Dearborn permits temporary residential holiday decorations and lights without a permit, subject to light-trespass, safety, and timely-removal guidelines.
Temporary holiday displays on residential property in Dearborn, including lights, inflatables, nativity scenes, and seasonal yard decor, are generally allowed without a permit. The city's nuisance and property maintenance provisions require that displays not create a light-trespass nuisance onto neighboring properties, interfere with traffic sight lines at corners and driveways, or encroach into the public right-of-way. Extension cords must be rated for outdoor use and not run across sidewalks where they create trip hazards. Displays should typically be removed within 30 days after the holiday ends to avoid blight citations, and displays that play amplified music must comply with the city noise ordinance regarding quiet hours.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Dearborn, MI
Aircraft noise in Dearborn is regulated by the FAA, not the city. DTW flight paths and Ford test aircraft may create preempted noise that residents can repor...
Dearborn, MI
Dearborn prohibits dogs from barking, howling, or making noise that disturbs neighbors for extended periods, with animal control enforcement and fines for re...
Dearborn, MI
Dearborn allows on-street parking in most residential areas but prohibits parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, 20 feet of a crosswalk, and in posted no-...
Dearborn, MI
Dearborn follows Michigan's common-law partition-fence principles. Good side faces out, shared fences require mutual agreement, and disputes can go to distri...
Dearborn, MI
Dearborn requires dogs to be leashed on a leash no longer than 6 feet when off the owner's property, with off-leash use allowed only at designated dog parks ...
Dearborn, MI
Dearborn follows Michigan PA 256 of 2011 as amended by PA 65 of 2018 allowing consumer fireworks only on 12 designated holidays, with local restrictions limi...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Wayne County.
See how other cities in Wayne County handle holiday displays.
See how Dearborn's holiday displays rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.