Moving to Flint, MI?

Bishop International Airport (FNT/KFNT) sits in southwestern Flint (3425 W Bristol Rd), surrounded by Flint Township and Mundy Township, and is run by the Bishop International Airport Authority - a joint Genesee County / City of Flint authority formed in 1987. Flint Code Section 31-77(e) exempts aircraft and trains from Article II, and 49 U.S.C. Section 40103 federally preempts municipal regulation of aircraft in flight.

Flint Code of Ordinances Chapter 31 Article II (the Noise Control Ordinance, adopted by Ord. 2741 on 10-22-1979) defines NIGHTTIME in Section 31-71 as 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. and DAYTIME as 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Section 31-75 then sets continuous-noise caps at 60 dBA day and 50 dBA night in residential receiving areas, measured at the property boundary line.

Flint Code Section 31-77(f) exempts the erection, excavation, demolition, alteration or repair of any building from the Article II dBA caps between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays only. Work outside that window requires a permit from the Department of Building and Safety Inspection, issued under Section 31-77(f)(2) on public-health-or-safety, no-impairment, or substantial-loss-or-inconvenience findings.

Flint Code Section 31-72(b)(4) makes it unlawful to own, possess, or harbor any animal or bird which frequently or for continued duration howls, barks, meows, squawks or makes other sounds creating a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary. The reasonable-person test in Section 31-71 supplies the disturbance standard; no fixed minutes threshold is published.

Flint Code Section 31-72(b)(10) prohibits operating any mechanically powered saw, drill, sander, grinder, lawn or garden tool, snowblower, or similar device outdoors in residential areas during nighttime (9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.) in a manner causing a noise disturbance across a residential real property boundary, except in an emergency. There is no gas-blower ban.

Flint Code Section 31-72(b)(1) prohibits operating any radio, television, phonograph, drum, musical instrument, sound amplifier, or similar device in a manner creating a noise disturbance across a real property boundary, or at 50 feet from a vehicle on a public right-of-way. Section 31-72(b)(2) separately regulates loudspeakers and public-address systems. Section 31-72(b)(7) caps live-venue interior sound at 100 dBA without a posted warning sign.

Vehicle noise in Flint runs through three layers. Section 31-72(b)(1)(b) of the City Code prohibits sound devices in a vehicle creating a disturbance at 50 feet on a public right-of-way. Section 31-72(b)(6) bans vehicle/motorboat repair or testing causing a residential boundary disturbance. State law MCL 257.707c preempts municipal motor vehicle noise standards and sets the controlling 86/90 dBA caps at 50 feet.

Industrial sources in Flint face four-tier dBA caps under Chapter 31 Article II: Section 31-73 impulsive (100 dBA day / 90 night), Section 31-74 intermittent (80 / 55), Section 31-75 continuous (70 / 65), Section 31-76 perpetual (60 / 55). Limits are measured at the RECEIVING property boundary, so an industrial source adjacent to residential is effectively held to the residential cap.

Flint adopted a short-term rental ordinance in 2017 (Ordinance No. 4063, amending Title XV of the Flint Code of Ordinances) that requires hosts renting a dwelling for periods of less than 30 days to register the unit, obtain a city business license, and comply with rental certification under Michigan's Housing Law. Hosts must also collect the Michigan 6% Use Tax on transient accommodations (MCL 205.93a) and the Genesee County accommodations excise tax authorized under MCL 141.861 et seq. Statewide STR preemption proposed in Michigan HB 4722 (2024) remains pending.

Flint short-term rental hosts are responsible for guest noise under the city's general noise and nuisance provisions in the Flint Code of Ordinances. Flint does not impose an STR-specific decibel limit, so disturbances are enforced through the citywide noise chapter and Michigan's disorderly-persons statute (MCL 750.167). Repeat noise complaints at an STR address can support nonrenewal of the rental Certificate of Compliance under Public Act 247 of 2014 (MCL 125.526).

Short-term rental operators in Flint must collect the Michigan 6% Use Tax on accommodations under MCL 205.93a (administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury) and the Genesee County accommodations excise tax authorized by the Hotel-Motel Tax Act, MCL 141.861 et seq. (currently 5% in Genesee County). The combined rate is 11% on every stay of less than 30 consecutive days. Stays of 30 days or more by the same guest are exempt from both.

Flint does not impose STR-specific parking minimums, but short-term rentals are bound by the off-street parking requirements in the Flint Zoning Ordinance for the use district where the dwelling sits, and by the on-street parking rules in the Flint Code of Ordinances. Hosts must inform guests that posted time limits and winter snow-emergency rules apply, and routine on-street overflow from a registered rental can support code-enforcement action.

Flint does not set an STR-specific occupancy cap, but every rental dwelling must meet the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) minimum-area standards as adopted through Michigan's Construction Code Act (Public Act 230 of 1972, MCL 125.1501 et seq.) and the city's rental certification program. IPMC Section 404 sets minimum sleeping-room area at 70 sq ft for one occupant plus 50 sq ft per additional occupant.

