ZoningVerdict

Accessory dwelling units in Sterling Heights, MI

What the Sterling Heights zoning ordinance says about accessory dwelling units, district by district. Section numbers link to the official ordinance.

All districts

The Sterling Heights Zoning Ordinance contains no accessory dwelling unit provision. A review of the residential articles (Articles 3 through 7), the accessory building rules (Section 28.00), and the definitions (Section 31.01) found no ADU, granny flat, or second-unit allowance. Reinforcing that reading, only one principal building is allowed per single or two family lot (Section 28.07), and one family districts permit only one family detached dwellings (Section 3.01.A).

This is a verified absence as of the 2026 S-46 codification, not a statement that the city will never allow one. If an ADU matters to your plans, confirm with the Office of Planning at 586-446-2360.

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