code (penalty provisions).

Farmington Hills Chapter 6 Article II (Dogs and Cats) requires dogs to be under physical restraint when off the owner's property and prohibits dogs running at large. Annual dog licensing is required at four months of age or within 30 days of moving to Farmington Hills, with proof of current rabies vaccination required. Licensing is administered by Oakland County under the Michigan Dog Law of 1919 (MCL 287.262 et seq.) and can be obtained through DocuPet (online), Oakland County Animal Control, or the Farmington Hills Treasury counter. Fees: $55/year spayed-neutered, $65/year intact (3-year licenses also available). Field enforcement is by Oakland County Animal Control (248-858-1070) and Farmington Hills Public Safety (248-871-2610).

A Tree Removal Permit must be obtained from the Farmington Hills Planning Office prior to all tree removal activity involving trees six (6) inches or more DBH (diameter at breast height) in accordance with City of Farmington Hills Zoning Chapter 34-5.18. The requirement applies citywide, not just to development sites. Replacement trees must have shade potential and other characteristics comparable to the trees being removed. Trees within ten (10) feet of the building envelope must be replaced when removed.

Michigan has no statewide volume cap on residential rainwater collection, and Farmington Hills does not regulate residential rain barrels under its municipal code. Rain-barrel installations must conform to the Michigan Plumbing Code where they connect to building systems, and any cross-connection to potable water requires backflow protection. The Oakland County RainSmart Rebates program offers up to $2,000 to homeowners in southeast Oakland County (including Farmington Hills) for rain barrels, rain gardens, and tree-planting installations.

Farmington Hills does not prohibit artificial turf on residential, commercial, or institutional property. Michigan has no statewide artificial-turf or non-functional-turf prohibition equivalent to Colorado SB 24-005. Artificial-turf installations on developed sites that affect impervious-surface coverage are subject to Chapter 34 (Zoning) site-plan review and the City's Storm Water Management Plan / MS4 NPDES permit obligations to the Rouge River watershed.

Farmington Hills does not require a permit to prune healthy trees on private residential property. Trees in the public right-of-way and on City-owned property are maintained by the Department of Public Services (DPS) in coordination with the Planning Office, which administers the Zoning Chapter 34-5.18 tree provisions. Farmington Hills is a Tree City USA designated by the Arbor Day Foundation and observes Arbor Day annually as part of program participation.

Farmington Hills does not mandate native plants in private landscapes, but actively encourages native and Michigan-adapted species through the City's Reduce Flooding campaign as a way to slow rainfall and reduce runoff into the Rouge River. Native-meadow plantings that exceed the 8-inch grass-height standard in Chapter 17, Article II may still be subject to nuisance abatement within the 100-foot trigger zones, so coordination with Code Enforcement is recommended. Michigan has NO statewide HOA xeriscape protection law equivalent to Colorado's CRS 38-33.3-106.5.

Chapter 17 (Nuisances), Article II of the Farmington Hills Code of Ordinances requires property owners on land within 100 feet of a platted subdivision, single-family residential condominium, or any major road to keep noxious vegetation and lawn grass cut to a maximum height of eight (8) inches above ground level, or to a level that prohibits a flower-bearing state, whichever is less. Vegetation not appropriately cut by June 1 and thereafter for the remainder of the year may be cut by the City, with the owner billed for the cost of each cut as provided in Section 17-29.

Farmington Hills regulates noxious vegetation locally through Chapter 17 (Nuisances), Article II, alongside the 8-inch grass-height standard. State-level invasive-plant authority sits with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and EGLE under Part 413 of NREPA (MCL 324.41301 et seq.). In May 2026, the Michigan Commission of Agriculture & Rural Development added six species — callery pear, common buckthorn, glossy buckthorn, Japanese barberry, water hyacinth, and water lettuce — to the State's Prohibited and Restricted Plant lists.

Farmington Hills purchases drinking water from the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) — sourced from Lake Huron via the Lake Huron Water Treatment Plant in Port Huron and from the Detroit River via the Springwells Water Treatment Plant. From April 1 through October 31, outdoor watering follows a hard-coded odd/even address-based schedule under Chapter 33 (Water and Sewers), Article V — odd-numbered addresses water Monday/Wednesday/Saturday and even-numbered addresses water Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday, with no irrigation permitted between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Farmington Hills permits home occupations in single-family residential zoning districts under Sec. 34-4.15 of the Zoning Ordinance, provided the activity is conducted only by residents of the dwelling, occupies no more than 15% of the floor area, is not noticeable from the exterior, and serves no more than one client at a time. A Home Occupation Registration with the Department of Planning and Community Development is required.