Flint does not require short-term rental hosts to carry a specific insurance policy or post a liability minimum, and Michigan has no statewide STR insurance mandate. However, hosts using Airbnb or VRBO rely on platform-provided host protection (AirCover up to $1M, VRBO Liability Insurance up to $1M), and a standard Michigan homeowner's policy almost always excludes commercial transient rental.

Flint regulates recreational fires through its adoption of the Michigan International Fire Code (MIFC) under the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act (PA 230 of 1972). Recreational fires must use a fire pit or approved container, burn only clean wood, be attended at all times, and not create a nuisance or excessive smoke for neighboring properties.

Flint regulates consumer fireworks under the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act (MCL 28.451 et seq., as amended by PA 257 of 2018), which preempts a full local ban but lets cities restrict use to the day before, day of, and day after national holidays. Fireworks may be ignited from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. (12:30 a.m. for July 5 and December 31) on those windows only.

Flint is not in a designated wildland fire zone, so it has no California-style defensible-space rule. Vegetation overgrowth is handled as a property-maintenance and blight issue under the Flint Code of Ordinances and the Michigan-adopted International Property Maintenance Code, which requires premises be kept free of weeds in excess of typical local limits (commonly 8 to 12 inches).

Open burning of yard waste, leaves, and refuse is prohibited in Flint. Michigan's Part 115 solid-waste law (MCL 324.11501 et seq.) bans open burning of yard waste in every municipality over 7,500 population, which includes Flint, and the Michigan-adopted IFC Section 307 reinforces the ban. Only contained recreational fires burning clean wood are allowed; piles, leaf burning, and burning of construction or demolition debris are not.

Flint is an urban industrial city in Genesee County in southeast Michigan and is not designated as a wildfire-prone area by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Michigan's elevated wildfire risk concentrates in the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula jack-pine and aspen forests. As a result, no WUI building code, defensible-space rule, or Cal Fire-style fuel-modification ordinance applies in Flint.

Propane (LP-gas) storage in Flint is regulated by IFC Chapter 61 and NFPA 58 as adopted by Michigan under the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Act (PA 230 of 1972). Residential cylinders for grills are largely unrestricted, but cylinders over 1 pound water capacity cannot be stored inside dwellings, and larger bulk tanks must meet setback, anchoring, and permit requirements from the Flint Fire Marshal.

Driveway construction in Flint is governed by the Chapter 50 Zoning Code parking standards and by Chapter 28 traffic provisions. The Zoning Code requires that residential driveways have a permanent surface of concrete, bituminous, brick or similar material (with pervious surfaces allowed subject to City policy) and that residential driveways extend at least 20 feet past the rear of the dwelling. Curb cuts and access drives require approval by the City's Division of Traffic Engineering.

Flint Chapter 50 (Zoning) prohibits any commercial vehicle from being located on a residentially-zoned property unless parked or stored within a completely enclosed building, with a narrow exception that one commercial vehicle of 3/4 ton size or smaller may be parked in a residential driveway. Commercial vehicles may park temporarily while making a delivery, pickup or service run. State enforcement runs through the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.674).

On-street parking in Flint is governed by Chapter 28 of the City Code and the Michigan Vehicle Code (Act 300 of 1949). MCL 257.674 sets the statewide prohibited-parking locations - sidewalks, driveways, crosswalks, within 15 feet of fire hydrants, within 20 feet of crosswalks, within 30 feet of stop signs or traffic signals, within 50 feet of railroad crossings. Section 28-94 of the Flint Code authorizes immediate removal of vehicles in posted tow-away zones, and Section 28-86 caps street parking at 24 hours.

Flint does not impose a blanket citywide overnight passenger-vehicle parking ban, but Section 28-86 of the City Code prohibits any vehicle from parking on a street for more than 24 hours, which limits long-term overnight storage. Posted block restrictions, snow-emergency parking bans declared through the Alert Flint system, and the front-yard prohibition in Section 28-103 all override the default. Commercial vehicles in residential zones must be stored inside a building under the Chapter 50 Zoning Code.

Michigan has not adopted a statewide EV-ready building mandate, and the City of Flint Chapter 50 Zoning Code does not impose a city-specific EV-ready percentage on new construction. EV Supply Equipment (EVSE) is reviewed under existing parking and accessory-use standards, with electrical permits issued by the Flint building official under the Michigan Electrical Code (Part 8 of the Michigan Construction Code, 2008 PA 407), which adopts NFPA 70 (NEC) including Article 625 for EV charging.

Abandoned vehicles in Flint are handled under Sections 28-31 through 28-38 of the City Code (Chapter 28) and the Michigan Vehicle Code at MCL 257.252a (Abandoned Vehicles). Flint Section 28-31 defines an abandoned vehicle as one that has remained on public or private property for 48 hours after a police agency has affixed written notice. MCL 257.252a directs the police agency to enter the abandoned vehicle into LEIN within 24 hours of taking custody.

RV, boat and camping-equipment parking in Flint is restricted by Section 28-86 of the City Code (Chapter 28, Motor Vehicles and Traffic), which prohibits parking any vehicle, recreational vehicle or camping equipment on any street for more than 24 hours. On private residential property, Chapter 50 (Zoning) prohibits parking or storing vehicles in the front yard except on a permitted driveway, and storage of an RV as a dwelling unit is not allowed.

