Before You Build in Farmington Hills, MI: Permit & Rule Checklist (2026)

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 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.

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).

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).

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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).

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.

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 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.