Sterling Heights, MI Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- City Code §§ 11-101, 11-102
- Vacancy trigger
- 180+ consecutive days unoccupied
- Hearing body
- Board of Ordinance Appeals
- Noncompliance penalty
- Up to $500 fine, 90 days jail
Summary
Sterling Heights, Michigan can declare a building dangerous for structural failure, fire damage, or 180-plus days of vacancy, then order the owner before the Board of Ordinance Appeals to repair, secure, or demolish it.
DANGEROUS BUILDING. A building or structure that has one or more of the following defects or is in one or more of the following conditions: ... (4) A part of the building is likely to fail, become detached or dislodged, or collapse and injure persons or damage property; ... (11) A building or structure that remains unoccupied for a period of 180 consecutive days or longer, and is not listed as being available for sale, lease, or rent...
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
Under City Code Section 11-101, a structure in this Macomb County city is a dangerous building if it has blocked or non-code exits, fire or storm damage that leaves it below the property maintenance code's structural minimums, parts likely to collapse, or sits vacant and open for 180 or more consecutive days without an owner police notification on file. Section 11-102 requires the Code Official to issue written notice and a hearing before the Board of Ordinance Appeals, which can order repair, securing, or demolition. Ignoring that order is a misdemeanor under the Code's general penalty.
Violations & Fines
Failure to comply with a Board of Ordinance Appeals dangerous-building order is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a 500 dollar fine, 90 days in jail, or both, under the Code's general penalty section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a building 'dangerous' in Sterling Heights?
What happens after a dangerous-building notice is issued?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sterling Heights
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Property Blight in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Macomb County handle property blight.