Sterling Heights, MI Holiday Decorations: Lawn Ornament Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Ornament limit
- 1 per 20 ft of frontage
- Size cap
- 4 ft tall, 2 ft wide
- Setback
- within 10 ft of house/lot line
- Holiday exception
- 60 days per display, 120/yr
Summary
Sterling Heights limits visible yard ornaments to one per 20 feet of street frontage, capped at 4 feet tall, and keeps every display within 10 feet of the house and 10 feet of neighboring lots.
No portion of a display and/or ornament(s) shall be farther than 10 feet from an exterior wall of the habitable area of the dwelling, nor within 10 feet of a neighboring property.
5. Only 1 yard ornament is permitted for every 20 feet of real property linear street frontage along the street to which the property is assigned a postal address. Each ornament permitted by this subsection shall not exceed 4 feet in height and 2 feet in width. Although they may have additional street frontage along a second street, corner lots shall also be subject to the restrictions in this subsection.
6. One (1) additional yard ornament, not to exceed 6 feet in height and 3 feet in width, is permitted as the focal point of an outdoor yard display and shall not be counted against the ornament limitations governed by street frontage in subsection 5.
7. The purpose of the restrictions in this section is to eliminate a one size fits all approach to the regulation of yard ornamentation. The new restrictions will reduce visual clutter on smaller lots while allowing additional ornamentation for larger lots. However, the restrictions of this section shall not be enforced against yard displays and/or yard ornamentation that were in compliance with the previous regulations set forth in this section prior to June 7, 2011, so long as such displays and/or ornaments are not modified thereafter. Upon modification of a nonconforming display or removal/
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-46: Local legislation current through Ord. 509, passed 5-19-26).
Full Breakdown
Property Maintenance Code Section 302.10 lets homeowners display yard ornamentation but caps what's visible from the street: one ornament per 20 feet of street frontage, each no taller than 4 feet or wider than 2 feet, plus one larger focal-point piece up to 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Every display must stay within 10 feet of the house's exterior wall and at least 10 feet from a neighboring property, can't create a traffic hazard or glare, and can't be made of junk or scrap. Temporary holiday displays are exempt up to 60 days per occasion, capped at 120 days a year.
Violations & Fines
Oversized, too-numerous, or hazardous yard displays are a Property Maintenance Code violation, enforceable under Sterling Heights City Code Section 1-9's general penalty: up to a $500 fine, 90 days in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many yard ornaments can I have visible from the street in Sterling Heights?
Do holiday decorations count against the yard-ornament limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sterling Heights
Compare Sterling Heights to another location·View the Michigan holiday decorations overview
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