Flint Code Sec. 17-4 caps fences in A, B, and C residential zoning at 6 feet behind the 50-foot front setback line and 5 feet (max 50% solid) within the front yard. Commercial D zoning allows up to 7 feet 6 inches; industrial E and F zoning has no height limit and permits barbed wire.

Flint requires a Certificate of Zoning Compliance for fence construction. The Zoning Division reviews placement against Sec. 17-4 height and material rules and Sec. 50-63 of the Chapter 50 Zoning Code before any fence is erected, altered, or replaced.

Flint Sec. 17-4 does not require neighbor consent to build a fence. Boundary-line disputes between adjoining owners are resolved under Michigan's partition-fence statute (MCL 43.51 et seq.) and the boundary-fence rule at MCL 600.2940, not by the city zoning office.

Flint Sec. 17-4 does not list approved residential fence materials but regulates construction features. Commercial and industrial fences over six feet must be built of incombustible material except for posts. Gates may not open over public property and must follow the same 50% open rule as the fence.

Residential pool barriers in Flint follow the Michigan Residential Code 2015 Appendix AG105, which requires a barrier at least 48 inches high around any pool deeper than 24 inches. Gates must open outward, self-close, and self-latch. Public pools follow MCL 333.12521+ and the Michigan Building Code Section 3109.

The City of Flint does not impose a numeric ceiling on the number of dogs, cats, or other companion animals per household in Chapter 9 of the Code. Limits are functional: each dog must be licensed through Genesee County, and all animals must receive adequate care under MCL 750.50, with the vicious-dog rule in Section 9-14.6 applying breed-neutrally.

City of Flint Code of Ordinances Chapter 9 Article XIV bars poultry and domestic fowl, other than household pets such as canaries and parakeets, on any residentially zoned lot within the City. Backyard chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys are not permitted in Flint residential districts. Larger livestock are also barred outside of agricultural zoning, which is effectively absent within City limits.

City of Flint Chapter 9 prohibits dogs from running at large and incorporates the Michigan Dog Law, MCL 287.262, which forbids any owner from allowing a dog to stray unless held properly in leash. Every dog four months or older must be licensed through the Genesee County Treasurer's Office with proof of current rabies vaccination.

The City of Flint has no breed-specific ban. Michigan has no statewide preemption of breed-specific legislation, but Flint's Section 9-14.6 regulates vicious dogs by behavior, not by breed. Pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds, and other breeds are lawful in Flint so long as the individual dog has not been declared vicious.

The City of Flint Code Chapter 9 has no beekeeping-specific ordinance. Apiaries fall under the Michigan Bee Law (1976 PA 412, MCL 286.301 et seq.) administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), and may also qualify for Right to Farm Act protection if operated per the relevant GAAMPs.

City of Flint Code Section 9-14.4 prohibits keeping any warm-blooded, carnivorous, or omnivorous wild or exotic animal not customarily a household pet, including nonhuman primates, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and wild or exotic cats. Michigan's Large Carnivore Act (MCL 287.1101 et seq.) separately bars big cats and bears statewide.

Animal hoarding in Flint is prosecuted under the Michigan Penal Code, MCL 750.50 (duty of care) and MCL 750.50b (intentional cruelty), as enforced by the Flint Police Department and Genesee County Animal Control. Twenty-five or more animals or three prior cruelty convictions elevate the offense to a felony with up to seven years in prison.

Intentional feeding and baiting of free-ranging white-tailed deer is banned across the entire Lower Peninsula of Michigan, including Genesee County and the City of Flint, under Natural Resources Commission Order pursuant to Part 401 of NREPA (MCL 324.40101 et seq.) and the CWD response framework. Bird feeders are allowed only if they do not also attract deer.

Grass height in the City of Flint is regulated under Chapter 39, Article IV (Weeds, Grass and the Like) of the Code of Ordinances. Section 39-43 declares the accumulation or growth of weeds, grass, brush, or other rank, noxious, poisonous, or otherwise harmful vegetation to a height greater than 8 inches a nuisance on developed parcels (subdivisions 60% built out along improved streets) and on any land within 200 feet of a structure designed for human occupancy or use. Section 39-44 establishes the May-through-September abatement season with the City Clerk publishing notice twice in April.

Tree trimming in the City of Flint is regulated under Chapter 45 (Trees and Shrubs) of the Flint Code of Ordinances. Trees on public property, in parks, or in the public right-of-way fall under the authority of the Recreation and Park Board and the City Forester (Section 45-5). Trimming a wholly private tree generally does not require a City permit. Section 45-11.1 authorizes the Forestry Division to remove trees, limbs, and shrubs that constitute an immediate hazard, with the Forestry Supervisor exercising discretion on hazard determinations.