Cottage food sales in Farmington Hills are governed by the Michigan Cottage Food Law (MCL 333.12601-12605), which preempts local licensing for direct-to-consumer sales of non-potentially hazardous foods up to $25,000 in gross annual sales. Farmington Hills does not impose additional licensing, but the operation still qualifies as a home occupation under Sec. 34-4.15 and a Home Occupation Registration is required.

Farmington Hills prohibits any exterior signage associated with a home occupation. Under Sec. 34-4.15 of the Zoning Ordinance, a home occupation must not be noticeable from the exterior of the dwelling — meaning no yard signs, window signs, illuminated signs, or other on-premises advertising. The Home Occupation Registration Application requires applicants to confirm no signs will be placed on the property.

Farmington Hills strictly limits customer traffic for home occupations. Under Sec. 34-4.15 of the Zoning Ordinance, no more than one (1) client or customer may be served at a time on the premises, and the activity may not be noticeable from the exterior. Non-resident employees and their vehicles are not permitted on or near the property.

Farmington Hills requires a Home Occupation Registration with the Department of Planning and Community Development before operating any home-based business. The application fee is $150 non-refundable, with a $75 annual renewal. A floorplan must accompany the application and zoning approval is required, with Fire Marshal approval if hazardous materials are involved.

Family child care homes in Farmington Hills are licensed by the State of Michigan under the Child Care Organizations Act (MCL 722.111 et seq., particularly MCL 722.117a) through the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). Family Child Care Homes serve up to 6 children; Group Child Care Homes serve 7-12 with a qualified assistant. The City treats the activity as a home occupation under Sec. 34-4.15.

Residential pool safety in Farmington Hills is governed by the Michigan Residential Code (2015 IRC) including Appendix G barriers, NEC Article 680 electrical (GFCI + equipotential bonding), and the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act for anti-entrapment drain covers. Local enforcement is by the Building Division; Chapter 28 (Sec. 28-26 to 28-30) handles location, setback, drainage, and operational rules.

Hot tubs and spas in Farmington Hills require both a building permit and an electrical permit through the Building Division. Under the Michigan Residential Code Appendix G as adopted by the state (Stille-DeRossett-Hale Act, MCL 125.1501-1531), a 48-inch barrier is required UNLESS the spa or hot tub has a safety cover that complies with ASTM F1346 - the cover serves as an alternative to the barrier. Chapter 28 of the Farmington Hills code implements these standards locally.

Pool barriers in Farmington Hills must meet IRC Appendix G as adopted in the Michigan Residential Code: minimum 48-inch height, no 4-inch sphere openings, self-closing/self-latching gates opening outward with latch at least 54 inches above grade, and dwelling-as-barrier door/window alarms unless a powered ASTM F1346 cover is used. Chapter 28 Sec. 28-26 through 28-30 implements these requirements locally.

Farmington Hills requires a building permit (including electrical permit) for any swimming pool, spa, or hot tub. Permits are issued by the Building Division at (248) 871-2450. Pools are regulated under Chapter 28 of the Farmington Hills code (Sec. 28-26 through 28-30) and must comply with the state-adopted Michigan Residential Code, which is preempted to the state by the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Act (MCL 125.1501-1531).

Carports in Farmington Hills are accessory structures regulated under Chapter 34 of the Zoning Ordinance. A building permit is required for any carport that is structurally attached, has a permanent foundation, or exceeds 200 square feet. Carports must observe accessory-structure setback and yard placement rules and may not be placed in required front yards.

Farmington Hills does not have an accessory dwelling unit ordinance — separate ADUs are not a permitted accessory use in single-family districts under Chapter 34. Michigan currently has no statewide ADU mandate; House Bills 5529-5532 and HB 5585 of the 2025-2026 Housing Forward Act package would create one but remained in House Committee as of early 2026.

Farmington Hills does not have a tiny-home ordinance. Permanent tiny houses must comply with the Michigan Residential Code minimum-dwelling standards and Chapter 34 single-family district minimum floor-area requirements, which generally exceed typical tiny-home sizes. Tiny houses on wheels (THOWs) are RVs under state law and cannot be used as a permanent residence in residential zones.

Farmington Hills requires a building permit for sheds over 200 square feet. Sheds 200 sq ft and under are reviewed by Zoning for placement only, with no building permit required. All sheds must comply with Chapter 34 accessory-structure setback and yard placement rules and HOA covenants.

