Wyoming, MI Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

Section 82-63(9) of the Wyoming Code of Ordinances, part of Chapter 82 Article III (Lawns, Gardens and Water Efficient Landscaping), sets five specific standards for on-site compost and organic matter storage anywhere in the city, Kent County, Michigan. First, compost storage is permitted only in a rear yard, and it must sit at least ten feet from any property line, keeping the pile away from neighboring lots. Second, the storage area is capped at 64 square feet, a size limit meant to keep home composting accessory-scale rather than commercial.

Third, the compost must be screened from view of adjoining residential properties using shrubbery or fencing, so a bin visible over a low fence line or through a gap would not comply. Fourth, the enclosure itself has to be built of rigid, durable materials fitted with a tightly closing lid, ruling out open piles or loose bins. Fifth, the owner must maintain the pile to prevent odors from reaching neighboring properties. The article took its current form under Ordinance No. 10-22, adopted May 16, 2022, which rewrote Article III in its entirety; the compost rule sits alongside the article's broader landscape-maintenance and private-garden standards, and enforcement follows the same violation and notice procedure the article applies to the rest of Section 82-63.