Weed control in the City of Flint combines local Chapter 39 Article IV enforcement (8-inch height threshold for weeds, grass, brush, and rank, noxious, poisonous, or harmful vegetation) with Michigan's statewide Noxious Weeds Act (Act 359 of 1941, MCL 247.61-247.72). The City Clerk publishes seasonal abatement notice twice in April per Section 39-44, and the City may abate and lien recovery costs to the parcel. Pesticide application is governed by the Michigan Pesticide Control Act (Part 83 of NREPA, MCL 324.8301+).

The City of Flint does not impose day-to-day outdoor watering schedules or even/odd address restrictions. Flint's water utility - operated through the Department of Public Works and the Flint Water Service Center - draws from Lake Huron via the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) since the 2017 transition off the Flint River, and EPA lifted the 2016 Safe Drinking Water Act emergency order on May 19, 2025 after 97% of legacy lead service lines were replaced. Michigan does not have a statewide drought-emergency watering statute analogous to states like California; EGLE coordinates voluntary conservation guidance.

Tree removal in the City of Flint is governed by Chapter 45 (Trees and Shrubs) of the Flint Code of Ordinances. Removal of any tree on a street, in a park, or in the public right-of-way requires a permit from the Forestry Division within the Department of Parks and Recreation - the City Forester (per Section 45-5) and the Recreation and Park Board hold permitting authority. Section 45-11.1 separately authorizes the Forestry Supervisor to direct immediate-hazard removals. Routine removal of a wholly private dead, diseased, or hazardous tree generally does not require a City permit.

The City of Flint does not mandate native-plant landscaping on residential property. The Genesee County Land Bank Authority's Cleaner, Greener, Safer initiative is planting 1,600 native trees on vacant lots citywide. Michigan's Right to Farm Act (MCL 286.471-286.474, Act 93 of 1981) provides nuisance protection for qualifying agricultural operations and may preempt some local ordinances. Section 39-43's 8-inch nuisance rule still applies to neglected lots, but a maintained, intentional native-pollinator garden is distinguishable from rank growth.

Backyard composting in the City of Flint is permitted and encouraged. The City contracts with Priority Waste for curbside compost/yard waste collection on regular trash days, with the program running April 1 through the last week of November. Up to 20 bags or cans per pickup, container size 40 gallons or smaller, weight under 50 pounds. Michigan's Public Act 264 of 1990 (codified within Part 115 of NREPA, MCL 324.11521) banned yard clippings from landfills and incinerators in 1995. Open burning of leaves is regulated under Michigan Air Pollution Control rules (Part 55 of NREPA, MCL 324.5501+).

Flint regulates home occupations through Chapter 50 of the Flint City Code (the 2018 form-based Zoning Ordinance) under authority of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (MCL 125.3201 et seq.). Home occupations are typically permitted as accessory uses in residential transects subject to limits on floor area devoted to the business, exterior changes to the dwelling, non-resident employees, customer traffic, signage, outdoor storage, and noise. Michigan has no statewide home-occupation preemption (unlike Pennsylvania's MPC no-impact home business floor), so the precise standards (often categorized as customary home occupations versus those requiring special land use approval) are entirely set by Chapter 50.

Signage for home occupations in Flint is governed by the sign regulations in Chapter 50 of the Flint Zoning Ordinance. Typical home-occupation sign rules limit on-premises signs to one small, non-illuminated wall sign identifying the business (commonly capped at 1 to 2 square feet in residential transects). All Flint sign rules must be content-neutral under Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 576 U.S. 155 (2015), which subjects content-based sign distinctions to strict scrutiny. Major home occupations approved by special land use may allow modest signage subject to Planning Commission conditions. Michigan has no statewide preemption of municipal sign regulation outside the Highway Advertising Act (MCL 252.301 et seq.) for state and federal trunk lines.

Flint limits customer traffic to home occupations to preserve residential character in Chapter 50 of the Flint City Code. Typical Michigan home-occupation rules cap daily customer visits (commonly 4 to 8 per day for customary home occupations), restrict client hours (often 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.), require off-street parking for clients, and prohibit deliveries by tractor-trailer or other commercial vehicles inconsistent with residential use. Major home occupations with significant customer traffic require special land use approval from the Flint Planning Commission under MCL 125.3502. Unlike Pennsylvania, Michigan has no state-mandated home-business floor preempting local traffic limits.

Flint requires a building permit for any pool, hot tub, or spa deeper than 24 inches under the statewide Michigan Residential Code 2015 and Michigan Building Code 2015. Zoning Code Sec. 50-61 also limits placement to the rear yard with a minimum 7-foot setback from rear and side lot lines.

Every residential pool, hot tub, or spa deeper than 24 inches in Flint must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching gates opening outward, under Michigan Residential Code 2015 Appendix AG105 (statewide adoption). Public pools follow MCL 333.12521+ and MBC Section 3109.

Pools in Flint must comply with the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (15 USC 8003) for anti-entrapment drain covers, the Michigan Residential and Building Codes for bonding, GFCI protection, and barriers, and the Michigan Public Swimming Pool Act (MCL 333.12521+) for public pools.