Farmington Hills requires a building permit for any garage and for converting garage space to habitable use. Because the City does not permit accessory dwelling units in single-family districts, converting a garage into a separate rental or second living unit is not permitted — the converted space must remain part of the principal single-family dwelling.

Farmington Hills participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and regulates floodplain development under the local zoning ordinance (Chapter 34) in conjunction with EGLE floodplain review under Part 31 of NREPA, MCL 324.3101 et seq. (Floodplain Regulatory Authority MCL 324.3104 / 324.30301). Mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) follow the Rouge River and its tributaries through the City — including the Main Branch, Middle Rouge, Upper Rouge, Tarabusi Creek, and Minnow Pond Drain corridors. Use Oakland County's Property Gateway floodplain GIS or the FEMA Map Service Center to identify your flood zone, and contact the Farmington Hills Building Division at (248) 871-2450 before any floodplain work.

Farmington Hills is a Phase II Jurisdictional MS4 community in the Rouge River watershed regulated under EGLE NPDES General Permit MIS040000 and is a Primary Member of the Alliance of Rouge Communities (ARC). Local stormwater authority is codified in Chapter 33 (Water and Sewers), Article IX — Stormwater Management of the Farmington Hills Code of Ordinances and administered by the Department of Public Services / Engineering Division at (248) 871-2560. The City has adopted a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) under the MS4 general permit and runs an Illicit Discharge Elimination Plan (IDEP), public education through Project Rouge River at Home, and post-construction stormwater controls.

Grading and drainage in Farmington Hills are regulated through the Engineering Design Standards (Department of Public Services / Engineering Division), Chapter 33 Article IX of the Code (Stormwater Management), and the Part 91 Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control program administered by the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner. Post-construction stormwater controls — detention basins, bioretention, sand filters, infiltration trenches — must be sized to match the EGLE NPDES MS4 General Permit MIS040000 requirements and the Alliance of Rouge Communities Rouge River Watershed Management Plan. Drainage that crosses neighbor property lines also implicates the Michigan Drain Code (Act 40 of 1956, MCL 280.1 et seq.) and the Oakland County WRC's jurisdiction over established county drains.

Soil erosion and sedimentation control (SESC) in Farmington Hills is administered under Part 91 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, MCL 324.9101 et seq., with permit issuance and inspection delegated to the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner (WRC) for projects in Farmington Hills. A Part 91 SESC permit is REQUIRED for any earth change disturbing one (1) or more acres OR any earth change occurring within 500 feet of a lake, stream, wetland, or drain — including the Rouge River and its tributaries. Smaller residential sites are administered by the Farmington Hills Engineering Division. Soil erosion and silt must be controlled and contained on site.

Adult home cultivation of marihuana is LEGAL in Farmington Hills under the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (MRTMA), MCL 333.27951 to 333.27967, approved by voters in 2018. Adults 21 and over may grow up to twelve (12) marihuana plants per household for personal use, provided the plants are not visible from a public place without binoculars or other visual aids and are kept in an enclosed, locked area. Farmington Hills has OPTED OUT of commercial marihuana establishments (no dispensaries, growers, processors, or retailers) but cannot prohibit personal home cultivation, which is preserved by MCL 333.27954 against local override.

Farmington Hills has OPTED OUT of all commercial marihuana establishments — there are NO licensed recreational marihuana retailers, growers, processors, microbusinesses, designated consumption establishments, secure transporters, or safety compliance facilities permitted in Farmington Hills. The opt-out is authorized by MCL 333.27956 (MRTMA Section 6) and is codified in the Farmington Hills Code at Chapter 18 (Offenses), Article II, Section 18-9 (prohibition of marihuana establishments) and reflected in the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 34) by the absence of any marihuana-establishment use district. Farmington Hills also prohibits medical marihuana provisioning centers under the same Section 18-9 framework. Residents must travel to opted-in municipalities (e.g., Hazel Park, Ferndale, Detroit) to purchase regulated cannabis at retail.

Solar PV systems in Farmington Hills require both a building permit and an electrical permit from the Building Division at (248) 871-2450, with electrical interconnection through the serving utility (DTE Energy for most of Farmington Hills; some areas are Consumers Energy). The Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 34, Section 3.26) ALLOWS solar energy collectors in ALL zoning districts. Roof-mounted solar may exceed the district height limitations if the installation is an addition to a roof and does not block solar access of adjoining buildings (§ 34-3.26.3.B.ii). Solar collectors may extend 2 inches per foot of yard into side yards and 3 feet into front and rear yards (§ 34-3.26.7.A & B).

