Southfield, MI Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)

Section 5.60-D lays out Southfield's design checklist for rainwater harvesting hardware, separate from its greywater-plumbing safety rules in the same section. Paragraph B requires rain barrels and cisterns to be positioned to actually receive rooftop runoff, and paragraph C requires the system to allow stored water to be used or released between storm events so there is always available storage volume for the next rain. Construction standards follow in paragraph K: cisterns must be watertight, with joints sealed using nontoxic waterproof material and a smooth interior surface capable of receiving harvested water without leaking or degrading.

Paragraph L requires covers and lids with a tight fit to keep out surface water, animals, dust, and light, while paragraph M requires a positive overflow outlet a few inches from the top of the cistern and paragraph N requires observation risers on buried cisterns to stand at least six inches above grade so the system can be inspected and maintained. Placement relative to the building itself is also regulated: paragraph I requires overflow discharge to be a minimum of ten feet from the building foundation to avoid feeding water back toward the structure.

Climate-driven maintenance is built in too, paragraph J requires capture and reuse systems to be disconnected and emptied during winter to prevent freeze damage, and paragraph P requires rain barrels to include a release mechanism, such as a soaker hose, so stored water can be slowly drained onto a landscaped area between storms rather than sitting stagnant.