Michigan municipalities lack explicit statutory authority to impose impact fees on new residential development. Unlike states with impact fee enabling acts (e.g., Florida's Impact Fee Act, Colorado C.R.S. 29-20-104.5), Michigan has not enacted a general impact fee statute, and Michigan Supreme Court doctrine in Bolt v. City of Lansing, 459 Mich. 152 (1998), draws a strict constitutional line between regulatory fees (permitted) and disguised taxes (prohibited under the Headlee Amendment without voter approval). As a result, Flint's typical ADU-related charges are limited to standard zoning and building permit fees plus water/sewer connection fees if separate service is established. Flint has not adopted a residential impact fee.

Converting a Flint garage into habitable space (a bedroom, in-law suite, home office, or ADU) requires both (1) zoning approval under the Flint Zoning Ordinance at Chapter 50 for the change of use, because the converted space is no longer accessory parking and may count toward floor area, trigger ADU classification, or affect the underlying district's parking minimums; and (2) a building permit under the Michigan Single State Construction Code (MCL 125.1501 et seq.) administered locally by the Flint Building Official. Converted habitable space must meet the Michigan Residential Code provisions adopted from the IRC, including emergency egress (IRC R310), minimum ceiling height (IRC R305), smoke and carbon monoxide alarms (IRC R314/R315), and light/ventilation (IRC R303).

Flint is a home-rule city in Genesee County (population approximately 81,000) operating under a comprehensive Zoning Ordinance rewrite codified at Chapter 50 of the Flint City Code on Municode (https://library.municode.com/mi/flint), adopted in 2018 as a hybrid form-based code implementing the Imagine Flint Master Plan. Michigan has no statewide accessory dwelling unit preemption statute; ADU permissibility, owner-occupancy requirements, density caps, and design standards in Flint are determined entirely by Chapter 50 under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (MCL 125.3201 et seq.). Property owners must consult the Zoning Ordinance and the Flint Department of Planning and Development (Zoning Administrator) for whether ADUs (referred to in form-based codes variously as accessory dwelling units, accessory apartments, or carriage houses) are permitted by right, by special land use, or by variance in the applicable transect or character zone.

Sheds and similar accessory structures in Flint are regulated through two layers: (1) the Flint Zoning Ordinance at Chapter 50 of the Flint City Code, which sets dimensional standards (size, height, setbacks, lot coverage, location relative to the principal dwelling) by transect or district; and (2) the Michigan Residential Code adopted under the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act (MCL 125.1501 et seq.), which under Section R105.2 generally exempts one-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds with a floor area of 200 square feet or less from building permits. The zoning permit / zoning compliance review through the Flint Department of Planning and Development is still required even when no building permit is needed.

An accessory dwelling unit in Flint requires permits from two municipal tracks: a zoning approval from the Flint Department of Planning and Development confirming the ADU is permitted in the underlying transect or character district under Chapter 50 (either by right, by special land use through the Planning Commission, or by variance through the Zoning Board of Appeals); and a building permit from the Flint Building Official under the Michigan Single State Construction Code at MCL 125.1513 for the construction itself. Michigan has no statewide ADU preemption like California's Gov. Code 65852.2 or Oregon's HB 2001, so timelines, fees, and approval criteria are set by Flint and the Michigan Single State Code.

Michigan has adopted the International Fire Code through the Michigan Fire Prevention Code (MCL 29.1 et seq.) and Bureau of Fire Services administrative rules. IFC §308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking devices (including charcoal grills and most propane grills) on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction in buildings other than one- and two-family dwellings (i.e., apartments and multi-family). A narrow exception allows LP-gas devices with limited cylinder size on balconies where the building is fully sprinklered, and electric grills are not restricted. For single-family Flint homes, the IFC restriction does not directly apply, but local property-maintenance and fire-prevention rules still govern safe storage of LP-gas cylinders.

The City of Flint operates a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) under NPDES Permit MI0053864 issued by Michigan EGLE. The Stormwater Management Program implements Michigan's Part 31 Water Resources Protection (MCL 324.3101+) and federal Clean Water Act requirements through an illicit discharge elimination program.

The Flint River runs through the center of Flint and creates significant FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) downtown, near Carriage Town, along Thread Creek, and Gilkey Creek tributaries. Properties in Zones A and AE must comply with Michigan EGLE floodplain rules under Part 31 and federal NFIP standards.

Solar panel installations on Flint homes require permits under the Michigan Single State Construction Code (MCL 125.1501 et seq., PA 230 of 1972) — specifically a building permit for roof-mount structural review and an electrical permit for the photovoltaic system interconnection. Michigan's renewable energy and distributed generation framework is set by the Clean and Renewable Energy and Energy Waste Reduction Act (MCL 460.1001 et seq., PA 295 of 2008 as amended by PA 235 of 2016 and PA 235 of 2023), which authorizes the Michigan Public Service Commission to regulate net metering and distributed generation programs. Consumers Energy and DTE Electric tariffs filed with the MPSC govern interconnection. Michigan has no comprehensive solar rights act preempting HOA restrictions.

Flint's sign chapter regulates political signs through content-neutral size, height, and placement rules after Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015) barred content-based sign restrictions. Signs must stay on private property with permission and out of the public right-of-way.