Michigan adopted the Homeowners' Energy Policy Act (Public Act 68 of 2024, MCL 559.301 to 559.317), signed July 8, 2024 and effective April 1, 2025, which VOIDS any homeowners' association provision that 'prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the installation of a solar energy system' on residential property. HOAs must adopt a written Solar Energy Policy Statement by April 1, 2026 setting REASONABLE rules on location, screening, and design. Outright bans are unenforceable. Condominium associations under the Michigan Condominium Act (MCL 559.101 et seq.) are also subject to certain solar provisions, though application to condo associations under PA 68 is the subject of practitioner debate.

Farmington Hills regulates signs in Chapter 34 (Zoning), administered by the Planning Department (248-871-2540). The City's sign code is content-neutral after Reed v. Town of Gilbert (576 U.S. 155 (2015)) and follows time, place, and manner regulation — duration of display, size of display, materials, and placement — so any sign type allowed for temporary signs may carry a political message. On Michigan state-trunkline rights-of-way (M-5 / Grand River Avenue / I-696 / Northwestern Highway), Michigan's Highway Advertising Act of 1972 (Act 106 of 1972, MCL 252.301 et seq.) governs and political signs must sit more than 30 feet from the edge of pavement (or, where there is a barrier curb, more than three feet behind the back of the curb) and must not be placed within limited-access freeway rights-of-way. Placement on the City's local street rights-of-way is regulated by the City.

Farmington Hills does not set a calendar-based take-down date for residential holiday lights, wreaths, inflatables, or seasonal decorations. Decorations without a commercial message generally fall outside the Chapter 34 sign definition. Practical limits come from sight-distance / clear-vision rules in Chapter 34, the nuisance / blight provisions of Chapter 17, illumination spillover rules, and HOA covenants. Light displays may not project glare onto a public right-of-way or a neighbor's residential premises.

Farmington Hills regulates all temporary signs in a content-neutral way under Chapter 34 (Zoning), so the rules that apply to a small temporary sign apply equally to a garage-sale sign. A garage-sale sign on the host's own residential lot is allowed without a City sign permit. Off-premise signs in the public right-of-way of City streets — staked at intersections, in tree lawns, on utility poles, in medians — may be removed by City staff. On MDOT state trunklines (Grand River / M-5, I-696, Northwestern Highway), MDOT enforces the Michigan Highway Advertising Act of 1972 (MCL 252.301 et seq.).

Farmington Hills is unusual among Michigan cities in that the City does not plow or salt residential sidewalks and does not impose a citywide ordinance requiring residents to shovel adjoining sidewalks within a set number of hours after snowfall. The City's stated policy is that 'Given the frequency of thaws in Southeastern Michigan, pedestrians can safely use sidewalks throughout most of the winter.' However, under Code Sec. 26-82 (Maintenance), 'No person shall permit any sidewalk which adjoins property owned by such person to fall into a state of disrepair or to be unsafe,' which the City may enforce against persistently unsafe sidewalk conditions including ice that creates a hazard.

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's Permits/Licenses page expressly states that 'A special event permit is not required for garage/yard sales at private residences.' Garage-sale signs on the host's own residential property are allowed without a City sign permit under Chapter 34 (Zoning) — off-premise / right-of-way signs are not. HOAs in many Farmington Hills subdivisions impose private CC&R rules on garage sales that the City does not enforce.

Under Farmington Hills Code Sections 17-26 through 17-31, every property owner — vacant or occupied — must keep weeds, grass, and other noxious vegetation under control. The City's Notice to Cut Grass and Weeds is issued each spring; the Zoning and Code Enforcement Division (248-871-2540) may cut the growth and charge the cost back to the owner, with a civil fine of up to $500. The rental-inspection standard in Chapter 7 Sec. 7-350 separately cites 'weeds and grass in excess of 8 inches' as a violation. State authority sits in MCL 247.61 (county noxious-weed authority) and the Michigan Noxious Weed Act, Act 359 of 1941 (MCL 247.61 et seq.).

Farmington Hills enforces property blight under Chapter 17 of the Code of Ordinances, Sections 17-51 through 17-77, administered by the Planning Department's Zoning and Code Enforcement Division (248-871-2540). The City also enforces the 2015 International Property Maintenance Code through Chapter 7 (Buildings and Building Regulations), Article VIII, applied to single-family rental dwellings under Ordinance C-7-2014 and Sec. 7-350. Listed violations include accumulation of rubbish or garbage, disrepair of sidewalks and driveways, weeds and grass in excess of 8 inches, nuisance insect / rodent infestation, and inoperative or unlicensed vehicles.

