Farmington Hills, MI Tree Protection: Tree Ordinances (2026)

Farmington Hills' tree-protection authority is built from four layers. Layer 1 — Zoning Chapter 34, particularly Section 34-5.18: imposes a citywide Tree Removal Permit requirement for any tree of 6 inches DBH or larger, with replacement requirements for trees within 10 feet of the building envelope, comparable-shade and Michigan-nursery same-species standards for replacements, 4-foot drip-line fencing for preserved trees, and a 10-inch DBH cap on relocated deciduous trees. Section 34-5.14 sets companion landscape standards. Layer 2 — Chapter 31 (Vegetation): provides general vegetation authority including provisions relevant to street trees and tree preservation. Layer 3 — Chapter 17 (Nuisances), Article II: sets the 8-inch grass / noxious vegetation height standard for properties within 100 feet of platted subdivisions, single-family residential condominiums, or major roads, with City-cut and cost-recovery under Section 17-29. Layer 4 — Department of Public Services tree management: DPS maintains trees in the public right-of-way and on City-owned property, coordinating with the Planning Office. Farmington Hills' Tree City USA designation through the Arbor Day Foundation reflects compliance with four standards (tree board or department, tree-care ordinance, $2-per-capita urban-forestry expenditure, annual Arbor Day observance). State-law overlays include: NREPA Part 503 Forest Practices Act (MCL 324.50301 et seq.) governing commercial forest property; NREPA Part 413 Invasive Species (MCL 324.41301 et seq.) prohibiting possession, sale, or movement of state Prohibited and Restricted plant species (with six new additions in May 2026: callery pear, common buckthorn, glossy buckthorn, Japanese barberry, water hyacinth, and water lettuce); Wetlands Protection Act (MCL 324.30101 et seq.) administered by EGLE for trees in regulated wetlands; MCL 600.2919 providing treble damages plus attorney fees for willful destruction of another's trees. The Rouge River watershed status — including membership in the Alliance of Rouge Communities and the watershed's status as a Great Lakes Area of Concern — gives tree-protection ordinances elevated water-quality importance.