Flint's residential refuse container framework rests on Chapter 39 of the Flint Code of Ordinances (Refuse, Garbage and Weeds) and on the City's curbside contract with Priority Waste. Section 39-12 (Garbage, Waste - Domestic) requires garbage to be drained of free liquids, wrapped, and placed in covered receptacles; it also prohibits placement in uncovered receptacles or burning in unapproved incinerators. Beginning in fall 2024, every City of Flint household was issued one 96-gallon grey trash cart and one 64-gallon blue recycling cart at no cost (60,000+ carts distributed through a $1 million EGLE grant and $3.3 million from The Recycling Partnership).

Flint enforces blight through Chapter 31, Article III of the Flint Code of Ordinances (Blight Violations), enacted under the Michigan Home Rule City Act (MCL 117.4l and 117.4q). Section 31-81 designates specific Flint Code provisions (including §§ 30-3, 30-7, 30-8, 30-9, 30-11, 30-12, 30-13, 30-15, 30-30.1, 39-1, 39-5, 39-7, 39-9, 39-10, 39-32, 39-43 and 39-43.1, plus §§ 11-1 and 24-1 where they relate to exterior building condition or property maintenance) as 'blight violations' adjudicated as civil infractions by the City's Administrative Hearings Bureau (the 'Blight Court'). Maximum civil fine is $10,000 per violation under MCL 117.4q(7); no incarceration is available before that bureau.

As of May 2026, the City of Flint does NOT have an enacted citywide vacant-property registration ordinance - a proposed registry ($250 fee, 60-day vacancy trigger) was advanced by the Central Park Neighborhood Association and was scheduled for Flint City Council consideration in April 2026 but has not been adopted. Flint instead controls vacant-lot conditions through Section 39-43 (Accumulation of Growth of Weeds, Grass, Harmful Vegetation Deemed Nuisance) and § 39-43.1, enforced as blight violations by the Administrative Hearings Bureau, and routes tax-foreclosed and severely deteriorated parcels to the Genesee County Land Bank Authority under the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Act (Act 258 of 2003, MCL 124.751).

Flint Code Section 42-46 (Duty to Maintain Sidewalks) places the duty on 'every owner, agent or occupant of any lot or parcel of land situated within the City to keep and maintain good and sufficient sidewalks along all streets and avenues in front of or adjacent thereto.' Section 42-46 does not publish a specific hour-based clearance deadline for snow and ice; the underlying duty runs continuously, and Michigan premises-liability case law treats abutting owners and occupants as the responsible parties for safe passage when the City has shifted the duty by ordinance. The City of Flint's Street Maintenance division clears streets but not residential sidewalks.

Flint cannot adopt rent control. Michigan Public Act 226 of 1988 (MCL 123.411 et seq.) preempts every local unit of government from enacting any ordinance or resolution that would control the amount of rent charged for private residential property.

Flint has no local just-cause eviction ordinance. Evictions follow Michigan's Summary Proceedings Act (MCL 600.5701 et seq.) and the Landlord-Tenant Relationships Act (MCL 554.601+). Filings go to the 67th District Court in Flint.

Flint requires every residential rental unit to be registered and certified through the Department of Building, Safety, Inspections and Licensing. Certification is paired with periodic inspection against the International Property Maintenance Code, including post-water-crisis lead service-line checks.

Security deposits in Flint follow Michigan statute. MCL 554.602 caps the deposit at 1.5 times one month's rent. MCL 554.603 requires written notice of where the deposit is held. MCL 554.609 requires return or itemized notice within 30 days of vacancy.

Flint's rental inspection program is run by the Department of Building, Safety, Inspections and Licensing. Inspectors apply the International Property Maintenance Code and check lead service-line and lead-paint conditions on a cycle and on tenant complaint after the 2014-2019 water crisis.

Flint's residential refuse collection is operated by Priority Waste under contract extended by City Council in November 2023 (rate-locked through 2028). Service runs Monday through Friday with each address assigned one collection day; trash, recycling, and compost/yard waste are collected on the same day. Carts must be at the curb by 7 a.m., and collection happens between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (no guaranteed time window). When a holiday falls on or before a service day, collection shifts one business day later for that week. Customer service: 855-927-8365 or 586-228-1200.

Priority Waste's published Flint operating rules direct residents to place the 96-gallon grey trash cart and 64-gallon blue recycling cart at the curb before 7 a.m. on their designated collection day; yard-waste/compost bags or containers must be set at the curb at least 10 feet away from the trash and recycling carts so the separate compost truck can collect them. Cart handles should face the house, with the cart positioned in the gutter or just behind the curb and clear of parked cars, mailboxes, and obstructions so the rear-loading or automated arm truck can access them.

Flint residents recycle through the 64-gallon blue cart issued by Priority Waste in fall 2024 (one per household; distributed September-October 2024 with EGLE grant and Recycling Partnership funding). Accepted curbside: paper, cartons, flattened cardboard, aluminum and steel cans, foil trays, glass bottles/jars, and plastic bottles/jugs/storage containers/tubs (caps off, loose). Not accepted: bagged recyclables, plastic bags or wrap, hoses/cords/wires, batteries, electronics, food/liquid contamination, polystyrene (Styrofoam), food-contaminated cardboard (pizza boxes), ceramics, bubble wrap, and metal or plastic hangers. Recycling rides on the same day as trash.