Residential garbage and recycling in Farmington Hills is collected weekly by Priority Waste under contract with the City. Carts may be placed at the curb no earlier than 6:00 PM the day before collection and must be removed within 12 hours after collection. Pickup runs 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Acceptable containers are 95-gallon Priority Waste carts, 10-35 gallon metal/plastic cans (under 60 lbs), or 10-30 gallon plastic bags (under 40 lbs). Cardboard boxes are not acceptable containers. Contact the Division of Public Works at 248-871-2850 for missed pickups, damaged carts, or bulk-item collection.

Outdoor lighting in Farmington Hills is governed by the Zoning Chapter 34 of the Code of Ordinances, specifically Sec. 34-5.16 (Exterior Lighting), as substantially revised by Ordinance No. C-7-2013 adopted by the City Council on August 12, 2013. The ordinance requires that all outdoor lighting be installed in conformance with the Zoning Ordinance, applicable Electrical and Energy Codes, and applicable sections of the Michigan Building Code. Exterior lights of more than 1,400 lumens are permitted only if the light source is down-lit to reduce intensity and glare and is arranged to reflect lights away from all sides (i.e., toward the ground and away from adjacent properties and the public right-of-way). Flood or spotlights used for external illumination with a lamp rated at 900 lumens or less are permitted in any use district provided they are not aimed, directed, or focused toward residential districts or uses or toward a public street. Site-plan-approval projects (commercial, multi-family, mixed-use, institutional) must comply with additional Sec. 34-5.16 requirements during Planning Department review. Michigan has NO state dark-sky law and Farmington Hills is NOT listed on DarkSky International's roster of certified communities; the controls in Sec. 34-5.16 are the city's dark-sky-style framework. The 2015 Michigan Building Code (adopted via MCL 125.1502 / Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act) is the underlying construction-code reference; Michigan has not adopted the 2018 or 2021 ICC cycles.

Farmington Hills residential garbage, recycling, yard waste, and bulk pickup are provided weekly by Priority Waste under a long-term contract with the City, administered by the Division of Public Works at (248) 871-2850. Standard service is a 95-gallon trash cart (as of October 2023) for weekly curbside collection, with single-stream recycling and yard waste from early April through early December. Five major holidays — Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day — delay collection for the rest of that week. Recycling drop-off and household hazardous waste are coordinated regionally through the Resource Recovery and Recycling Authority of Southwest Oakland County (RRRASOC).

Farmington Hills requires residents to place trash carts, recycling carts, and yard waste at the curb or at the edge of the street in front of the home NO EARLIER than 6:00 PM on the day before collection, and to REMOVE containers from the curb NO LATER than 12 hours following collection. Containers must be on the resident's property and accessible to the hauler. The rules are administered by the Division of Public Works at (248) 871-2850 under Chapter 17 (Nuisances) of the Farmington Hills Code and the Priority Waste service rules. Improper placement is enforceable as a municipal civil infraction.

Bulk items in Farmington Hills are collected by Priority Waste on the resident's regularly scheduled collection day with NO advance call required and at NO additional charge (included in the monthly service rate). Eligible bulk items include furniture, mattresses/box springs, refrigerators or freezers with doors removed, stoves, and similar household items incidental to housekeeping in single-family residences. Mattresses/box springs infested with bed bugs MUST be wrapped in plastic. Refrigerators, freezers, and AC units must have refrigerant recovered by an EPA Section 608-certified technician under 40 CFR 82.156. Electronics, hazardous waste, construction debris, and tires are EXCLUDED — use RRRASOC drop-off events. Contact DPW at (248) 871-2850.

Federal and Michigan state law preempt almost all local drone regulation in Farmington Hills. Under the Michigan Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act (Act 436 of 2016, MCL 259.301 et seq.), Sec. 259.305(1) states that 'a political subdivision of this state shall not enact or enforce an ordinance or resolution that regulates the ownership or operation of unmanned aircraft.' Federal Part 107 (commercial) and 49 U.S.C. § 44809 (recreational) govern airspace and operator certification. MCL 259.322 prohibits drone harassment, voyeurism, and use in a manner that violates a restraining order — capturing photos / video of an individual where the individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy is unlawful.