Flint residents on the Priority Waste route get curbside bulk collection automatically every week on their regular trash day - up to 3 bulk items and 20 bags per week, with NO advance scheduling or special pickup request required. Bulk includes furniture, mattresses (which must be wrapped in plastic), and most household bulky items. Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and other freon-bearing appliances are NOT collected unless they bear a sticker certifying that the refrigerant has been properly evacuated under EPA Section 608. Hazardous waste, electronics, tires, and construction debris are also excluded.

Flint's curbside compost / yard-waste program runs from April 6 through the week containing November 30 each year (April 6 - November 27 in 2026); collection is on the same day as regular trash and recycling. Bags and containers must be 40 gallons or smaller and weigh less than 50 lbs, placed at least 10 feet away from the trash and recycling carts so the separate compost truck can collect. Accepted materials: grass clippings, leaves, shrub and brush trimmings under 6 inches in diameter and less than 4 feet in length. Up to 20 bags per week. Free yard-waste bags available at City Hall, Mays Senior & Community Center, and McKinley Community Center.

Flint Code Section 39-1 (Illegal Dumping) makes it unlawful to dump, deposit, drop, or leave any rubbish, refuse, compost, garbage, construction waste, auto bodies, tires, or parts on any property in the City unless it is a properly licensed dumping site or the actor holds a proper permit. The statute declares illegal dumping a public nuisance, makes a violation a misdemeanor subject to up to 90 days in jail and a $250-$500 fine plus restitution for cleanup and natural-resource damage, and authorizes administrative seizure, impoundment, and forfeiture of motor vehicles used to facilitate the activity (with a 30-day notice-of-seizure contest window). Crime Stoppers of Flint pays rewards up to $1,000 ($2,000 for tire dumping) for tips leading to arrest.

Recreational drones in Flint are regulated primarily by federal law and Michigan's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act. The FAA requires registration for drones over 0.55 lb, the TRUST test, and flight under 49 U.S.C. §44809. Michigan PA 436 of 2016 (MCL 259.301+) preempts most municipal drone ordinances.

Food truck operators in Flint need a Mobile Food Establishment license from the Genesee County Health Department (GCHD) issued under Michigan's Food Law (Public Act 92 of 2000, MCL 289.1101 et seq.), a Flint city business license, a current food-safety certification for the person in charge, and zoning compliance for each operating location. GCHD inspectors conduct routine and complaint inspections; Flint Police and Code Enforcement can shut down a truck that lacks any prerequisite.

Flint regulates mobile food vending through the City Code licensing and zoning chapters, paired with Genesee County Health Department licensing of the mobile food unit. Vendors need a City peddler or mobile-vendor license and must avoid posted no-vending areas and sidewalk obstructions.

Commercial door-to-door solicitors and peddlers in Flint must obtain a business license from the Flint City Clerk Licensing Division (810-766-7416). Applications are filed in person at the Licensing Division and are subject to background review. Religious, political, and charitable canvassers are constitutionally exempt from permit requirements under Watchtower v. Stratton, 536 U.S. 150 (2002).

Flint's City Code imposes a juvenile curfew on minors in public places, generally from about 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. with later start times for older minors, subject to standard exceptions for parents, employment, supervised activities, and emergencies. Flint Police enforce citywide.

Building setbacks in Flint are set by Chapter 50 (Zoning) of the City Code, adopted October 29, 2022 by ordinance and amended through Ordinance 240459 effective December 7, 2025. Setbacks are the minimum horizontal distances required from the front, side or rear lot lines as specified in Articles 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Zoning Code, with district-specific dimensional standards for the TN (Traditional Neighborhood), MR (Mixed Residential), GN (Green Neighborhood) and non-residential districts.

Building height in Flint is regulated by Chapter 50 (Zoning) of the City Code and is set district-by-district in the site dimensions tables in Articles 3 through 7. The Zoning Code defines building height as the vertical distance measured from established finished grade to the highest point of the roof for flat roofs, to the deck line of mansard roofs, and to the average height between eaves and ridge for gable, hip and gambrel roofs. The Michigan Building Code (2008 PA 407) adds construction-type height limits.

Lot coverage in Flint is regulated by Chapter 50 (Zoning) of the City Code and is set district-by-district in the site dimensions tables in Articles 3 through 7. Each district has its own maximum lot coverage by buildings; impervious surface and stormwater are addressed separately under the Michigan NPDES Phase II program (Part 31 of NREPA, 1994 PA 451) and the State Construction Code adopted under 2008 PA 407 with site plan review through the Flint Planning Commission.

Tree replacement in the City of Flint is administered by the Forestry Division within the Department of Parks and Recreation for public-tree removals under Chapter 45, and by the Department of Planning and Development for development-site removals under the Flint Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 50). The City Forester (Section 45-5) specifies replacement species and standards for public-tree replacements; species are typically drawn from Michigan native/non-invasive trees suited to the Genesee County climate. The Cleaner, Greener, Safer initiative provides a citywide reforestation pipeline of 1,600 native trees on vacant lots.

Tree-removal permitting in the City of Flint is administered by the Forestry Division within the Department of Parks and Recreation under Chapter 45 of the Flint Code of Ordinances. The City Forester and the Recreation and Park Board (Section 45-5) have permitting authority for any tree on a street, in a park, or in the public right-of-way. Section 45-11.1 separately empowers the Forestry Supervisor to direct removal of trees, limbs, or shrubs constituting an immediate hazard. Routine removal of a wholly private dead, diseased, or hazardous tree generally does not require a City permit.

Flint does not maintain a dedicated public heritage-tree registry in its Codified Ordinances, but Chapter 45 (Trees and Shrubs) uniformly protects all trees on streets, in parks, and in the public right-of-way - no removal or disturbance without a Forestry Division permit under Section 45-5. Specimen trees on private property may be designated through conditions on approved land-development plans under the Flint Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 50). Notable mature-tree resources include For-Mar Nature Preserve and Arboretum (Genesee County Parks), Kearsley Park, and Mott Park.

The City of Flint requires a garage sale license from the City Clerk's Office before conducting any garage, yard, or estate sale, under Chapter 12 Article XXVIII of the Code of Ordinances. The first license costs $12 and the second license in the same year costs $5, both issued by the Flint City Clerk.

The City of Flint Code Chapter 12 Article XXVIII regulates garage sale frequency through its tiered licensing fee structure: the first license in a license period costs $12 and a second costs $5, with additional licenses subject to review by the Flint City Clerk. The Code's licensing framework discourages high-frequency residential resale that would otherwise be unpermitted retail.

Fire-sprinkler requirements in Flint follow the Michigan Residential Code and Michigan Building Code as adopted under PA 230 of 1972. Michigan Public Act 553 of 2004 (MCL 125.1504c) bars local enforcement of any sprinkler requirement in one- and two-family dwellings unless owner-elected. Commercial and multifamily sprinkler triggers follow IBC Chapter 9 and IFC Chapter 9.

Lead-paint regulation in Flint combines federal EPA RRP rules, the Michigan Lead Abatement Act (PA 219 of 1979) administered by LARA, and city programs born of the 2014-2015 Flint Water Crisis. Most Flint housing predates the 1978 federal ban on residential lead paint, so disclosure, RRP-certified renovation, and abatement licensure are critical, alongside the city Lead Service Line Replacement program targeting lead pipes.

Pest control in Flint sits at the intersection of the Michigan-adopted International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) habitability requirements, Michigan's pesticide-applicator licensing under MDARD, and Flint property-maintenance enforcement. Landlords must maintain rentals free of insect and rodent infestation, and commercial pest applicators must hold a Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development license.

Renovation permits in Flint are issued by the Department of Planning and Development under the Michigan Building Code (MBC) and Michigan Residential Code (MRC), adopted under PA 230 of 1972. Most structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work requires a permit and licensed-contractor sign-off. Cosmetic work like paint and flooring is exempt, but altering load-bearing elements or any system always triggers a permit.

Hotels and other transient lodging in Flint must collect the Genesee County accommodations excise tax authorized by the Michigan Hotel-Motel Tax Act, MCL 141.861 et seq. (currently 5% in Genesee County, administered by the County Treasurer). The county tax stacks on the Michigan 6% Use Tax on accommodations under MCL 205.93a, for a combined 11% rate on every taxable room-night in Flint. Operators register with the County and with the Michigan Department of Treasury and file periodic returns.

Flint tobacco retailers are licensed primarily at the state and federal level. Federal Tobacco 21 (21 USC 387f) raised the minimum legal sales age to 21 for all tobacco products including e-cigarettes and vapes, controlling notwithstanding Michigan's Youth Tobacco Act (MCL 722.641-722.645, including MCL 722.675). The Michigan Department of Treasury issues the Tobacco Products Tax Act license. Flint retailers must also hold a city business license; Flint has not enacted a separate municipal tobacco retail license.

Flint secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers operate primarily under Michigan state law - the Precious Metal and Gem Dealer Act (MCL 446.201 et seq., Public Act 95 of 1981) and the Pawnbrokers Act (MCL 446.201 series and 446.51 et seq.) - and must hold a Flint city business license. Michigan requires precious-metal dealers to register with local law enforcement, maintain detailed transaction records, and hold purchased items for at least a statutory period before resale.

Loud parties in Flint are reached by Chapter 31 Article II (noise), Section 31-12 of the City Code (Disorderly Conduct and Disorderly Persons), and MCL 750.167 (the Michigan disorderly persons statute). Penalties stack: the local Section 31-78 noise fine (up to $1,500 / 90 days), the Section 31-12 disorderly conduct violation, and state-court charges under MCL 750.167.

Smoking in Flint is governed by the Dr. Ron Davis Smoke-Free Air Act (MCL 333.12601 et seq.), which prohibits smoking in most enclosed workplaces and public places statewide. The City can restrict smoking on City property; Michigan school grounds are smoke-free under MCL 380.1300.