Operating a food truck in Farmington Hills requires (1) a Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Mobile Food Establishment or Special Transitory Food Unit (STFU) license under the Michigan Food Law of 2000 (Act 92 of 2000, MCL 289.1101 et seq.), administered locally by the Oakland County Health Division (248-858-1280); (2) compliance with the City's Special Event / Temporary Outdoor Sales process under Code Sec. 22-119 when operating at an event or on private property; and (3) Oakland County Health Division inspection / health permit. State law (MCL 289.4101) preempts local food-establishment licensing, but local zoning, special-event, and fire-safety rules remain enforceable.

Farmington Hills does not designate dedicated food-truck vending zones. Food trucks may operate from private property with the owner's written consent (subject to Chapter 34 zoning), at a permitted special event under Code Sec. 22-119, and on City-owned property only with City approval. Operation from any public right-of-way, City street, sidewalk, or required buffer is prohibited under Chapter 26 (Streets) and the City's special-event-permit framework. State licensing (MDARD MFE or STFU) is required for the unit, and Oakland County Health Division inspection / notification applies.

Farmington Hills sets minimum front, side, and rear yard setbacks district-by-district in Chapter 34 of the Zoning Ordinance. Single-family districts (RA-1, RA-2A, RA-2B, RA-3, RA-4) have progressively smaller setbacks as lot sizes shrink. Accessory structures have separate, smaller setbacks. Property owners should confirm setbacks for their specific parcel with the Zoning Division before any construction.

When a tree of 6 inches DBH or larger is removed under a Chapter 34-5.18 Tree Removal Permit, replacement trees must have shade potential and other characteristics comparable to the removed trees, and must be of the same species as the removed trees where available from Michigan nurseries. Trees existing within ten (10) feet of the building envelope must be replaced when removed. Deciduous trees relocated rather than removed are capped at ten-inch caliper or DBH for transplant feasibility.

A Tree Removal Permit must be obtained from the Farmington Hills Planning Office prior to all tree removal activity involving trees six (6) inches or more DBH, in accordance with City of Farmington Hills Zoning Chapter 34-5.18. The requirement applies citywide — including single-family residential parcels — and is among the stricter tree-removal permit thresholds in southeast Michigan. The Planning Office at (248) 871-2400 issues permits, reviews replacement plans, and verifies field markings.

Farmington Hills' tree-protection framework rests on Zoning Chapter 34-5.18 (citywide 6-inch DBH Tree Removal Permit), Chapter 34-5.14 (landscape standards), and Chapter 31 (Vegetation), supplemented by Chapter 17 (Nuisances) for grass and noxious vegetation. The City is a Tree City USA designated by the Arbor Day Foundation. Michigan-state layers include NREPA Part 503 (Forest Practices Act, MCL 324.50301), Part 413 (Invasive Species, MCL 324.41301), and the Wetlands Protection Act (MCL 324.30101).

Farmington Hills does not maintain a stand-alone heritage-tree or champion-tree registry. Instead, the 6-inch DBH citywide permit trigger under Chapter 34-5.18 functions as the de facto specimen-tree protection — any tree meeting the threshold is subject to permit review before removal, with retention encouraged and replacement required for trees near building envelopes. The Michigan Botanical Foundation and Michigan DNR maintain informal champion-tree records at the state level.

HVAC and other fixed mechanical equipment (air conditioner condensers, chillers, rooftop units, pool pumps, generators, heat pumps) are regulated under Sec. 17-101(c) Table A receiving-property caps. In residential districts the cap at the adjacent property line is 60 dB(A) day (7a-7p), 55 dB(A) evening (7p-10p), and 50 dB(A) night (10p-7a). Sec. 17-101(e) (intermittent / pure-tone sounds) provides separate authority for citing compressor cycling, chiller tones, and reverse alarms even where peak meter readings sit below Table A. Sec. 17-101(f) special exception is available for legacy equipment that cannot meet the cap.

Farmington Hills does NOT have a dedicated running-bamboo containment ordinance. Bamboo plantings, including running varieties like Phyllostachys aureosulcata and Phyllostachys nigra, are not categorically prohibited by the Farmington Hills Code. However, Chapter 17 (Nuisances) addresses noxious vegetation and overgrowth that can be applied to bamboo that spreads onto neighbor properties or into the public right-of-way. Chapter 11 (Fences) governs property-line fencing where rhizome barriers may be installed. State law (Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act - NREPA Part 413, Invasive Species) regulates certain prohibited invasive plants but does not currently list common landscape bamboo species. Bamboo-rhizome-spread disputes are most commonly resolved as private nuisance / trespass claims under Michigan common law.